Final Portfolio

Fake News

Fake news is intended to attract the reader's attention mostly by presenting misleading information. Fake news does not depend on credible evidence, facts, or references and is mostly fiction. However, fake news is not a recent phenomenon and can be traced to as early as the American Revolution. Back then, one aim of fake news was to inspire hatred against the Native Americans because they fought with the British (Valencia College, 2021). Based on this example, it is important to note that all fake news has a purpose. In contemporary times, the internet has made it easier to disseminate fake news to generate views for profit. Currently, there are four main types of fake news: satirical, clickbait, unreliable, and false sources.

Identifying Fake News

It is important to evaluate news information as it is easy to fall for fake news; there are examples of even established news sources publishing or running stories without confirming their authenticity. As an individual, becoming information literate is a vital skill, and one way to practice is through lateral reading. Lateral reading requires individuals to seek information related to a news article from other credible sources and make necessary connections. Another way is to use an evaluation criterion to judge a website (Valencia College, 2021). The first criterion involves determining the author of a page and identifying whether they possess relevant authority to speak on a subject. Next is to determine the purpose of the website and search for any potential bias. Crucial criteria are content and consistency; this involves analyzing whether the author has any credible references and its consistency with other news sources.

References

Valencia College. (2021). Fake News: Separating Truth from Fiction. Identifying Fake

News Through Evaluation. Retrieved October 27, 2021 from: https://libguides.valenciacollege.edu/c.php?g=612299&p=4251557.