The Current | Vol. 31 Issue 12

October 27, 2020 | nsucurrent.nova.edu 5 Features Virtual internships: Gain the NSU edge Information or misinformation: Evaluating sources in the digital age In the digital age, knowing where the information we consume comes from and if it is factual is key to a functioning society. Politicians constantly talk about misinformation and fake news, but what do they mean when they say that? What can you, as a reader, do to avoid misinformation? Janine Morris, an assistant professor in the Department of Communication Media and the Arts at NSU and the faculty coordinator at the Writing and Communication Center, explained that, in her work, the definition of fake news comes from research conducted by Hunt Allcott andMatthewGentzkow. According to them, fake news is “News articles that are intentionally and verifiably false and could mislead readers.” Morris emphasizes the importance of knowing the intention behind a piece. For a piece to be considered fake news, the author must know that what they are writing is false and still continue writing with the intention to convince readers into believing information that is either misconstrued or blatantly made up. “If you are misusing information to try to mislead people, that would fall under my definition of fake news. I think that one of the really big challenges we face as a media literate society is the idea that people feel authorized to share their opinions as though they are facts. We are entitled to our opinions, but we are not entitled to our [own] facts. It is really problematic when people misrepresent or lie about factual information to serve their needs…One of the things that is very important is [to think] about who is making the different claims and what their position is,” said Morris. When evaluating a source, it is crucial that you, as a reader, know who the author is and what their stance is. The personal beliefs of the author can drastically change the way that information is portrayed and framed within the piece. The style of the piece also contributes to how it frames the information. A news article is very different from an opinions piece in both style and context. News should only focus on factual information, and while a well-written opinion should be based in fact, the majority of opinion pieces are written with a reliance on feelings and emotion rather than pure facts. Understanding the style of a piece is just as important as understanding where the author is coming from. If you want facts, then a news source would be a better option than an OP-ED. The Alvin Sherman Library has many resources and tips for evaluating sources and charts that show where media outlets’ biases lie. Today, we have to do everything we can to make sure the information we consume is correct and knowing how to spot false information is key to that. When the COVID-19 pandemic began, the future of internship opportunities was suddenly uncertain. Not sure how to adapt full-time job positions, let alone internships, to fit CDC standards, many companies and organizations canceled or postponed their spring and summer internships. However, moving forward, more and more companies and organizations are becoming equipped to accommodate both in-person and virtual internships. If the pandemic has made one thing clear, it is that companies still have needs that need to be met. Although internship opportunities may look different for the foreseeable future, luckily for students there are still plenty of options to choose from that can give you the NSU edge. Internships are an important part of entering any field. Emilio Lorenzo, the director of employer relations at NSU, explained that internships are one of many ways students can gain the experience that employers are looking for. “Gaining experience in your field is so critical.After you graduate, you’ll notice that even entry-level positions require one to two years of experience. [Employers] expect that, as you learn the academic and theoretical in the classroom, you are also applying practical experiences through internships,” said Lorenzo. Niemah Butler, the assistant director of employer relations at NSU, added that internships can be a great way for students to get a feel for the industry they are interested in going into before making an official choice. “Internships are a ‘try it before you buy it.’ Try it out now before you graduate…If you do an internship and decide [that] it is something you don’t enjoy, then you don’t have to do it,” said Butler. This not only gives students a way to decide whether or not they enjoy a particular field, but may also spark interest in something new. Platforms, such as Parker Dewey, make trying something new and gaining real-world experience an easy and flexible process. Parker Dewey offers short project- based opportunities raging from short projects to semester-long experiences. Lorenzo reminds students that they still need to take the steps they would have taken pre-COVID to make them successful. One aspect of this is taking advantage of the many opportunities and networking events offered through the Center for Academic & Professional Success (CAPS) at NSU. Lorenzo explained that attending virtual career fairs and information sessions is a vital element in finding internships. “If you aren’t going to career fairs, if you aren’t puttingyourself out there throughvirtual networking events, then you are not doing as much as the rest of the pool of applicants is,” said Lorenzo. Attending virtual careers fairs, info sessions, participating in case competitions and more will make sure you are equipped with the best tools to handle your internship search. Another resource to take advantage of is NSU career advisors. From tweaking your resume to fit your industry of interest to helpingmake sure you take all the necessary steps to get your internship approved for credit, NSU career advisors are there to help you at every step of the process. “What better way to take advantage [of NSU’s PRINTED WITH PERMISSION BY M. RINKA Double check all of your sources to steer clear of fake news By: Alexander Martinie Opinions Editor resources] than to come to our office where a career advisor is going to coach you so you aren’t on this internship search alone,” said Lorenzo. For more information about available internship options, read the CAPS monthly newsletter, log in to Handshake and make an appointment with your career advisor today. By: Emma Heineman Features Editor PRINTED WITH PERMISSION BY F. SHABAN Working remoting and using c ommunication app like Slack