Privileged Information: The Corporatization of Information

Abstract

Information Literacy can be defined as a set of skills necessary to find and evaluate information and determine its accuracy, quality, and reliability. This includes research abilities, logical evaluation of content, and background checking skills. Throughout history, information literacy skills have been essential to the scholar and the professional who wishes to not only absorb information, but to assess the accuracy of this information. Studying information further, rather than taking it at face value can greatly benefit the reader, and train him or her to become a critical thinker. This will encourage scholarly discourse, exploration of ideas, and sculpt the reader’s ability to come to his or her own conclusions, instead of those reached by the author of the piece. In this way, readers will become active in the research process and create a dialogue with their peers and with the work itself.