Evaluating Sources

The Anatomy of Fake News offers the first historical examination of fake news for the purpose of creating effective critical news literacy. Higdonemploys a critical-historical media ecosystems approach to identify the producers, themes, purposes, and influences of fake news. The findings are incorporated into an invaluable fake news detection kit.

The world is swimming in misinformation. Conflicting messages bombard us every day with news on everything from politics and world events to investments and alternative health. The daily paper, nightly news, websites, and social media each compete for our attention and each often insist on a different version of the facts. Inevitably, we have questions: Who is telling the truth? How would we know? How did we get here? What can we do? Beyond Fake News answers these and other queries.

Teaching fact checking and verification is an essential part of journalism education. When a confusing media environment includes statements like “Truth is not truth” and “The president offered alternative facts,” students need to go beyond traditional reporting standards. They need to be trained to consider the presentation of reality in deciding if a statement is misleading or patently false. Detecting Deception applies the concepts of logical argumentation to supplement the verification techniques that are the stock and trade of any media professional.

The media and political landscapes are littered with untrustworthy sources and the dangerous concept of "fake news." Bartlett presents actionable tips and tricks for reading critically, judging sources, using fact-checking sites, avoiding confirmation bias, identifying trustworthy experts, and more.