We are bombarded by news everyday from many sources but the sources are not authentic news services. FAKE NEWS is a very real problem today.
If you are a news junkie, there are steps you can take if you really want to check the credibility and veracity of the news story.
12 defenses against FAKE NEWS
- Check the claim. Demand evidence. Confirm the data or claims.
- Copy quotes and see what an Internet search shows about it.
- Doubt it if there are typos, spelling errors or grammer mistakes.
- Read beyond the headline, to see what the story is really about.
- Check the date. Old news sometimes is passed off as being current.
- “Shocking!” headlines usually are exaggerations and distortions of the truth.
- Check the source on Wikipedia. Credible publications have credible sources.
- Copy the side address and check its veracity with com
- Check the source:
Is it credible? For example, cbc.ca? Real. But cbc.com.co? Not.
Does the author have credentials to talk about the subject?
Anonymous sources usually are questionable. - Do the photos look authentic, believable, credited sources? Photos can be doctored. Check if it has been used by clicking google.com . Click the camera icon.
- Sponsorship or commercialism usually means the article was paid for and not a factual story.
- Use Amnesty International to check the you Tube video
This post is based on material from a Canadian Journalists supported site which educates web users about real news vs. FAKE NEWS: doubtit.ca
We are swamped with information today, bombarded from every direction and many of these stories are looking for ‘clicks,’ for which the originator is receiving money.
The next time you see a news story and something clicks in your head about it, it may be FAKE NEWS. Follow it up by using the tips above.
