Fake News

Fake News:

Fake news was not a term many people used 18 months ago, but is now seen as a threat to democracy, free debate, and the Western order. 

"Fake News" was named 2017's "word of the year". 

Fake news is a type of yellow journalism or propaganda that consists of deliberate misinformation, or hoaxes spread via traditional print and broadcast news media, or online social media.   Fake news is written and published with the intent to mislead in order to damage an agency, entity, or person and/or gain financially or politically often using sensationalist, dishonest or outright fabricated headlines to increase readership, online sharing, and Internet click revenue.

Claire Wardle of "First Draft News" identifies 7 types of fake news:

1. Satire or Parody - no intention to cause harm, but has the potential to fool.
2. False Connection - when headlines , visuals, or captions don't support the content.
3. Misleading Content - misleading use of information to frame an issue, or individual.
4. False Context - when genuine content is shared with false contextual information.
5. Imposter Content - when genuine sources are impersonated with false made up sources
6. Manipulated Content - when genuine information or imagery is manipulated to deceive, as with a "doctored" photo.
7. Fabricated Content - when new content is 100% false designed to deceive and do harm.

The International Federation of Library Associations and Institutions offers this diagram of how to spot fake news:

 Fake news is not something new or recent.   In the 13th century B.C. Ramses the Great spread lies and propaganda portraying  the Battle of Kadesh as a stunning victory for the Egyptians .  The treaty between the Egyptians and the Hittites reveals the battle was actually a stalemate. 

During Medieval times in 1475 a fake news story in Trent claimed a Jewish community had murdered a 2 and a half year old Christian boy names Simonino.  The story resulted min all the Jews in the city being arrested and tortured.  Fifteen of them were burned at the stake..  Stories of this kind were known as "blood libel".  They claimed that Jews purposely killed Christians and used their blood for religious or ritual purposes.

The point is to be aware and vigilant for instances of fake news.   Don't be easily fooled or led.   It takes effort to be well informed.