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Fake News: Home

Evaluating news sources for credibility.

What is fake news?

Cambridge Dictionary definition of fake new is false stories that appear to be newsspread on the internet or using other media, usually created to influence political views or as a joke.

https://dictionary.cambridge.org/us/dictionary/english/fake-news

Types of Fake News

  • Fake News or Hoax News - Stories that promote false information. While they may be loosely influenced by facts, these stories can't be verified. These stories often rely on language designed to get an emotional response (like outrage) from readers.
  • Clickbait - Outrageous headlines and stories designed to get readers to click open links to a particular webpage. These often try to manipulate emotions or elicit surprise. You've seen a lot of this already - it often involves politics or celebrities.
  • Hyper-partisan or Heavily Biased News - Stories that present facts, often carefully selected, through a biased perspective. There are different levels of bias, but credible reporters and news sites attempt to present facts with objectivity. 
  • News Parody/Satire - Stories that parody current events and reporting. 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.

Fake News Infographic

Fact Checking Sites