Why are stories of ghosts such a ubiquitous part of society? Despite the lack of scientific evidence nor religious push to believe in their existence, ghost stories are omnipresent. Tok Thompson, renowned professor and folklorist, speculates that we pass down ghost stories because they convey a message: “very often in ghost stories, there’s a possibility that the ghost can be appeased…And I think that’s a really powerful ethical message to consider: we can’t change the past, but you can certainly try to do the right thing now”. Read full article here
Research
Improving media literacy could boost trust towards the news, IMPRESS report suggests
The UK media is regulated by the likes of IPSO and Ofcom. The report by press regulator IMPRESS highlights the link between low levels of media literacy and trust in the news. The study found that three quarters of those who did not know if journalists were regulated did not trust the news. It suggests that improving media literacy is one way to stem the erosion of trust, and shows that audiences have an appetite for information on news processes. Stakeholders need to collaborate in order to rebuild trust in the news, and independent media is well placed to do this. Read full article here
Merv
February 1, 2023
