LibGuides: Fake News: Misinformation, Disinformation, Propaganda: Home

FAKE NEWS: Misinformation, Disinformation, Proaganda

A guide to help students spot and fight fake news
In times of change, upheaval, and crisis (like the Coronavirus pandemic) misinformation abounds. Why? Sometimes we are trying to help each other by sharing a potentially useful article, sometimes we are sharing a funny meme that is misinterpreted, sometimes we do not trust "authority" and want to show "other" points of view.
Actually, humans ARE careful about the inputs they receive...this is one of the reasons we have survived.... When evaluating information, we first compare it (subconsciously) with our existing beliefs and experiences: if it fits, we tend to accept the information. Messages that seem to clash with our personal experience, especially if it calls for some action or sacrifice, are rejected.

Fake news takes advantage of these instincts and overcoming our initial reactions requires vigilance...so read on for some tips to improve your news literacy and critical thinking skills.

Essential Terms and Definitions

Find more useful terms in the Terms and Definitions tab above
misinformation refers to inaccuracies that stem from error, false information that spreads, regardless of whether there is intent to mislead; false information that's given without malice

disinformation is deliberate falsehood promulgated by design; deliberately misleading or biased information; manipulated narrative or facts; propaganda; false information, such as government propaganda, that's given with the intention to deceive

credible refers to information that is not just believable but... is convincingly true, accurate and reputable" (OED Online)

fake news

false news stories, often of a sensational nature, created to be widely shared or distributed for the purpose of generating revenue, or promoting or discrediting a public figure, political movement, company, etc..
a parody that presents current events or other news topics for humorous effect in a satirical imitation of journalism
false stories that have the appearance of news, spread on the internet or other media, usually created to influence views or as a joke
a form of news consisting of deliberate disinformation or hoaxes, spread via traditional news media (Newspapers/radio) or online social media
information posing as news, but which has not been verified and is not true. It could be clickbait, rumors, hoaxes, propaganda, or satire. Today fake news is overwhelmingly web-driven, but fake news is not new, for instance think of the Yellow Journalism of the late 19th century

news literacy - the ability to use critical thinking skills to judge the reliability and credibility of news reports, whether they come via print, television or the Internet.

Fake News

Critical thinking is a key skill in media and information literacy, and the mission of libraries is to educate and advocate its importance.

An infographic on fake news from IFLA (the International Federation of Library Associations and Institutions) - translations of the infographic are also avaliable here https://www.ifla.org/publications/node/11174