Recognizing Fake News, Hoaxes, False Reports, Satire, Propaganda, Sponsored Content, Commentary
By Laura Rockefeller
It’s often very difficult to discern trustworthy sources from untrustworthy ones. Memes and articles featuring false information can circulate on the Internet, making people susceptible to believing faulty stories simply because they are being shared by others. See if you can answer the following questions to determine the difference between reliable sources and those that deserve more scrutiny.| 1. What questions or concerns should this article raise? | |
| 2. Which of these articles would you read to get the facts on year-round schools? Why? | |
| 3. Is this a credible article? In other words: Fake or Real? | |
| 4. Is this meme credible? In other words: Fake or Real? | |
| 5. Are there any reasons you might not trust this article? | |
| 6. What makes this headline credible or not? | |
| 7. Is this a credible article? In other words: Fake or Real? * Note: "ETF" stands for "End the Fed" | |
| 8. Is this a credible article? In other words: Fake or Real? | |
| 9. Is this a credible article? In other words: Fake or Real? | |
| 10. How can you tell if a TV show or website is using satire? SNL: Fake or Real? | |
| 11. Is this headline credible? In other words: Fake or Real? | |
| 12. Ben Franklin’s “Join or Die” depicts a snake whose split-apart body symbolizes the Colonies. How does this image influence viewers? | |
| 13. Is this article credible? | |
| 14. On March 11, 2011, there was a large nuclear disaster at the Fukushima Daiichi Nuclear Power Plant in Japan. This image was posted on Imgur, a photo sharing website, in July 2015. Does this post provide strong evidence about the conditions near the Fukushima Daiichi Nuclear Power Plant? Explain your reasoning. |
Laura Rockefeller is a junior at Roland Park Country School in Baltimore, Maryland and a NewsHour Extra intern.
