College and Research Libraries News published “Information Literacy Competency Standards for Journalism Students and Professionals” in 2012, which was written by the Association for College & Research Libraries' Education and Behavioral Sciences Section Communication Studies Committee.The report defines information literacy standards as “the ability to recognize when information is needed and the ability to locate, evaluate, effectively use, and ethically apply the needed information” (274) and claims that “the development and application of information literacy competencies for journalism can enhance the quality of research and reporting, can provide journalism students and professionals more competitive job market skills, and improve the level of public discourse” (275). The report lists five standards with identified goals for each. These are:

Standard One:  Plan

• The student defines the information need based on the story idea or research question
• The student identifies a variety of information sources to meet the information need
• The students considers financial costs and time required to obtain information

Standard Two: Find

• The student constructs and implements effectively designed research strategies
• The student retrieves information online or in person using a variety of methods
• The student refines investigative methods and search strategies
• The student uses records management and resources citation skills

Standard Three: Evaluate for Accuracy and Fairness

• The student summarizes and synthesizes the main ideas of the information gathered
• The student assesses the credibility of the information gathered
• The student synthesizes main ideas to generate new knowledge or story ideas
• The student compares new knowledge with prior knowledge to determine the value added, contradictions, or other unique characteristics of the information
• The student validates knowledge of and interpretation of the information through dialogue with others
• The student decides whether the initial question or story idea should be revised

Standard Four: Draft and Create

• The student applies information gathered to the planning and creation of a story or research project
• The student revises the development process for the story or research product
• The student effectively presents the story or research project to the intended audience

Standard Five:  Ethical and Legal Standards

• The student recognized the ethical, legal, and socio-economic issues surrounding information and technology
• The student follows laws, regulations, institutional policies, and etiquette around the ethical use of information
• The student cites the work of others and seeks permission when required

You can access the entire report on the ACRL Website at:  http://www.ala.org/acrl/sites/ala.org.acrl/files/content/standards/il_journalism.pdf, which also  lists measurable outcomes for each of the goals.

What is Information Literacy?

“the ability to recognize when information is needed and the ability to locate, evaluate, effectively use, and ethically apply the needed information” (274).

Where can I find the article?

http://www.ala.org/acrl/sites/ala.org.acrl/files/content/standards/il_journalism.pdf

How should I cite the article?