Being a biology student, having access to journal articles is a staple of not only my degree but my life. Unfortunately many of the resources I require to continue with my education are blocked by a paywall. While this hinders my ability to perform as a student, there are many ways to get around a paywall. I am fortunate enough to be able to learn in BIOL 4095 about applications like PressReader. This website allows everyday citizens to get around paywalls that block media articles that exist on websites like The Globe and Mail.
Getting past the paywall is only one part of the issue when it comes to being an educated young adult. It is not enough to be able to have access to many articles, as understanding what part of these articles give accurate and reliable information is also a skill we must possess. Reliable information is directly linked to funding as certain agendas may be able to be pushed by selective reporting. If a company wanted to advertise their product a certain way they may have an article remove information about their product that would be harmful to their sales. This is why it is important to understand as more recently the argument on climate change has been subject to this very agenda. Reliable news sources take into account scientific evidence and come from an unbiased publicly funded account. When privatization takes over media consumption the consumer is unable to differentiate and understand what their being told is true. It is always important to understand where the news you are getting are getting the money to spread said news.
Applied Plant Ecology Winter 2020 