2. The ability to tell accurate news from “fake news” is an
important skill you will use for the rest of your life.
This presentation will help you better identify “fake news”
and learn how to avoid consulting/citing these sources
when you conduct scholarly research for a college
assignment.
Objective
6. Where do you primarily get your news?
A. Social media sites
B. Television news sources
C. Print news sources
D. Internet news sites
E. Radio
F. Other
Socialm
ediasites
Television
new
ssources
Printnewssources
Internetnew
ssites
Radio
Other
0% 0% 0%0%0%0%
11. Fake: Made up stories or hoaxes that are delivered under the pretext
of being factual news stories.
Satirical: News sites that parody actual events and news and are for
entertainment purposes only. They often mimic reputable news sites,
using exaggerated information out of context.
Clickbait: These are links that use sensationalized, misleading, or
exaggerated headlines and images to get individuals to visit their
website.
Biased: News delivered with a particular point of view that may rely
on propaganda and opinions rather than facts.
◦ News delivered with a particular slant may not be fake. For example, Fox News and MSNBC can report on the
same story and use the same facts, but present it in a way that appeals to their viewers.
Source - Walden University
Types of fake news
12. Why are you seeing these stories?
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=doWZHFnVPQ8
Filter bubbles
13. Odd domain names generally equal odd and rarely truthful news.
◦ Websites that end in “lo” (ex: Newslo) or “.com.co”
Don't trust a website based on a name alone (ex: Denver Guardian)
Non-existent channel numbers (ex: Now8News)
Known/reputable news sites are not also reporting on the story.
◦ There should typically be more than one source reporting on a topic or
event.
Sources - Merrimack College, Wake Forest University, and Walden University
Spotting fake news
14. Lack of author attribution may signify that the news story is suspect.
Bloggers posting under the banner of a particular news brands.
◦ Little editing process (ex: Forbes blogs).
Check the “About Us” link
Bad web design - ALL CAPS and overuse of exclamation points
Does the story makes you REALLY ANGRY?
◦ Keep reading about the topic via other sources
Beware of native advertising designed to look like the rest of the page
◦ Paying for their content to be displayed
◦ It’s all about website hits, shares/likes and ad revenue
Sources - Merrimack College, Wake Forest University, and Walden University
Spotting fake news
15. Is the story so outrageous you can't believe it?
◦ Trust your gut!
Is the story so outrageous you do believe it?
◦ Many stories play on your existing beliefs.
Are the quotations in context?
Is the story set in the future?
◦ It's hard to get firsthand reporting from there.
Does the story attack a generic enemy?
◦ EX: Vague denunciations of "Washington" or "the media" or "Trump supporters" or "the left"
Are you asked to rely on one killer factoid?
Who is the news source?
◦ Traditional news brands may occasionally get it wrong — sometimes hugely wrong — but at least you know where to find them and
hold them accountable.
Does the news source appear to employ editors?
Are you told, "Trust me"?
Did the writer engage with anyone who disagrees? Those who wrestle with opposing arguments do you a
service and often improve their own arguments.
Source - NPR
Questions to ask yourself
16. Fact-Checking Sites:
◦ Media Bias/Fact Check
◦ FactCheck.org
◦ Politifact
◦ Snopes.com
◦ Washington Post Fact Checker
◦ Hoaxy
Browser Plug-ins:
◦ BS Detector (Chrome, Firefox, Safari)
◦ Fake News Alert (Chrome)
◦ This is Fake (Chrome, for Facebook feed)
Source – Harvard University
Need help spotting fake news?
18. Fake news sites often re-use old photos and publish them out of
context. Verify the true source of an image:
Verifying Images
◦ Right click on the image
◦ Select “Copy image
address”
◦ Go to Google and select
“Images”
◦ Click on the Camera icon
and paste the image
address in the “Paste image
URL” box
◦ View results showing where
that image has been
published on the internet.
