Category: fake news
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We’re celebrating our 3rd birthday with an increased focus on improving media literacy and exposing disinformation
When we established the Institute for Media and Public Trust at Fresno State three years ago, I was asked if our work to identify fake news and promote media literacy represented short-term problems that would sort themselves out in a few years on their own. We now know that these challenges not only aren’t going…
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We’ve compiled 8 tips for identifying false content that you may encounter on the Internet. Use them to be a smart media consumer.
Look past your personal political biases. This is crucial in sorting out news content. We often believe the worst about people or politicians we despise. Those biases can blind us to what we are sharing on social media, even if there are red flags that suggest the stories may not be factual. Do you recognize the…
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Concerned about phony content on the internet? Empower yourself by embracing media literacy and becoming a wise digital consumer.
If anyone thinks misinformation and disinformation challenges will diminish now that the divisive 2020 presidential election has been settled, they aren’t watching the next phase of information manipulation. It’s only going to get worse, especially as many news consumers seek out information silos that confirm their political biases. Gone are the days when we had…
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Pandemic and election offer those pushing misinformation opportunity to confuse public with fake news posted to phony social media accounts
News consumers have a huge challenge today sorting through fake news and misinformation on the COVID-19 pandemic, and the Nov. 3 presidential election. Even in normal times, fake news has been ever growing through social media, phony news sites and other technological devices created to mislead the public about basic facts. But the pandemic and…
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Use these tips and you won’t be caught sharing ‘fake news’ on social media
Concerned about fake news? Here are eight smart ways to determine if the news content you are seeing on your digital device is legitimate. Look past your personal biases. This is crucial in sorting out news content. We often believe the worst about people or politicians we despise. Those biases can blind us to what…
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In this digital age, too many lack even the most basic media literacy tools
We’ve been spending a lot of time discussing media literacy and fake news in our advanced reporting classes at Fresno State, and my students have been working to increase their skills in identifying phony news content and evaluating the veracity of other sites they encounter online. But as these students gain knowledge on the subject,…
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Support media literacy by making end-of-the-year donation to the Institute for Media and Public Trust
The end of 2019 is coming fast, and we at the Fresno State Institute for Media and Public Trust would love it if you would consider an end-of-the-year donation so that we can continue our work to increase media literacy and fight fake news. Your donation is tax deductible. To contribute online, go to this…
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Journalism prof offers his take in Forbes Magazine on news outlets that he ranks as ethical and trustworthy
What are the top news sites for credibility and using ethical standards in gathering and reporting the news?
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Here’s how you can be a smart news consumer, and not get trapped by those trying to deceive you with ‘fake news’
I gave a speech on “fake news” to the Osher Lifelong Learning Institute at Fresno State and had a great time interacting with an audience of relatively sophisticated news consumers. Part of my presentation in April dealt with strategies to identify phony news content, with the goal of reducing the amount of fake news that…
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On a February evening at Fresno State, national journalists gathered for a memorable discussion on the future of journalism
We cannot recall an event in Fresno that featured the range and quality of journalists who came together at Fresno State to explore the many challenges facing the news business. This year’s Roger Tatarian Symposium on Feb. 26 included nationally acclaimed journalists from ProPublica, the Washington Post, the Los Angeles Times and the Associated Press. Keynote…
Institute for Media and Public Trust at Fresno State 