Research Guides
Savvy Info Consumers: Fake News
MISLEADING
DEFINITION :
- "A fact, event or quote that has been taken out of context." 1
- "Hardest to debunk because the often contain a kernel of truth."1
- "Misleading use of information to frame an issue or individual."3
ASK YOURSELF:
- Does the content match the headline?
- Does the evidence support the headline and content?
- Is the content partisan?
- Is it an old story that has been re-purposed?
SATIRE
DEFINITION:
- "Sources that use humor, irony, exaggeration, ridicule, and false information to comment on current events." 2
- Satire doesn't pretend to be real but serves as entertainment.1
ASK YOURSELF:
- Does it come from a known satirical site such as The Onion?
- Look beyond the headline. Is the story clearly humorous?
EXAMPLES:
FAKE NEWS
DEFINITION :
- "Sham sites that are designed to look like real news outlets. They may include misleading photographs and headlines that, at first read, sound like they could be real." 1
- "Content that is 100% false, designed to deceive and do harm."3
- "Viral deception" and "identity theft"4
ASK YOURSELF:
- Does the url end with .co or .su?
- Does the site look unprofessional -- poorly written and designed?
- Are there any mainstream news outlets covering this story?
- Has the story been debunked by Snopes and other watchdog groups?
- Is the site listed in Snopes’ Field Guide to Fake News Sites and Hoax Purveyors?
EXAMPLES:
More About Fake News
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Evaluating Information: The Cornerstone of Civic Online ReasoningExecutive summary of the report produced by the Stanford History Education Group in November, 2016. Also see the NPR report on the report.
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How to Spot Fake NewsPractical advice from FactCheck.org, a Project of The Annenberg Public Policy Center.
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Lies, Damn Lies, and Viral Content: How News Websites Spread (and Debunk) Online Rumors, Unverified Claims, and Misinformation.Center for Digital Journalism 2015 report written by Craig Silverman.
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More about fake news from the University of Washington Libraries...Additional definitions, resources, and what you can do to combat fake news.
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Navigating Digital InformationCrash Course video series covers everything from lateral reading to evaluating images.
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Understanding The Fake News Universe: A Guide To Fake News TerminologyBrief guide created by Media Matters.
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Web Literacy for Student Fact-Checkers"Practical guide for the student fact-checker. It supplements generic information literacy with the specific web-based techniques that can get you closer to the truth on the web more quickly."
Sources used on this page:
- CNN's Here's how to outsmart fake news in your Facebook feed.
- Melissa Zimdars' False, Misleading, Clickbait-y, and/or Satirical “News” Sources.
- Nieman Foundation for Journalism's MisinfoCon: A Summit on Misinformation
- Term coined by Kathleen Hall Jamieson, Director of the University of Pennsylvania's Annenberg Public Policy Center, on CNN's Reliable Sources, 5 Mar. 2017.
HIGHLY PARTISAN
DEFINITION:
- "A type of misleading news, this may be an interpretation of a real news event where the facts are manipulated to fit an agenda.."1
ASK YOURSELF:
- Is there an "About Us" statement? Does this provide clues to potential bias?
- Does the article combine news with opinion?
- Where on the left to right political continuum does the source fall? To find out use Media Bias/Fact Check.
- Does the story convey bias? Check AllSides to see how the same story is written with different biases.
- Check your confirmation bias. Are you more likely to believe the story because it aligns with your political beliefs?
EXAMPLES:
CLICKBAIT
DEFINITION:
- "The shocking or teasing headlines of these stories trick you into clicking for more information" for the purpose to increasing online advertising revenue via social media sharing.1
ASK YOURSELF:
- Does this have a sensational and provocative headline?
- Does the site look unprofessional -- poorly written and designed?
- Does the content match the headline?
EXAMPLES: