One rarely reads a newspaper today – in print or online – without seeing a “fact checking” story. It’s just another facet of the fake news era we live in.
Gone are the days where you can safely assume that the information you see in the news or online is accurate. There’s always someone, or some group or organization, ready to feed you something that is not true. With the onslaught of misinformation, or disinformation, it is more important than ever to be diligent in reviewing and assessing what you see or hear.
How do you spot fake news? Here are few tips.
- Consider the source – look at the source of the information. Is it reputable, does it list a mission and contact information?
- Check out the author – look for other stories or reports to see if this is a published author/ reporter with other credible reports.
- Read beyond the headline – headlines are there to get your attention. Take a look at the whole story.
- Always check the date – a story that’s reposted may no longer be relevant to the topic at hand.
- Ask the experts – look at other sites, including fact-checking sites, to see if there’s support for what’s being reported.
As a news consumer, it’s more important than ever before to evaluate and verify the information you are reading.