Types of News
There are many different types of news reports out there in the world. Many get lumped under the "fake news" umbrella, even though they really aren't fake. So what types of news exist?
- Biased News or Media Bias: News that has a particular leaning or slant to it; an attempt (unintended or intended) to persuade or influence the reader on the topic being discussed.
- Example: No To Single Payer
- Example: Single-Payer Sea Change
- Satirical News: Information or commentary that uses humor to criticize or parody a situation/topic/issue. It often uses exaggeration for comical effect.
- Fake News: Information or a story that is intentionally being misleading. It's purpose is often to trick the reader into thinking it is real.
It's important to remember that Media Bias is NOT fake news. There is fact being reported in the story, but that fact is being interpreted with a particular viewpoint. Just because you may not agree with what they are saying, it doesn't mean that it is fake.
Fact-Checking Websites
- Fact CheckFactCheck.org is a project of the Annenberg Public Policy Center of the University of Pennsylvania. They are a nonprofit and nonpartisan group that works to monitor the factual accuracy of anything political.
- PolitifactPolitiFact is a nonpartisan fact-checking website to sort out the truth in American politics. It is a project of the Tampa Bay Times, a publishing company based in St. Petersburg, Fla. The Tampa Bay Times is owned by The Poynter Institute, a nonprofit school for journalists.
- SnopesA great resource that began in 1995 with the founder working to debunk urban legends. It is now one of the leading resources on the World Wide Web for exposing what parts of viral stories are true and what parts are false.
Why Do Our Brains Love Fake News?
Here’s How Fake News Works (and How the Internet Can Stop It)
Test Your Skills
- FactitiousCan you spot the Fake News? Test Your Skills in this online game!
Does It Pass the CRAAP Test?
- CRAAP TestThe CRAAP Test is a list of questions to help you evaluate the information you find. Different criteria will be more or less important depending on your situation or need.
