News Literacy Education Under Nondemocratic Political Systems in Asia

Abstract

Historically, many countries in Asia kept tight control over the news media, but after the term “fake news” was popularized by the U.S. president in late 2016, some political leaders in the region adopted the moniker to renew their strategy to further restrict press freedom and undermine the credibility of outspoken journalists — against the backdrop of a global concern over the spread of misinformation and disinformation. While better news and media literacy education is considered one of the ways to combat the issues surrounding today’s information disorder in mature democratic societies, adopting and implementing the pedagogical models developed in the West can be a tricky affair in authoritarian or less democratic countries in Asia. In this reflective essay, the author discusses the key characteristics of challenges in the region as well as viable educational methodologies identified through participant observation and action research.