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Fake News: Information and resources on evaluating news

This research guide provides information on recognizing fake news articles and websites, fact-checking, and researching fake news.

What is Fake News?

Fake news sources deliberately publish hoaxes, disinformation, and propaganda designed to deceive readers for the purpose of political and/or financial gain. Fake news sources often follow design conventions of reputable news media sites to make the story seem more credible, making them more likely to be shared on social media. 

Source: Hunt, Elle. "What is fake news? How to spot it and what you can do to stop it." The Guardian, 17 December 2016.

Many news outlets and journalists will exhibit some level of bias in their reporting. However, bias does not necessarily brand stories as false or untrustworthy.  It is important to learn how to tell the difference between false reporting and news stories based on facts.

How to Spot Fake News

By IFLA (http://www.ifla.org/publications/node/11174) [CC BY 4.0  (https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by/4.0)], via Wikimedia Commons

Acknowledgements

Thank you to the creators of the following guides for materials and inspiration:

http://iue.libguides.com/fakenews/index

https://guides.pcc.edu/c.php?g=621843&p=4331528