What is Fake News??
"Fake news" is "fabricated information that mimics news media content in form but not in organizational process or intent. Fake-news outlets, in turn, lack the news media's editorial norms and processes for ensuring the accuracy and credibility of information. Fake news overlaps with other information disorders, such as misinformation (false or misleading information) and disinformation (false information that is purposely spread to deceive people)." [David M. J. Lazer, et al., "The Science of Fake News," Science 09 Mar 2018: Vol. 359, Issue 6380, pp. 1094-1096.].
Journalists at Politico in 2018 have launched, "Is It True? - A Fake News Database." That effort compiles online news that is a hoax, doctored or impostor news publications. Politico accepts submissions from the public of news content falling into these categories. For more information, visit Is It True? About This Project.
Some types of fake news sites:
Bias: Sources that come from a particular point of view and may rely on propaganda, decontextualized information, and opinions distorted as facts.
Clickbait: Outrageous headlines and stories designed to get readers to click open links to a particular webpage. Also referred to as a strategically placed hyperlink. Often uses exaggeration, questionable headlines, misleading social media descriptions, or fictitious images.
strong>Confirmation Bias: When researchers or students seek out information that only confirms their existing beliefs.
Fake News/Hoax News: Sources that intentionally fabricate information, disseminate deceptive content, or distort actual news reports.
Parody/Satire: Sources that use humor, irony, exaggeration, ridicule, and false information to comment on current events. While they often use false headlines, they are created to poke fun at current events or people, not to convince readers that the information is true.
Rumor Mill: Sources that focus on rumors, gossip, innuendo, and unverified claims.
Author: Beth Downey, https://guides.library.msstate.edu/fakenews - What is Fake News?: Evaluating Fake News Sites, Mississippi State
Univ.
