CAPE Communication Studies: Sources of Information

Primary sources are original, first-hand accounts or materials. Caribbean examples include: oral history interviews with elders about independence movements, government census data, or original research conducted by UWI researchers.

Secondary sources interpret or analyze primary sources. Caribbean examples include: newspaper articles analyzing election results in Jamaica, textbooks about Caribbean history, or documentaries about Caribbean cultural practices.

Tertiary sources compile information from primary and secondary sources. Caribbean examples include: Caribbean encyclopedia entries, bibliographies of Caribbean literature, or directories of Caribbean educational institutions.

The digital divide in the Caribbean creates significant information access disparities between rural and urban communities:

• Infrastructure gaps: Rural areas often lack reliable broadband infrastructure, while urban centers benefit from better telecommunications networks.
• Economic factors: Lower average incomes in rural areas make digital devices and internet subscriptions less affordable compared to urban populations.
• Technical literacy: Rural communities typically have fewer opportunities for digital skills training than urban residents who have access to more educational resources.
• Power reliability: Intermittent electricity in rural areas affects consistent access to digital information, unlike more stable urban power grids.
• Access points: Urban centers have more public access points like libraries and internet cafés, while rural communities have limited shared access facilities.

These disparities result in rural communities relying more heavily on traditional information sources like radio and community meetings, while urban populations benefit from diverse digital information streams.

Applying the CRAAP test to a social media health remedy post during a Caribbean disease outbreak:

Currency: When was the post published? During the current outbreak or recycled from a previous event? Recent posts are more likely to reflect current health understanding, though even recent posts may contain outdated information.

Relevance: Does the remedy address the specific disease in question? Is it tailored to Caribbean conditions and resources? Remedies must be contextually appropriate to be useful.

Authority: Who posted the information? A credible health authority (like CARPHA or a respected medical professional) would be more reliable than an anonymous account or someone without relevant qualifications.

Accuracy: Is the remedy supported by scientific evidence? Are there verifiable references? Claims should be cross-checked with recognized health organizations like PAHO or national health ministries.

Purpose: Why was this information shared? If the post is selling products or promoting a particular ideology, it likely has commercial or political motives rather than public health interests.

A credible health information post would be recent, specifically relevant to the current outbreak, from a recognized health authority, supported by scientific evidence, and focused on public welfare rather than commercial gain.

Applying the CRAAP test to a social media health remedy post during a Caribbean disease outbreak:

Currency: When was the post published? During the current outbreak or recycled from a previous event? Recent posts are more likely to reflect current health understanding, though even recent posts may contain outdated information.

Relevance: Does the remedy address the specific disease in question? Is it tailored to Caribbean conditions and resources? Remedies must be contextually appropriate to be useful.

Authority: Who posted the information? A credible health authority (like CARPHA or a respected medical professional) would be more reliable than an anonymous account or someone without relevant qualifications.

Accuracy: Is the remedy supported by scientific evidence? Are there verifiable references? Claims should be cross-checked with recognized health organizations like PAHO or national health ministries.

Purpose: Why was this information shared? If the post is selling products or promoting a particular ideology, it likely has commercial or political motives rather than public health interests.

A credible health information post would be recent, specifically relevant to the current outbreak, from a recognized health authority, supported by scientific evidence, and focused on public welfare rather than commercial gain.

Social media has fundamentally transformed news and information dissemination in the Caribbean over the past decade:

• Democratization of content creation: Citizens now function as citizen journalists, bypassing traditional gatekeepers and sharing firsthand accounts of events like natural disasters or political developments.
• Accelerated information flow: News spreads instantaneously across islands and diaspora communities, creating faster awareness of regional issues like hurricane warnings or political developments.
• Direct communication channels: Government officials, businesses, and public figures communicate directly with citizens through platforms like Twitter and Facebook, changing how official information circulates.
• Community mobilization: Social media facilitates rapid organization around causes like environmental protection or political reform, as seen in movements like #LifeInLeggings addressing gender-based violence.
• Challenges of misinformation: The speed of sharing has also enabled the rapid spread of unverified claims, conspiracy theories, and fake news, particularly during crises.
• Economic impacts: Traditional media outlets face revenue declines as advertising shifts to social platforms, affecting investigative journalism quality.

To combat election-related misinformation, Caribbean governments and media can:

• Pre-bunking: Launch public awareness campaigns before elections to educate citizens on identifying fake news, deepfakes, and manipulated media.
• Fact-checking partnerships: Collaborate with regional fact-checking initiatives (e.g., FactCheckJA in Jamaica) to verify claims in real time.
• Transparency in political ads: Mandate disclosure of funding sources for political ads on platforms like Facebook and Instagram.
• Rapid response teams: Establish cross-sectoral teams to debunk viral falsehoods swiftly, using official channels (e.g., electoral commission websites).
• Platform accountability: Work with social media companies to flag/remove provably false content while respecting free speech.
• Media literacy programs: Integrate digital literacy into school curricula and community workshops, emphasizing critical thinking.

AI-generated content in Caribbean politics raises several ethical concerns:

• Misrepresentation: Deepfakes could fabricate speeches or actions of candidates, undermining democratic processes.
• Erosion of trust: Proliferation of synthetic media may lead to public skepticism toward all recorded evidence ("liability of the real").
• Disproportionate impact: Smaller island nations with limited fact-checking resources may be more vulnerable to manipulation.
• Cultural context: AI might misuse Caribbean dialects or imagery, perpetuating stereotypes or distorting local narratives.
• Legal gaps: Many Caribbean jurisdictions lack laws addressing AI-generated disinformation, leaving victims without recourse.

Countermeasures: Require disclosure of AI use in campaigns, impose penalties for malicious deepfakes, and promote public awareness.

Social media algorithms can exacerbate divisions in the Caribbean through:

• Engagement prioritization: Platforms promote inflammatory content (e.g., Trinidad's racial tensions or Haitian-Dominican debates) because it generates more clicks and reactions.
• Echo chambers: Users are fed content aligning with their existing biases, reinforcing polarization (e.g., pro/anti-government factions in Guyana).
• Virality of misinformation: False claims about rival groups spread faster than corrections, escalating conflicts (e.g., rumors during Jamaican elections).
• Geographic targeting: Algorithms may disproportionately show divisive content to vulnerable communities (e.g., post-disaster conspiracy theories).

Mitigation: Algorithmic transparency, local content moderation teams, and promoting "bridge content" that fosters dialogue.

Caribbean influencers (e.g., environmental activists, celebrities, or bloggers) impact climate discourse by:

• Localizing global issues: Translating complex climate science into Creole, Patois, or relatable examples (e.g., linking coral bleaching to fishing livelihoods).
• Mobilizing youth: Platforms like TikTok and Instagram engage younger audiences with trends like #SaveOurSeasCaribbean.
• Holding leaders accountable: Viral campaigns pressure governments to honor climate pledges (e.g., Barbados' renewable energy targets).
• Risks: Some influencers oversimplify solutions ("just ban plastics") or spread well-intentioned but inaccurate adaptation strategies.

Example: Jamaican influencer @ClimateCarib breaks down IPCC reports with Caribbean-infused humor, reaching 100K+ followers.

Traditional Media (Radio, Newspapers):

• Advantages: Familiar technology, no internet required, trusted voices (e.g., veteran radio hosts in Dominica), and accessible in local dialects.
• Limitations: One-way communication, slower updates, and declining reach as stations close.

Social Media (WhatsApp, Facebook):

• Advantages: Family members share info with elders via WhatsApp voice notes; community Facebook groups provide real-time updates (e.g., hurricane alerts).
• Limitations: Digital literacy barriers, data costs, and misinformation risks (e.g., forwarded chain messages with false cures).

Hybrid approach: Programs like Grenada's "Radio + Facebook Live" town halls combine both methods for maximum reach.

To verify UGC during crises, journalists should:

• Geolocation tools: Use Google Earth or What3Words to confirm landmarks in videos/photos (e.g., was this flood really in St. Vincent?).
• Metadata analysis: Check timestamps and edit history of files (tools like FotoForensics) to detect manipulation.
• Cross-reference: Compare with official weather data (e.g., Caribbean Disaster Emergency Management Agency reports).
• Source triangulation: Contact the uploader and local contacts (e.g., Red Cross volunteers on the ground).
• Contextual clues: Analyze language/dialect, vegetation, or infrastructure to spot inconsistencies (e.g., a "live" video with outdated road signs).
• Ethical caution: Avoid amplifying unverified claims that could cause panic (e.g., false looting reports).

Example: During Hurricane Dorian, Bahamian journalists used Telegram groups to crowdsource verification with residents.