How To Identify Fake News
With digital tools, it is easier than ever to create, edit, and publish your work around the world. but there are costs. And it is easier than ever to spread false information. And counterfeit stories have become a major issue in recent times.
We see this in the readers. According to a Stanford study, only 25% of high school students are able to identify accurate news stories there and are given fake ones. Readers also find it difficult to distinguish between real and non-realistic images as well as real and stage videos.
Investigators used the words "blurred" and "scared" to describe it. But it is not going to happen anytime soon and that is the real problem. So, how do we fix it? Here is a five-step process I used with students.
A word of warning. It's not perfect and maybe there are other models out there but I thought I'd share it if you might want to use it.
We call it the 5 C’s of critical consumption.
#1: Context -
Look at the context of the article. When was it written? Where does it come from? Have the events changed since then? Is there any new information that could change your perspective?
#2: Credibility -
Check the credibility of the source. Does the site have a reputation for journalistic integrity? Does the author cite credible sources? Or is it satirical? Is it on a list of fake news sites? Is it actually an advertisement posing as a real news story?
#3: Construction -
Analyze the construction of the article. What is the bias? Are there any loaded words? Any propaganda techniques? Any omissions that you should look out for? Can you distinguish between the facts and opinions? Or is it simply all speculation?
#4: Corroboration -
Corroborate the information with other credible news sources. Make sure it’s not the only source making the claim. If it is, there’s a good chance it’s actually not true.
#5: Compare -
Compare it to other news sources to get different perspectives. Find other credible sources from other areas of the ideological or political spectrum to provide nuance and get a bigger picture of what’s actually happening.
See, when we teach students media literacy, and they learn how to consume critically, they learn how to think critically. And critical thinking citizens are good for democracy. And that’s good for everyone.
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