Introduction—
Have you ever read an article or blog, or even seen a social media post that seemed a little off? Well, no matter the topic there are bound to be a multitude of sources that produce and share fake content. Today we will be discovering 4 different ways we can spot fake news and how we can ensure that we read credible articles!
Before we jump in, let’s go ahead and actually define what fake news is. According to Brian Carroll, the author of Writing and Editing for Digital Media fake news is anything that is intentionally false but passed off as legitimate journalism.
Now that we know the gist of what we’re looking out for, lets step on the path of discovery!
- Pursue research and be willing to learn.
When it comes to the coverage of mass mobs storming the U.S. Capitol or major companies receiving notice of employee strife there are bound to be multiple perspectives and views. One good practice of making sure that we are engaging in truthful journalism is by being skeptical and embracing research.
Do you remember growing how your parents said that “not everything on the internet is true,” well they were right.
One great way to pursue research and learn about a given topic is to read articles from differing viewpoints and then compare how they express the topic or event. When we become willing to learn, we minimize the personal risk of reading and taking part in sharing false news!
A practical example of this would be to read an article over the same event from both CNN and Fox News because of their differing viewpoints.
- Make observations and considerations.
Part of reading articles as they pertain to news and coverage of events is that you choose to be a very observant reader. We want to test the authors by looking at their claims and where their research is coming from. Observe things like who the author is and consider their personal view. We must be willing to take things deeper than the surface level at which they’re presented.
Questions to ask when reading through any media post should be critical and objective. What is their viewpoint? Are there outside sources included? Are their sources credible? What research did they include?
- Recognize the time in which we live.
Another thing that you may not consider when reading through articles or blogs produced by mass media companies and individuals is that we live in a very consumeristic time. The generations are becoming more and more trained to take in bite-sized content that engages us emotionally and physically.
This could look like a 15 second compilation of news clips that have dramatic pictures and words to help sway the audience one way or another. So much of our media is focused on gaining followers rather than presenting the real and raw truth.
A prime example of something like this is how most millennials and Gen Z persons see Instagram and TikTok as a place where news is shared in an emotional-consumeristic type of way. This now only increases the risk of false news, but also creates an out of touch generation.
The American Press Institute did a study in 2015 and found that a majority of millennials don’t believe that any news is true because of things like the above.
- Look through the words.
The fourth and final piece of advice that is beneficial for us all when it comes to sifting through fake news and truthful information is by analyzing the article for transparency.
Marks of truthful journalism is when the author of a post or blog notes their personal bias but then expands on facts that may go against this personal stance. Another is seeing spruces listed out or included with the full credited name. Lastly, when their methods or practices for gathering information is outlined, this increases the credibility of said post.
Credibility goes beyond accurate words, but really includes vulnerability and responsibility on the journalist’s part. One way to trust a source is when the author really pushes personal preferences aside and continues to share the real facts.
Conclusion—
Overall, there are so many different ways we can consume news and content but we must come with the attitude of a seeker. We must be willing to look at all aspects of blogs and articles to truly pick out the meat.
So, let’s put on those thinking caps, continue to create, and PIONEER THE JOURNEY!