Research , Analysis and writing

Fake News Discusion (Optional, Respectful, Non-political)

A place to discuss respectfully how to protect ourselves from fake news.
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The phrase “fake news” is one we hear almost every day. Fake news has the potential to impact many of us as we do research, work on our degrees, conduct our military and other professional duties, perform our duties as citizens, and make decisions for ourselves and our family members. So what are we to do? How can we make sure we are getting information that is as accurate and non-biased as possible?

Let’s talk about that. Feel free to take a look at these two pieces for some thoughts on the topic:

“Fake Or Real? How To Self-Check The News And Get The Facts” on NPR at https://www.npr.org/sections/alltechconsidered/2016/12/05/503581220/fake-or-real-how-to-self-check-the-news-and-get-the-facts

“Get Smart about News” at the News Literacy Project site. This gives you some ways to see how sharp your news literacy skills are. Here’s the URL: https://newslit.org/get-smart/

After you’ve checked out these sites, you may want to share your views here, focusing on these questions:

What are the potential threats of fake news to my particular field?
How can I be sure that the sources I look at are not fake news?
How can I help others in my circle of influence carefully evaluate sources that they use to make decisions?
Please DO NOT turn this forum into a political diatribe. I will monitor the forum closely and will not tolerate disrespectful allegations from anyone, no matter what end of what spectrum those allegations might be on. This is not a place to discuss politics. This is a place to talk about sources of information. How can we make sure the sources we are looking at are worthy of our trust?

Thank you. I look forward to reading your thoughts.

Fake News Discussion

Answer

Fake News Discussion

When reading or listening to news, one must consider the source from which the news comes from (Davis, 2016). The credibility of the source directly affects the credibility of the news. When one gets news from their trusted friend, they will consider the news as factual. However, deeper insight and understanding of the source are necessary to ascertain the credibility of the information provided. Fake news has many negative effects on the real world and different fields.

What are the potential threats of fake news to my particular field?

In international trade, fake news can affect transportation and supply of goods. For instance, international organizations can cut ties with a country’s companies and customers as a result of fake news on social media about increased tariffs. News on new laws and regulations can cause panic and problems in international trade.

How can I be sure that the sources I look at are not fake news?

To ensure that news sources are credible and that I do not use fake news, I need to ascertain the credibility of the sources through an independent investigation. I need to judge the trustworthiness of sources based on their previous news and where they get their information from.

How can I help others in my circle of influence carefully evaluate sources that they use to make decisions?

To help others in my circle, I first need to understand them – their beliefs, values, and morals. I also have to consider that I might be wrong in judging the credibility of a source. I will, therefore, advise them to conduct their own research to check whether a source is trustworthy.

References

Davis, W. (2016, December 5). Fake Or Real? How To Self-Check The News And Get The Facts. https://www.npr.org/sections/alltechconsidered/2016/12/05/503581220/fake-or-real-how-to-self-check-the-news-and-get-the-facts.