The way to overcome news illiteracy

"The righteous will live by faith." This is a remark by Martin Luther, German theologian and religious reformer who initiated the Protestant Reformation in the 16th century, as he rose the holy stairs on his knees. This 28-step stair was installed at the San Giovanni in Laterano in Rome by transferring from Jerusalem. Back then, Churches in the Middle Ages had taught that rising these stairs will lighten punishment. Getting inspiration on the Protestant Reformation from this, Luther nailed 95 theses to door of Wittenberg Cathedral in 1517.

While hiding from persecution, Luther translated the Bible into German. This German Bible spread widely thanks to the typography by Johannes Gutenberg, and Good News could be spread to everyone. People in power try to monopolize new information since spread of news threatens authority. "Four hostile newspapers are more fearful than 1,000 guns and knives," French Emperor Napoleon Bonaparte said while cutting 73 newspapers into four between 1800 and 1807.

Participants of the New York Times' college students sponsor group have donated 3.9 million dollars since February 3. This amount of money can 1.3 million college students reading New York Times online edition for a year. This is a movement to fight fake news in a period of digital revolution whose ripple effects are incomparably huge than the printing revolution. U.S. President Donald Trump is packaging fake news as alternative facts, which may have strengthened efforts to advocate the protection of truth.

People are not illiterate if they not only read but understand what they're reading. This is called literacy. The same goes with news literacy. People are not illiterate only when they are able to distinguish arguments and rumors from verified facts. All kinds of news are spreading as social media meet mobile, and this is the most desperate moment to escape from illiteracy. Most crucial is the critical mind of thinking. The upcoming unprecedented presidential election is a good chance to foster critical mind of thinking.