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- Disinformation in the News: Determining Truth from Fiction
- Student Resources for Understanding Fake News
Disinformation in the News: Determining Truth from Fiction
Reference Librarian and Associate Professor
Overview
"Fake News," is not a relatively recent phenomenon. In fact, it has a very long history.
Before it became an easy accusation to sling at a political opponent without any attempt to verify facts, fake news described "the intentional creation and distribution of factually inaccurate information, in order to influence or profit or both."
In modern times, concerns about the impact of fake news or related concepts like misinformation on society have ignited debates about the best methods for countering the spread of bad information, including the de-platforming of bad actors, disclaimers on posted content, and changes in the ways that media literacy is taught at all levels of education.
Fake News, Summarized
Types of Fake News
You might be able to add more types of Fake News to this list, but the main types are these:
- Hoax
- Propaganda
- Bias
- Satire
Lateral Reading techniques
- New research shows successes in teaching ‘lateral reading’ techniquesTakes exception to media literacy lessons that emphasize how information looks, and more on the degree of social acceptance about the authors and their claims.
SIFT method for evaluating information
- SIFT (The Four Moves), explained.Briefly describes the four moves of SIFT: Stop, Investigate the source, find better coverage, trace the original context.
- Check, Please! Starter Course teaching SIFTLearn to use SIFT: Stop, investigate the source, find trusted coverage, trace claims, quotes and media to the original context.
CRAAPP Tests
When in doubt about the validity of a news source, use a CRAAPP test!
- The original CRAAPP TestUse this test for websites and news sites. If you can't answer a question, or if your answer to a question is 'no,' be suspicious about that site or article!
- CRAAPP II for ArticlesUse this CRAAPP test for popular or scholarly articles, either from the Library databases or in print. Again, if you can't answer a question on the test, you should be suspicious about that source.
Sites to help you distinguish Fake News from Real News
- PolitifactThis Pulitzer-Prize-winning site will help you recognize Fake News dealing with politics.
- Inoculation theory: Using misinformation to fight misinformationStudies about exposing people to a weak form of misinformation in order to protect them against more severe and damaging misinformation.
- PunditfactCheck out the Punditfact Truth-O-Meter!
- The Poynter InstitutePoynter is the home of the International Fact-Checking Network. Sign up for their newsletter and take their free online courses.
- SnopesUse Snopes for lots of fact-checking: Fake News, social media stories, and rumors.
- FactCheck.orgIs that 'current event' real? Get the story here.
- TV News ArchiveFact-checking for TV news.
- FactitiousCheck your Fake News knowledge with this game. It really is fun and challenging.
How to Choose Your News
Suggested Reading
- The (Honest) Truth About Dishonesty by Dan ArielySome forces drive us to be honest, and some not so much.
- The Righteous Mind by Jonathan HaidtRecommended reading from Bill Adair, founder of Politifact
- Thinking Fast and Slow by Daniel KahnemanThis Nobel laureate helps us think critically.
- A Field Guide to Lies by Daniel LevitinFrom the same author who brought us "This is your Brain on Music"
- Bunk: The Rise of Hoaxes, Humbug, Plagiarists, Phonies, Post-Facts, and Fake News by Kevin YoungA fascinating read by the New Yorker poetry editor, Director of the Schomburg Center for Research in Black Culture, and leading thinker.
- How to Avoid Getting Duped by Overblown Health Claims (Quartz)This article from Quartz examines Fake News in the Health field.
- Sometimes Facts Can Actually Trump Ideology (Scientific American)A relatively-recent article from Scientific American which looks at Fake News through a Behavioral Science lens.
- Hemingway Didn't Say ThatFind out the real origins of commonly misattributed quotes, written by Garson O'Toole.
- BBC - When misinformation online leads to death threatsThese individuals had false information spread about them on social media sites, leading to harassment and even death threats.