How to dodge Fake News

Photo by Markus Winkler on Unsplash
More than ever it is important to make sure that the information being consumed is accurate and reliable. During a global pandemic, there is so much that is not yet known, experts and scientists are constantly updating the public with new information and slipping between the cracks are false "facts".

Knowing where your information is coming from is key when spotting fiction. Although we are likely to look to our government officials for reliable information, in the United States, there have been some hiccups regarding safety.

Some states have opened prematurely and even the President has made some dangerous remarks; from telling citizens to swallow cleaning pills to drinking bleach. Although it seems that even government officials are prone to repeating false information, it seems like the only reliable sources are the Center For Disease Control and the World Health Organization.


Attn: is a digital outlet that creates video content online that informs and entertains. They have some tips on how to spot facts from fiction. When reading any news online they suggest asking yourself these five questions:


  1. Who's saying it? Do I trust them?
  2. What proof or links do they have?
  3. When was it published?
  4. Where else is it being reported? What do other official and trusted sources say?
  5. Why are they saying it? Is there a motive or bias?


As a journalism student, trained on how to write and report on the news I think tips four and five are the most important. Cross-referencing with other outlets to see if they are reporting on the same thing is a way to learn about current issues, especially if it is something highly controversial.

Making sure to double-check the outlet to verify that they are a reliable and legitimate source is always a good idea. And as far as figuring out bias I recommend going All Sides. This is an outlet that highlights the political bias of articles labeling them as Left, Right, or Center leaning.

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