Fake news is a real problem. From allegations of election fraud to Pizzagate, fake news saturates our newsfeeds--and our national discourse. Some say it has compromised the authority of journalism, others say writing fake news stories has brought them a fistful of money. What do we make of this phenomenon? Why is fake news so prevalent these days? And how should we respond?
This resource guide serves as a supplemental guide for the Davidson Now course, "The Story of Fake News," on www.edX.org. In this 2-week course, we'll pose the above questions (and more) to scholars, working journalists, and media pundits in order to get a hold on this complicated issue. Join a vibrant community of critical thinkers who are interested in exploring these questions togeter.
Credible journalists and news publications follow certain standards like the Society of Professional Journalists Code of Ethics.
When reading the news, look for indicators of ethical journalism. Articles with these characteristics tend to be credible.
Real and credible news is verified. Typically this will be done in-house by an editor before publication, but it helps to look for verification from other sources.
These fact-checking organizations independently verify claims made by media outlets. Use them to debunk and call out false information:
Some individuals and groups have also been compiling lists of fake and faulty news agencies:
Interactive Tools and Mobile Apps
Fake News Detector Extensions