What is fake news? Is it malicious—or just lazy? And what can we do to avoid it? Read below to understand this phenomenon and how you can navigate our changing media landscape.
The End of Traditional Publishing
In the past, information came to us through only a few established, official channels, such as the evening news, the local newspaper, or a traditional publishing house. Information transfer through these methods was slow, as each news interview, article, or book passed through multiple hands in the selection, editing, and distribution process.
By contrast, in today's world of instant communication, information comes to us from an unlimited number of sources. We watch vloggers discuss important topics on TikTok or YouTube, download ebooks directly from the author's webpage, or stream a podcast from our smart phones. Without the traditional publishing process, this information is distributed immediately and often without any oversight. This results in a large amount of misinformation that end users have to sift through on their own.
The Rise of Fake News
While a lot of bad information comes from those with good intentions (but poor quality control), there has also been a rise in malicious actors who spread false information on purpose. They may be doing so for a variety of reasons, from getting people to buy their products to convincing people to vote a different way in an election. Fake news can range from covering a news story in a biased manner to completely inventing information with the intent to influence readers.
SMART Evaluation
As end users of information, what can we do? One helpful tool is the SMART evaluation. While reading, consider the following:
Source
Who is the author or publisher? Are they an expert on the topic? What kind of website does this appear on?
Motivation
What is the purpose of the information? Is this fact, opinion, or propaganda? Does the information have a political or ideological bias?
Accuracy
Is the information supported by evidence with its sources cited? Has the information been reviewed by experts? Can you verify the same information in another source? Is the information free from errors in spelling or grammar?
Relevance
Who is the intended audience of this information?
Timeliness
When was this information published or updated? Are the links functional?
Keep these tips in mind when reviewing any new information, especially when researching for your coursework. Check out additional resources below.
Readers will learn more about the rise of fake news, particularly those information behaviors that have perpetuated its spread; discover techniques to identify fake news, especially online; and explore methods to help library patrons of all ages think critically about information, teaching them ways to separate fact from fiction.
What is fake news? Is it malicious—or just lazy? And what can we do to avoid it? Read below to understand this phenomenon and how you can navigate our changing media landscape.
The End of Traditional Publishing
In the past, information came to us through only a few established, official channels, such as the evening news, the local newspaper, or a traditional publishing house. Information transfer through these methods was slow, as each news interview, article, or book passed through multiple hands in the selection, editing, and distribution process.
By contrast, in today's world of instant communication, information comes to us from an unlimited number of sources. We watch vloggers discuss important topics on TikTok or YouTube, download ebooks directly from the author's webpage, or stream a podcast from our smart phones. Without the traditional publishing process, this information is distributed immediately and often without any oversight. This results in a large amount of misinformation that end users have to sift through on their own.
The Rise of Fake News
While a lot of bad information comes from those with good intentions (but poor quality control), there has also been a rise in malicious actors who spread false information on purpose. They may be doing so for a variety of reasons, from getting people to buy their products to convincing people to vote a different way in an election. Fake news can range from covering a news story in a biased manner to completely inventing information with the intent to influence readers.
SMART Evaluation
As end users of information, what can we do? One helpful tool is the SMART evaluation. While reading, consider the following:
Keep these tips in mind when reviewing any new information, especially when researching for your coursework. Check out additional resources below.
For more tips and sources, check out the South College Library's Fact-Checking: How to Guide Research Guide.
Library Resources
After Truth: Disinformation and the Cost of Fake News
Publication Date: 2020
An HBO documentary on the consequences of disinformation and fake news in the era of social media.
Publication Date: 2020
Publication Date: 2020
Publication Date: 2018
Useful Websites