Fake News: an analysis of its Identifiers

BY BRITTNEY CHANNER

Fake news; remember this term? Some people associate this term with the 2016 election and the presidency of Donald Trump. It is a term that he frequently uses when a news organization or media outlet purports a story that, in Trump’s opinion may be false or doesn’t agree with. Although many people have found the concept of fake news entertaining, the question of where we get our information should be an issue of concern.

So, what is fake news? Well, fake news is a term that is used to refer to fabricated news; a lie created out of nothing that takes the form of truth with the goal of deceiving people. For some, it could be easy to spot a false story but for others, it can be quite difficult. The important thing to remember regarding fake news is to understand that the information is false but can often seem true. In addition, fake news can also be seen as a rumor that is spread rapidly, but particularly on a grand scale of things; such as politics.

You might have unconsciously seen plenty of examples of fake news stories spread throughout your many social media platforms such as the death of your favorite celebrity, incorrect medical or heath advice, or news that promotes racist ideology. Regardless if you can correctly identify what fake news is, it is imperative to know how false reports can distract our overall comprehension of a story therefore leading to deception and bias. Nevertheless, I have created a list of warning signs you should look out for when you are reading any news article that can essentially help you detect if the news topic or the source is legitimate.

Pay attention to quality and timeliness. If you are reading an article whether in the newspaper or online and you notice there are a lot of spelling errors, capitalizations or dramatic usage of punctuation like exclamation marks; this could be a clear give away that you are possibly reading fake news. In addition, take a look at the timeliness of the article. Is the story being recycled numerously? Is the older story being taken out of context? If it is, you may want to cease reading and find a more reputable source of the topic you are reading into.

Check the sources and citations of the article. How did you find the article? Did it magically appear on one of your social media platforms? Or is it a promoted article strategically designed for click bait? Regardless of where and how you found an article, it is imperative that you proceed with caution and ensure that you are verifying the author’s credentials to avoid the spreading of misleading or false news.

Also, is the information that you found available on other sites? If not, then it is highly likely that other journalists are still determining if the information provided is factual. The less research that is available on a topic usually means there is a lack of fact based information.

Investigate the publisher’s credibility. Who is the author? Have they written or published other work? One should be suspicious if the author is writing for a site that is unknown or if their contact information ends with “Gmail” or other personal email domains.

Does the photo in the article match the content? Is it an original photo that accurately documents the information in the article? Or is the picture downloaded or borrowed from an alternate website that inaccurately describes the content? It is common for many fake news articles to find pictures and attach them to their story to create legitimacy. It is important that you as a reader are aware of this practice and attempt to safeguard yourself from false information.

Although these are just some of the key identifiers one can utilize to prevent the spreading of false information, there are more tips one can learn to ensure they are not being mislead. Being able to spot fake news is important, especially to social justice because it not only allows people to believe false things, but it makes them less likely to consume or accept information. So, the next time you are casually led to a random website purporting a particular message, see if you can apply the tips mentioned above and I guarantee it will change the way you view and comprehend information.