FAKE NEWS OR NOT? - Sociology 1301

· DUE IN 2HOURS.

· WILL BE SUBMMITED TO TURNITIN. PLEASE PROVIDE CHECK PLAGIARISM.

Instructions:


There are vast amounts of information and news stories in our daily lives. Further, we live in an age where news media outlets are not the only sources producing and disseminating information that can impact one's worldview. Some of the information we encounter is based on facts, some of it is not. Some of the sources producing news stories and information are legitimate, some are not. 

As consumers with ties to higher education it is vital to a) know the difference between false news stories and real news stories, b) understand the difference between legitimate sources of information and illegitimate sources of information, and c) to understand how to responsibly fact check the information we encounter in daily life. 

In this assignment, you will evaluate the legitimacy of the information sources and articles I provided. You will evaluate these information sources and articles like a fact-checker by completing the fact-checking steps. 
Keep in mind that fact-checking jobs do exist and this assignment can be great practice for anyone considering a career utilizing fact-checking skills.

· After each article questions are listed. 

· Answer the corresponding questions in a separate document (later to be submitted via the turnitin.com link).

· Your answers must contain at least one well-structured sentence for each question.

· You must also provide a work cited page containing the sources from which you located the information that informs your answers. 

Let’s Learn About Fake News: “Fake news is in the News these days, so what is it?  The term is most often used to describe completely fabricated stories, but can also be applied to a broader continuum of news. Many news outlets will exhibit some form of explicit or implicit bias while not falling into the fake news category. Assessing the quality of the content is crucial to understanding whether what you are viewing is true or not.  It is up to you to do the legwork to make sure your information is good.” (Cowan-Crawford, C. 2020; PennState University)



Fake News: Sources that intentionally fabricate information, disseminate deceptive content, or grossly distort actual news reports.


Reputable News: Sources that publish accurate content, check facts, correct any errors they make, use reputable sources and verify those sources. Satire: Sources that use humor, irony, exaggeration, ridicule, and false information to comment on current events.  
 Bias: Sources that come from a particular point of view and may rely on propaganda, decontextualized information, and opinions distorted as facts. 
 Rumor Mill: Sources that traffic in rumors, gossip, innuendo, and unverified claims.
 Junk Science: Sources that promote pseudoscience, metaphysics, naturalistic fallacies, and other scientifically dubious claims.
 Clickbait: A strategically placed hyperlink designed to drive traffic to sources that provide generally credible content, but use exaggerated, misleading, or questionable headlines, social media descriptions, and/or images. (Cowan-Crawford, C. 2020; PennState University)

Article #1: Read and evaluate the information. Answers the questions listed after this article in your separate document.

ABOUT Google the article’s news source and look at the ‘about’ page (this is sometimes at the bottom of a site’s page). What does the site list under the ‘about’ information? Open a new tab and search for the news organization’s name.  What do other sources say about this news organization’s credentials? List 3 sources you referenced to research this news organization’s credibility. Do you think this is a legitimate news organization people should trust to provide fact-based information? Why or Why not? THE AUTHOR Open a new tab and search for the author’s name What is the name of the article’s author? What do other sources say about this author’s credentials? List 3 sources you referenced to research this author’s credibility. Do you think people should trust this author to provide fact-based information? Why or Why not?

Article #2: Read and evaluate the information. Answer the questions listed after this article in your separate document.

THE AUTHOR

· What is the name of this article’s author?

· Open a new tab and search for the author’s name.

· What do  other  sources say about this author’s credentials?

· Name the other sources you referenced to research this author’s credibility.

· What kind of language does the author use in the article (i.e. what do you think in regards to the author’s tone)?

Choose the category you think the article falls under.

· Fake News

· Reputable News

· Satire

· Bias

· Rumor Mill

· Junk Science

· Clickbait

Why did you choose that category?

Open a new tab and search for the news organization’s name.

· What do  other  sources say about this news organization’s credentials?

· Name the other sources you referenced to research this news organization’s credibility.

· Do you think this is a legitimate news organization that people should trust to provide fact-based information?

· Why or Why not?

 Article #3: Read and evaluate the information. Answer the questions listed after the article in your separate document. 

THE AUTHOR

· What is the name of this article’s author?

· Open a new tab and search for the author’s name.

· What do  other  sources say about this author’s credentials?

· Name the other sources you referenced to research this author’s credibility.

· What kind of language does the author use in the article (i.e. what do you think in regards to the author’s tone)?

Choose the category you think the article falls under.

· Fake News

· Reputable News

· Satire

· Bias

· Rumor Mill

· Junk Science

· Clickbait

Why did you choose that category?

Open a new tab and search for the news organization’s name.

· What do  other  sources say about this news organization’s credentials?

· Name the other sources you referenced to research this news organization’s credibility.

· Do you think this is a legitimate news organization that people should trust to provide fact-based information?

· Why or Why not?