CRAAP Test in action

Please note: Some of the following media content covers political and/or contentious issues. This exercise is not about your position or beliefs about the issues, it is about you critically analysing the media source and content regardless of your personal opinion.

 

This short news clip is an example of the CRAAP test being applied during a live broadcast.

 

Below is an example of how the CRAAP Test could be applied to this piece of media:

Currency: This broadcast was before the final election result, whilst the votes were being counted and checked so no winner could yet be declared.

Relevance: As an American news cable channel the intended audience is the American people.

Authority: As President, Trump is in a position of authority, but his credentials and qualifications in interpreting and relaying the election result information are called into question. The Chief Legal Correspondent is qualified to provide clarifying statements and information.

Accuracy: The validity of Trump's information is challenged and discussed live on air. The source of Trump's information and supporting evidence is questioned. The Chief Legal Correspondent provides clarification of the "votes that have been lawfully apportioned". The language Trump used is extremely biased and emotive e.g. "illegal votes", "steal the election" and this is picked up and quoted by the anchorman and Chief Legal Correspondent, who both have a tone of incredulity.

Purpose: The purpose of a News channel should be to provide accurate, factual news information, therefore the anchorman interrupts a live breaking news broadcast in order, as he says, for "correcting the President of the United States". Trump's point of view is neither objective nor impartial and he has political and personal biases. Theoretically the anchorman and Chief Legal Correspondent are impartial.

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