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Fake News: Home

How to Recognize Fake News

The News - True or False? and Why should we care?

  • The ability to think critically about the news that you read is an important skill that you will use not only for your college courses but also in other areas throughout your life.
  • When you understand the importance of questioning what you read you will be able to analyze, interpret and evaluate the validity of information. 
  • This guide will give you valuable insight into recognizing fact from fiction, plus a chance to exercise your newfound skills. 

Purpose in Reading

What types of news articles are you reading?  A traditional news site will contain different types of stories: hard news reports, editorials, feature stories, reviews, and comments.

What is the purpose for your reading?  The amount of diligence you put forth in verifying your sources may depend on whether you are reading for entertainment, information, or conducting academic research.

If you are writing a paper for class (academic research) you definitely want to know that the information is from an authoritative or reliable source.  Perhaps the Associated Press or the Wall Street Journal can provide a bit more credibility than the National Enquirer or Empire News.

The Society of Professional Journalists’ Code of Ethics lists four guiding principles: seek truth and report it, minimize harm, act independently, and be accountable and transparent.

This is the type of journalism and reporting to look for in academic research.

Look to the library databases to find professional reporting among the news sources available.

Student Learning Outcomes

  • Students will understand how to recognize ‘Fake News’
  • Students will be able to analyze a news article by checking sources, credentials, accuracy, and purpose
  • Students will be able to describe their research methods and final outcome.

These outcomes are relative to the ACRL Framework for Information Literacy

  1. Authority is constructed and contextual
  2. Information creation as a process
  3. Information has value
  4. Research as inquiry
  5. Scholarship as conversation
  6. Searching as strategic exploration

How to Recognize a Fake News Story

Thinking about the news

How to Spot Fake News

How do you know?

Post-Truth

San Antonio College Library
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