Dictionary.com defines fake news as, "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."
“Here's How Fake News Works (and How the Internet Can Stop It)” YouTube, uploaded by Wired, 14 Feb. 2017, https://youtu.be/frjITitjisY.
Check the source. Find the homepage and see if it looks legitimate. Google the name of the source and see what others are saying about it.
Consider for yourself if the story is really plausible. Do you really think the President would sign a bill saying that everyone must kneel for the national anthem?
Don't judge a book (or a news article in this case), by it's cover. Just because something looks convincing, that does not mean it is accurate.
Take a look at the URL. Many times it is fake or a spoofed name. For instance www.foxnews.com becomes www.foxnewsforyou.com.
Are other news sites reporting on the story? Look at sites you know that are legitimate like Reuters, AP, NPR, etc. Search keywords or the title of the story if you do not see the story on the main headline page
Be wary of sloppy writing. Typographical, spelling and grammatical errors are very common.
Quotes – or lack thereof. If they list sources, check them out. If they do not list sources, this can be a dead giveaway.
Consider the supporting information the author gives. Does it seem bogus? Investigate for yourself if you are not sure.
Check the author. Search Google for the name to see if there actually is a news reporter with the name. if there is no author listed, it is probably fake.
An abundance of popup ads and clickable links in the story or periphery can be a huge telltale sign. Fake news authors make money from advertisements.
Do not mistake known satire sites such as "The Onion" for genuine news sites.
If a story plays "too hard" on your emotions, it is often fake. The real job of a journalist is to simply state the facts. Too much internal commentary or tabloid sounding subject matter is usually just that, tabloid journalism or complete make believe!
Use these sources below to put what you learned above into action.
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