Fake News & Media Literacy

This video from Cyberwise.org's Fake News Learning Hub is a great introduction to the concept of fake news.

How to Recognize Fake News

Here are a few basic questions to consider whenever you encounter a piece of media:

• Who made this? 
• Who is the target audience?
• Who paid for this? Or, who gets paid if you click on this?
• Who might benefit or be harmed by this message?
• What is left out of this message that might be important?
• Is this credible (and what makes you think that)?

Source: Project Look Sharp 

How to Spot Fake News

• Consider the Source - Click away from the story to investigate the site, its mission and its contact info.

• Read Beyond - Headlines can be outrageous in an effort to get clicks. What's the whole story?

• Check the Author - Do a quick search on the author. Are they credible? Are they real?

• Supporting Sources? - Click on those links. Determine if the info given actually supports the story. 

• Check the Date - Reposting old news stories doesn't mean they're relevant to current events.

• Is it a Joke? - If it is too outlandish, it might be satire. Research the site and author to be sure. 

• Check your Biases - Consider if your own beliefs could affect your judgment. 

• Ask the Experts - Ask a librarian or consult a fact-checking site. 

Infographic Source: https://blogs.ifla.org/lpa/files/2017/01/How-to-Spot-Fake-News.pdf