With the advent of the Internet and social media, news is distributed at an incredible rate by an unprecedented number of different media outlets. How do we choose which news to consume? Damon Brown gives the inside scoop on how the opinions and facts (and sometimes non-facts) make their way into the news and how the smart reader can tell them apart.
How to Spot Fake News
How to Spot Fake News Plain Text
How to Spot Fake News
Consider the Source - investigate the site, its mission and contact information.
Read Beyond - headlines can be outrageous in an effort to get clicks. What is the whole story?
Check the Author - Do a quick search on the author. Are they credible? Are they real?
Supporting Sources - Determine if the info given actually supports the story.
Check the Date - Is it relevant and current?
Is it a Joke? - If it is too outlandish, it might be satire. Research the site and author.
Check Your Biases - Consider you own beliefs that could affect your judgement.
Ask the Experts - Ask a librarian or consult a fact checking site.
