Fake news

Fake news

Discuss

• What is the main purpose of a news company?

• Do you believe that the main purpose of a news company is to inform people or monetize news?

• What is fake news? Do you believe what you hear on the news? Why?  

• Can you think of an example of fake news that destroyed a person’s life and future?

Let’s Begin…

• In previous decades, most news with global reach came from several major newspapers and networks with the resources to gather information directly. The speed with which information spreads now, however, has created the ideal conditions for something called circular reporting. Noah Tavlin sheds light on this phenomenon.

Multiple Choice

What makes circular reporting 'circular'?

• A

  It is round and symmetrical

• B

  It has neither a beginning nor an end

• C

  Sources become validated by themselves in a logical loop

• D

  It is uniformly consistent in its reporting

Multiple Choice

Which of the following has NOT directly contributed to an increase of circular reporting?

• The speed of the news cycle

• The ability for anyone to write, edit and publish on the Internet

• Increased accessibility to the Internet

• Human curiosity

Multiple Choice

Why might the anti-vaccer movement be considered a product of circular reporting?

• It is based on misinformation

• The body of literature and information supporting the theory can all be traced to one, initial, discredited source

• As a movement, it has enough momentum to be considered a serious problem

• Because the media has reported on the anti-vaccine movement

Multiple Choice

Before the 20th century, because it took longer to publish writing, it was more accurate.

• TRUE

• FALSE

Multiple Choice

Which of the following is NOT an example of circular reporting?

• A

  When one incorrect source informs multiple sources, which are then cited as multiple verifications of the incorrect information

• B

  When a website is edited to include false information without verification, someone writes an article based on the un-cited fact, and then someone uses that article to verify the false information on the original website

• C

  When an incorrect source directly informs another source, and the two sources are considered to have independently verified the same information

• D

  When a source intentionally provides false information to a writer

Open Ended

What are some ways you can avoid falling for false information, and avoid contributing to the cycle of circular reporting?

What makes circularly reported facts so difficult to correct?

Circular reporting isn't limited to large-scale media and news. How does circular reporting apply to rumors and gossip?