Discerning fact from fiction is a bit more involving these days, given how technology enables people to spread and react to such information instantaneously. As some media sources attempt to be more entertaining, focusing on opinions and sensationalism rather than objective journalistic research and reporting, any truth to be found can remain hidden. Mix in a little social media - some shares and likes - and things can suddenly go viral, spreading quickly on and beyond the World Wide Web, even if such assertions are incorrect or completely baseless.
"Fake news" stories are not exclusive to the Internet or election cycles. In fact, untrue news has proliferated since the invention of the printing press, and was there, long before that, traveling mainly by word of mouth or radio. One famous example is Orson Welles' 1938 War of the Worlds broadcast, which provoked nationwide panic over the possibility of an alien invasion.
Throughout history, fake news stories were often used as propaganda, advancing certain interests and agendas, shaping public opinions, and perpetuating misperceptions deliberately
Critical Thinking to the Rescue
Combating lies, detecting bias, discovering larger truths, and raising awareness (in ourselves and others) of potential disinformation has always presented challenges, particularly where answers are not as obvious or clearly defined as we might prefer. We must keep these things in mind as we approach a central question here: how can we know if something is fake?Which leads to another question: where can we turn in our search for truth? If it were simply a matter of finding reliable information sources, we could simply consult such sources. But there are no perfect and infallible sources. Experts can misspeak or make mistakes. Respected sources can publish incorrect statements or retract stories entirely.
With regards to online news, the Web is essentially an ever-expanding mass of information put there by anyone from anywhere, professional or otherwise. Old information and perceptions can persist. More current and complete information could be buried in millions of search results no human has the time to inspect. Knowledge and understandings develop and spread imperfectly.
Accepted so-called facts can change over time as new information comes to light. Then, there are always those who deliberately attempt to distort or obliterate truth.
Checking the Facts...
We must often go beyond simple skepticism, question apparent authority, and begin to inquire more deeply. Thankfully, you are not entirely left on your own in these matters!Some notable "fact-checkers," such as Snopes, FactCheck.org and Politifact.com, are tracking and evaluating certain news items.
Other news agencies and organizations, such as BBC and National Public Radio (NPR), are making efforts to educate the public on the phenomenon of fake news.
Thrall is also here to help! In addition to our Critical Thinking Skills website, where you can begin to learn some of the questions you should be asking, we also offer lists of websites you visit to verify or deconstruct various assertions, hoaxes, popular misconceptions, and trending news topics.
Our online Ready Reference guide, contains links to potentially helpful websites as well as items within the library system catalog under the following subject areas:
- Fact Checkers
- Issues & Viewpoints
- Media Watchdogs & News Analysis
- Urban Legends
Going Further...
Beyond that, the totality of our library's collections, traditional and electronic informational services, and our dedicated librarians are available to you all year long. Also, as part of a larger collective of libraries (RCLS), we can help you locate materials on nearly any topic imaginable - however fanciful or true - across many different libraries.Please remember this: in your lifelong search for truth and understanding, you have a permanent ally and friend here at the public library, the only nonprofit institution in this world devoted, every single day by its very mission, to serve everyone by preserving and providing free and comprehensive access to the spectrum of human knowledge.