Warning Signs: Tips for Spotting Phony Facts and Fake News
In an era when websites and online newspapers earn income by the number of clicks they receive, writing the most inflammatory
version of events is a sure way to attract readers. In 2017, the author of the “Annoyed Librarian” series in Library Journal examined and debunked the following fake news stories:
-
California School Defunded for Having Too Many White Students
-
Rollins College Suspends Student After He Challenged Radical Muslim Hate Speech
-
Libraries Become New Domestic Terrorism Target in Trump Wave of Hate Crimes
All are examples of “fake news” that contain an element of truth exaggerated and rewritten to attract and inflame readers.
They take as evidence the claims made by people involved in the story, without investigating the claims themselves. Or they
connect two events which may or may not have any real connection to each other. Or they characterize troubling but isolated
incidents as symptoms of larger trends.
If there’s no attribution in the source material, treat it with suspicion.
How, then, can researchers distinguish between phony “facts” and real ones? Remember to ask: Who says? Reliable sources give
attribution for things they say—they make it a point to let us know where the information came from so that we can check it for ourselves.
Attribution is a source’s way of saying, “I didn’t make this up.” If there’s no attribution in the source material, treat
it with suspicion.
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View Transcript
Hide Transcript
This video busts some common research myths and provides tips on how you can use Digital Literacy to conduct better research.
Rosen Digital
|
|
Research myths and facts: make the grade. You've got a project, so you turn to the internet, but Googling doesn't always cut
it. How do you know you can trust your sources? Where do you start? Digital Literacy gives you the tools to research effectively.
From fact-finding tips to interactive activities, videos, and more. Learn where to find reliable sources and save time and
energy. Get info fast: jumpstart your projects and make the grade. Myth: Wikipedia is a trustworthy source because it usually
appears near the top of search engine results. Fact: Wikipedia might be good for quick, at-a-glance answers, but it should
not be your first and last stop while doing research. Wikipedia is a living encyclopedia that anyone can update. While the
site has a team of editors reviewing content, you can't and shouldn't rely on it for your schoolwork. Myth: a researcher just
needs one really good search key word or phrase and one reliable search engine. Fact: refine your search terms as you do your
research to get more accurate results. Being more specific in your search and trying out different terms and search engines
can help you find what you're looking for faster. Myth: the newest information comes from the web. Fact: just because a website
appears at the top of your search results, doesn't mean it's the most up-to-date. Popular sites can have outdated or inaccurate
information. Even government and academic sites aren't always updated with the newest info. Be sure to check when a website
or article was updated to make sure the information you use for your research is current. Want more information about search
and research skills? Check out these related articles.
|
Exaggeration and innuendo are also things to look out for. Another word for exaggeration is “hyperbole,” or “hype.” Some news organizations hype stories
and facts to make them seem more important than they really are. “Innuendo” is a word that means saying something without
really putting it into words, or saying something indirectly. We see examples in news stories that ask questions without answering
them—for instance, an article that shows a picture of a man’s face with the headline: “Is This Man a Murderer?” If it has
been proved that the man is a murderer, the headline should say so. Otherwise, it shouldn’t be implied.
Mistakes in writing and punctuation can be another sign of source trouble. Everybody makes mistakes, but if a source is careless
with spelling and grammar, we have to wonder how careful the source is with facts.
Emotional and inflammatory language is a strong indicator of bias. Racial slurs and hate speech are extreme examples of this. Other kinds of emotional language appeal to our pity, envy, pride,
or other feelings, rather than our thinking. Emotional language can be deceiving. For instance, a charity that helps sick
children might use very emotional language to appeal for donations. Although the organization might seem credible and the
cause worthy (who wouldn’t want to help sick kids?), it’s best to take a closer look. Does the organization say that it has
actually helped any children? Does the organization have any proof of its success?
A Simple Test
 |
Professional journalists are taught to avoid personal bias, but everyone has a unique viewpoint. Newspeople often report things
in different ways because they have different ideas of what’s important. View Larger Image |
|
Scott Olson/Getty Images
|
Sometimes it’s possible to spot phony facts just by looking at them. When there is doubt about a source’s accuracy, conducting
this simple two-part test may help:
-
Search online for the source’s name. What do others say about the source? What are the source’s qualifications? What does
the source do for a living? Does the source have anything to gain by slanting the information?
-
Find material similar to that of the source by doing a search using key phrases from the source’s material. Does this material
agree with the source’s material? Has anybody else used the source’s material?
If the source fails either part of the test, don’t trust it. Dump the source and move on. Check the comparison material from
the second step for possible new sources.
Recognizing Bias
“Bias” is a term that describes a slanted or prejudiced point of view. Everyone has a point of view, and everyone presents
information from that viewpoint. No one, not even the best source, can be entirely free of bias. We all have our points of
view and our likes and dislikes. Professional reporters are taught to watch out for their personal biases and keep them out
of their reporting as much as possible.
 |
On their Comedy Central shows, comedians Stephen Colbert (left) and Jon Stewart (right) got many of their laughs by mocking
what they saw as bias in reporting by the major news organizations. View Larger Image |
|
Brad Barket/Getty Images for Comedy Central
|
However, some bias is intentional. Some sources want others to see things as they do and therefore intentionally leave out
important facts. They may also treat trivial facts as being important. Biased sources usually don’t reveal why they want to
slant the information.
When we suspect bias, we should ask ourselves these questions:
The best way to detect bias is to check the source against other sources. In fact, it’s often the only way. That’s why researchers
try to have at least two sources for every piece of information. When it comes to sources, more is always better.
Using multiple sources to test for credibility is a two-step process. The first step is to find out what others say about
the source. Are they a Nobel Prize scholar? A veteran reporter? A notorious practical joker? If the source is credible, proceed
to the second step, which is to find out if other sources agree with the information. Do other sources say something slightly
different? Do they say something entirely different? For most topics, there are plenty of sources available on the Internet
or in the library. With practice, bias becomes easier to spot.
Serious Information?
Sometimes the look of a web page provides clues about the quality of information that it has. Weird wallpaper? Lots of different
fonts in different colors? Cute icons? Quirky little apps? These can be warning signs. If a site doesn’t have a serious design,
it might be good to consider whether or not it contains serious information.
There’s nothing wrong with interesting graphic elements. And facts don’t have to look dull. However, it’s more important that
the page be functional. Does the site have useful information? Do all the site’s links work? Do the links connect to credible
sources? Do the links connect to information about the site?
Spotting Deepfakes
A deepfake is a video created by artificial intelligence (AI) and appearing to be something it is not, whether that’s a political
candidate saying something politically damaging, a celebrity engaging in pornographic behavior, or a financial offer meant
to steal your money. Deepfakes are increasingly sophisticated, able to trick even the most savvy and suspicious digital natives,
but there are some things you can look out for:
-
Do a reverse search on the image or video to find out who originally created it. If they have a strong reason to create the
image, such as persuading you to think or act in a certain way, they have more reason to create a fake.
-
See where else it has been displayed. If none of the other places are credible sources, it may be a fake.
-
If the image is of a human, pay attention to details in the face. Does the facial hair look real and consistent? Is the skin
too smooth or too wrinkled? Are the skin tone and age on the face similar to the skin on the rest of the body?
-
Pay attention to the lighting. Do the shadows seem realistic and consistent with each other? Is there a natural glare or distortion
in the eyes from someone wearing glasses?
-
Pay attention to the lips. Many deepfake videos use lip syncing. Do the lips move naturally? Do they stop and start at the
same rate as the words being spoken?
-
Does the person blink naturally? Do they turn their head in ways that look natural?
-
Most importantly, don’t believe everything you see.
Warning Signs: Tips for Spotting Phony Facts and Fake News
In an era when websites and online newspapers earn income by the number of clicks they receive, writing the most inflammatory
version of events is a sure way to attract readers. In 2017, the author of the “Annoyed Librarian” series in Library Journal examined and debunked the following fake news stories:
-
California School Defunded for Having Too Many White Students
-
Rollins College Suspends Student After He Challenged Radical Muslim Hate Speech
-
Libraries Become New Domestic Terrorism Target in Trump Wave of Hate Crimes
All are examples of “fake news” that contain an element of truth exaggerated and rewritten to attract and inflame readers.
They take as evidence the claims made by people involved in the story, without investigating the claims themselves. Or they
connect two events which may or may not have any real connection to each other. Or they characterize troubling but isolated
incidents as symptoms of larger trends.
If there’s no attribution in the source material, treat it with suspicion.
How, then, can researchers distinguish between phony “facts” and real ones? Remember to ask: Who says? Reliable sources give
attribution for things they say—they make it a point to let us know where the information came from so that we can check it for ourselves.
Attribution is a source’s way of saying, “I didn’t make this up.” If there’s no attribution in the source material, treat
it with suspicion.
|
|
|
View Transcript
Hide Transcript
This video busts some common research myths and provides tips on how you can use Digital Literacy to conduct better research.
Rosen Digital
|
|
Research myths and facts: make the grade. You've got a project, so you turn to the internet, but Googling doesn't always cut
it. How do you know you can trust your sources? Where do you start? Digital Literacy gives you the tools to research effectively.
From fact-finding tips to interactive activities, videos, and more. Learn where to find reliable sources and save time and
energy. Get info fast: jumpstart your projects and make the grade. Myth: Wikipedia is a trustworthy source because it usually
appears near the top of search engine results. Fact: Wikipedia might be good for quick, at-a-glance answers, but it should
not be your first and last stop while doing research. Wikipedia is a living encyclopedia that anyone can update. While the
site has a team of editors reviewing content, you can't and shouldn't rely on it for your schoolwork. Myth: a researcher just
needs one really good search key word or phrase and one reliable search engine. Fact: refine your search terms as you do your
research to get more accurate results. Being more specific in your search and trying out different terms and search engines
can help you find what you're looking for faster. Myth: the newest information comes from the web. Fact: just because a website
appears at the top of your search results, doesn't mean it's the most up-to-date. Popular sites can have outdated or inaccurate
information. Even government and academic sites aren't always updated with the newest info. Be sure to check when a website
or article was updated to make sure the information you use for your research is current. Want more information about search
and research skills? Check out these related articles.
|
Exaggeration and innuendo are also things to look out for. Another word for exaggeration is “hyperbole,” or “hype.” Some news organizations hype stories
and facts to make them seem more important than they really are. “Innuendo” is a word that means saying something without
really putting it into words, or saying something indirectly. We see examples in news stories that ask questions without answering
them—for instance, an article that shows a picture of a man’s face with the headline: “Is This Man a Murderer?” If it has
been proved that the man is a murderer, the headline should say so. Otherwise, it shouldn’t be implied.
Mistakes in writing and punctuation can be another sign of source trouble. Everybody makes mistakes, but if a source is careless
with spelling and grammar, we have to wonder how careful the source is with facts.
Emotional and inflammatory language is a strong indicator of bias. Racial slurs and hate speech are extreme examples of this. Other kinds of emotional language appeal to our pity, envy, pride,
or other feelings, rather than our thinking. Emotional language can be deceiving. For instance, a charity that helps sick
children might use very emotional language to appeal for donations. Although the organization might seem credible and the
cause worthy (who wouldn’t want to help sick kids?), it’s best to take a closer look. Does the organization say that it has
actually helped any children? Does the organization have any proof of its success?
A Simple Test
|
Professional journalists are taught to avoid personal bias, but everyone has a unique viewpoint. Newspeople often report things
in different ways because they have different ideas of what’s important. View Larger Image |
|
Scott Olson/Getty Images
|
Sometimes it’s possible to spot phony facts just by looking at them. When there is doubt about a source’s accuracy, conducting
this simple two-part test may help:
-
Search online for the source’s name. What do others say about the source? What are the source’s qualifications? What does
the source do for a living? Does the source have anything to gain by slanting the information?
-
Find material similar to that of the source by doing a search using key phrases from the source’s material. Does this material
agree with the source’s material? Has anybody else used the source’s material?
If the source fails either part of the test, don’t trust it. Dump the source and move on. Check the comparison material from
the second step for possible new sources.
Recognizing Bias
“Bias” is a term that describes a slanted or prejudiced point of view. Everyone has a point of view, and everyone presents
information from that viewpoint. No one, not even the best source, can be entirely free of bias. We all have our points of
view and our likes and dislikes. Professional reporters are taught to watch out for their personal biases and keep them out
of their reporting as much as possible.
|
On their Comedy Central shows, comedians Stephen Colbert (left) and Jon Stewart (right) got many of their laughs by mocking
what they saw as bias in reporting by the major news organizations. View Larger Image |
|
Brad Barket/Getty Images for Comedy Central
|
However, some bias is intentional. Some sources want others to see things as they do and therefore intentionally leave out
important facts. They may also treat trivial facts as being important. Biased sources usually don’t reveal why they want to
slant the information.
When we suspect bias, we should ask ourselves these questions:
The best way to detect bias is to check the source against other sources. In fact, it’s often the only way. That’s why researchers
try to have at least two sources for every piece of information. When it comes to sources, more is always better.
Using multiple sources to test for credibility is a two-step process. The first step is to find out what others say about
the source. Are they a Nobel Prize scholar? A veteran reporter? A notorious practical joker? If the source is credible, proceed
to the second step, which is to find out if other sources agree with the information. Do other sources say something slightly
different? Do they say something entirely different? For most topics, there are plenty of sources available on the Internet
or in the library. With practice, bias becomes easier to spot.
Serious Information?
Sometimes the look of a web page provides clues about the quality of information that it has. Weird wallpaper? Lots of different
fonts in different colors? Cute icons? Quirky little apps? These can be warning signs. If a site doesn’t have a serious design,
it might be good to consider whether or not it contains serious information.
There’s nothing wrong with interesting graphic elements. And facts don’t have to look dull. However, it’s more important that
the page be functional. Does the site have useful information? Do all the site’s links work? Do the links connect to credible
sources? Do the links connect to information about the site?
Spotting Deepfakes
A deepfake is a video created by artificial intelligence (AI) and appearing to be something it is not, whether that’s a political
candidate saying something politically damaging, a celebrity engaging in pornographic behavior, or a financial offer meant
to steal your money. Deepfakes are increasingly sophisticated, able to trick even the most savvy and suspicious digital natives,
but there are some things you can look out for:
-
Do a reverse search on the image or video to find out who originally created it. If they have a strong reason to create the
image, such as persuading you to think or act in a certain way, they have more reason to create a fake.
-
See where else it has been displayed. If none of the other places are credible sources, it may be a fake.
-
If the image is of a human, pay attention to details in the face. Does the facial hair look real and consistent? Is the skin
too smooth or too wrinkled? Are the skin tone and age on the face similar to the skin on the rest of the body?
-
Pay attention to the lighting. Do the shadows seem realistic and consistent with each other? Is there a natural glare or distortion
in the eyes from someone wearing glasses?
-
Pay attention to the lips. Many deepfake videos use lip syncing. Do the lips move naturally? Do they stop and start at the
same rate as the words being spoken?
-
Does the person blink naturally? Do they turn their head in ways that look natural?
-
Most importantly, don’t believe everything you see.
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