Information Literacy (LIBR 2100)

What is news?

Are trends news?

How, when, why do you get your news?

Are your news sources affected by your search habits, your online contacts, your online shopping, etc.?

Image source: Beware Online “Filter Bubbles” by Eli Pariser (2011). TED Talk video available: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=B8ofWFx525s

fake news [noun]
uk /ˌfeɪk ˈnjuːz/ us /ˌfeɪk ˈnuːz/
false, often sensational, information disseminated under the guise of news reporting
Source: Collins English Dictionary

Fake news was the Collins Dictionary Word of the Year for 2017.

Beyond Fake News

The problem with the term 'fake news' is that it is used to describe many types of disinformation. It is important to be aware of the motivation behind disinformation and its potential impact.

• Propaganda: Publishing untrue or fake information for financial or political gain.
• Clickbait: Sensationalized headlines designed to lure users to websites for commercial and political purposes.
• Sponsored Content: Written for profit, often between a company and news organizations’ advertising team.
• Satire, Parody or Hoax: Using humour, exaggeration, or irony to highlight shortcomings in society.
• Error: Mistakes happen. Legitimate news sources will apologize and attempt to set the record straight.
• Partisan: News reporting with a strong partisan political viewpoint.
• Conspiracy Theory: Any theory that purports to explain something by ascribing it to collusion among powerful conspirators acting in secrecy.
• Pseudoscience: Using the facade of scientific methods to legitimize disinformation
• Misinformation: Poorly researched or deliberately misleading reporting
• Bogus: News that is completely fabricated

International Federation of Library Associations and Institutions (2016). How to spot fake news [image]. Retrieved from https://www.ifla.org/publications/node/11174

Fake news is hard to spot because it mimics the appearance of legitimate news. Here are some steps that might help.

Consider the source
Click away from the story to learn more about the website. What are other trustworthy sites and experts saying about the source.  For a picture, try a reverse image search to find out where it was originally used, and whether it has been altered.

Read beyond
Beware of outrageous headlines, statements in ALL CAPS, and sensational images designed to get clicks. Read widely. Do not depend on one source.

Check the author
Do a quick search on the author to find out if they are credible (or even a real person). What is the person's background? What qualifications do they have, and how are they related to the topic they are writing about?

Supporting sources?
Check to make sure the links support the story -- and are credible.

Check the date
Is this an old story?

Is it a joke?
If the image looks unbelievable or the news sounds too outrageous, it may be satire. Research the site and the author to check.

Check your biases
Consider whether your own beliefs might affect your judgment.

Consult with an expert
Ask a librarian, or visit a fact-checking site like Factcheck.org, snopes.com, politifact.com, etc..

Can You Spot Fake News?

Test your skills at recognizing disinformation by playing Factitious, a game that tests your ability to detect fake news from real.

 Organizations/publications that are considered trustworthy or reliable often do the following:

• Fact-check their sources and themselves (ombudsmen), be upfront about practices/methods they use to gain information
• Admit when they are wrong—issue corrections or retractions
• Recognize their own power and authority when it comes to truth and informing the public
• Be transparent about their work, their advertising, their partners, etc. Their policies are often available on their websites.

Look for these signs of trustworthiness and reliability on your news sites.

 What can we do?

• Don’t share before you’ve read the article
• Take your time to evaluate before sharing
  • Look for clues – Biased phrases? URL? Transparency? Comments?
  • Be aware of your own biases and emotional responses. Do you want to believe the article? Ask yourself why
  • Consult a fact-checking site
    • Factcheck.org, snopes.com, politifact.com, etc.
• When appropriate (e.g. in response to a post from a friend), politely and respectfully engage in discussion.

 If you don’t have time to evaluate: Don’t share/repost

Breakstone, J., McGrew, S., Smith, M., Ortega, T., & Wineburg, S. (2018). Why we need a new approach to teaching digital literacy. Phi Delta Kappan, Retrieved from http://www.kappanonline.org/breakstone-need-new-approach-teaching-digital-literacy/.

Gooblar, D. (2018). How to teach information literacy in an era of lies. The Chronicle of Higher Education. Retrieved from https://www.chronicle.com/article/How-to-Teach-Information/243973