Critically assessed information
While browsing her social media, Alice sees a news story that says the company she works for is being acquired by its biggest rival. She quickly posts a response, shares the news with her contacts, and emails it to her team so they can discuss it later.
But then Alice has a troubling thought. What if the news wasn't true? What if she shared a piece of "fake news"? After all, she didn't check the source of the news.
If she was a victim of fake news and then became part of the fake news, how will people trust her again?
Fortunately, there's a lot you can do to avoid making the same mistake Alice did. In this article and video, we explore how you can tell the difference between fake news and real news.
What is Fake News?
There are two types of fake news:
News that are not trueThis is completely fabricated news created to make people believe something false, buy a certain product, or visit a certain website.
News that has a little truth, but is not 100 percent accurate. For example, a journalist quotes only part of what a politician says, without giving the full meaning of what he said. This may be intentional, to persuade readers of a particular point of view, or it may be the result of an innocent mistake. Either way, it quickly attracts an audience and can take root as an “urban myth.”
Note:
To further confuse matters, there are also people who claim that factually accurate stories are fake news, just because they disagree with them.
Where does fake news come from?
Fake news is nothing new. But what is new is how easy it has become to share information – both true and false – on a massive scale.
Social media platforms allow almost anyone to publish their opinions or share news with the world. The problem is that most people don't check the source of the material they see online before sharing it, which can lead to the rapid spread of fake or even "viral" news.
At the same time, it has become more difficult to identify the original source of news, which can make it difficult to assess their accuracy.
This has led to a flood of fake news. In fact, a survey found that more than 25 percent of Americans visited a fake news website in a six-week period during the 2016 US presidential election.
But not all fake news is found online. Anyone who doesn't fact-check news before sharing it is also guilty of spreading misinformation, even if unintentionally.
The impact of fake news in the workplace
STUDIES show that 59 percent of people are concerned about the effect fake news is having in the workplace, and with good reason!
For example, some people may begin to believe that they no longer need evidence to support their arguments. Others begin to distrust information in general. They stop listening to industry reports and disengage from formal workplace communication, slowing their professional growth and development. Ultimately, this can damage an organization’s learning culture.
Fake news can also influence behavior. People are encouraged to make excuses, dismiss other people's ideas, exaggerate the truth, and spread rumors. This can create divided and anxious workplaces where people are cynical and unsure of who to trust.
They may even begin to distrust authority figures if they believe they have been lied to or that the information they are working with is questionable. This can stifle people's curiosity, enthusiasm, and ambition that they need to collaborate and be successful.
Misinformation and fake news can also hurt your business. Made-up reviews of your products or inaccurate financial updates, for example, can seriously damage your business. reputation.
Six ways to spot fake news
Accurately separating fact from fiction can seem daunting. But getting to the truth is always worth it – even if it’s not what you want to hear! Use these six steps to weed out the lies from the truth:
- Develop a Critical Mindset
One of the main reasons why fake news is such a big deal is that it is often believable, so it is easy to fall for. Many fake news stories are also written to create “shock value,” meaning a strong instinctive reaction like fear or anger.
This means that it is essential to keep your emotional response to such stories under control. Instead, approach what you see and hear rationally and critical.
Ask yourself: “Why was this news story written? Is it written to convince me of a certain point of view? Is it selling me a certain product? Or is it trying to get me to click to another website? Am I being influenced?”
2. Check the Source
If you come across a news story from a source you've never heard of before, you should do your research!
Check the web address for the page you are reading. Misspellings in company names or strange extensions like “.infonet” and “.offer,” instead of “.com” or “.co.uk,” can mean the source is suspicious.
Whether the author or publisher is well-known or not, you should consider their reputation and professional experience. Are they known for expertise their own in this matter? Or do they tend to exaggerate?
Be aware that people who spread fake news and “alternative facts” sometimes create websites, newspaper clippings, or “doctored” images that look official but are not. So if you see a suspicious post that looks like it’s from the World Health Organization (WHO), check the WHO’s own website to verify that it’s really there.
Remember, even if you got the news from your best friend, that doesn't give it any extra authority – they probably didn't follow these steps themselves before sharing it!
Tip:
Trusted online fact-checking sites like Snopes can help you verify news that seems too good to be true.
3. Check it out. Who else is reporting it? NEWS
Has anyone else gotten the news? What do other sources say about it?
Avoid jumping to the conclusion that all mainstream media (MSM) outlets are fake. This can be as reckless as following every rumor or conspiracy theory.
Professional global news agencies like Reuters, CNN, and the BBC have rigorous editorial guidelines and extensive networks of highly trained journalists, so they're a good place to start. But no one is impartial and anyone can make a mistake, so keep looking.
4. Examine the evidence
A credible news story will include lots of facts – quotes from experts, survey data and official statistics. Or detailed, consistent and verified eyewitness accounts from people on the scene. If these are missing, be suspicious!
Does the evidence prove that something definitely happened? Or have the facts been selected or “twisted” to support a particular point of view?
5. Don't immediately trust images
Modern editing software has made it easy for people to create fake images that look real. In fact, STUDIES show that only half of us can tell when images are fake. However, there are some warning signs you can look out for. Strange shadows in the image, for example, or jagged edges around a figure.
Images can also be 100 percent accurate but used in the wrong context. For example, photos of debris covering a beach could be from a different beach or from 10 years ago, not from the alleged recent event.
You can use tools such as Google Reverse Image Search to check where an image originated and whether it has been altered.
6. Check that something “sounds right”
Finally, use your common sense! Keep in mind that fake news is designed to “feed” your prejudices, hopes, or fears.
For example, it's unlikely that your favorite designer brand is giving away a million free dresses to people who visit its stores. Likewise, just because your colleague believes that two colleagues who are married are having an extramarital affair doesn't mean it's true.
Tip:
Some news you'll come across will sound "wrong," but it won't necessarily be fake news. It could be intentional satire or something that comes from a humor website, like The Onion or Daily Mash, for example.
Warning:
If these tips suggest that the information you are about to share is false, partial, or malicious, avoid sharing it with others—even if you invite them to check it out. Doing so can lead to the spread of rumors and can damage your professional credibility.
Test your knowledge
Now it's time to put what you've learned into practice! Below are five recent news stories. But can you tell which ones are true and which ones are false? Click on the links next to each one to find out.
"John McCain was photographed next to Osama Bin Laden." True or false??
"California Governor to Move Veterans Cemetery to Make Way for Affordable Housing." True or false??
"New species of deadly spider kills five people in the US." True or false??
"Firefighters are forced to buy more expensive data packages during fires." True or false??
"President Trump's personal lawyer tweets that Hillary Clinton will get 'free room' in prison." True or false??
Main points
Fake news refers to intentional untruths, or stories that contain some truth but are not entirely accurate, either accidentally or by design.
Some people also claim that real news is “fake news” just because they disagree with it. This can lead to dangerously ignoring vital advice.
Fake news can have a negative impact on workplace behavior. For example, by damaging the learning culture and causing the spread of rumors and mistrust. So it is vital to know how to separate the truth from the lies. You can do this by following these six steps:
1. Develop a critical mindset.
2.Check the source.
3. See who else is reporting the news.
4. Examine the evidence.
5. Don't trust images right away.
6. Check that something is “sounding right”.
Article published by mindtools.com