Member-only story
Can You Spot Fake News?
It may not be as easy as you think
Our country is not in a good place. We are in the midst of a major pandemic and economic recession. We are experiencing racial and political tension. Now, more than ever, we need accurate, reliable journalism so we can make informed decisions.
To be clear, reliable journalism is information collected and disseminated by professional researchers and writers who are skilled in obtaining, vetting, and carefully communicating information to the public with the intent to inform. As much as possible it should be done without the journalist’s personal opinions.
How do we know when the information we are reading online is true or at least responsibly reported?
Learning to recognize it is becoming an increasingly important skill so we don’t consume it, and so we are not complicit in spreading misinformation and/or disinformation.
Misinformation is false information. It may or may not be intended to mislead readers. Sometimes the data is twisted or communicated poorly. Sometimes it is misheard, or details are forgotten.
Disinformation is false information deliberately being used to manipulate a narrative. It is also referred to as propaganda.
