Paper long abstract:

The purpose of this study is to determine the impact of media literacy in terms of the ability of students to interpret the problem of "fake news". The term of "fake news" includes misinformation, disinformation and propaganda, prompted a broad debate about the concepts of modern democracy especially, within the role of information in contemporary society and the ability of online consumers to verify the veracity of news. To better understand this phenomenon in the Kazakhstan context, Department of Journalism at al-Farabi Kazakh National University conducted a survey (January 2019) on a representative sample of students (N=307). The reader will be provided an insight into the issue of the Kazakhstan news ecosystem and consequently the news consumers perception over the problem of "fake news" well as the self-awareness of digital literacy skills. The study aims at measuring the level of trust toward the impact of media literacy on the students´ skills to analyze fake news as well as their civic attitudes. The research is conducted as a qualitative comparison of statements of the analytical abilities of students who took part in media literacy course with those who did not.

The survey results point out that 63% of respondents often encountered partially false news online; furthermore, the "fake news" phenomenon is perceived as a relevant problem with more than 93% of online user declaring that the phenomenon contributes to sow confusion among students. However, 49% of respondents shows confidence in being able to recognize unreliable information and claims they do not share false news online, neither deliberately nor by mistake. Also 74% of respondents tend to trust online sources more than traditional media.

In this study, we will get acquainted with the development of media literacy skills of students, find out what factors contribute to their development, what properties have the media literacy and influence of information technologies and digital literacy on fake news. This study will discuss greater implications for Media literacy education programs in Kazakhstan. Understanding impact of Media literacy-education on students' future carrier and the role of digital literacy plays in social development will help us decipher the complex entity, dynamics of media literacy-education development. This paper will utilize both quantitative and qualitative data collection tools, but is rooted in a qualitative epistemological position that recognizes the importance of locating the research within a particular social, cultural, and historical context.