Megan Tomoney

“Fake News!” Is that something you have heard recently? From a family member? A friend? Maybe you even said it. Whoever it came from, while it might not always be the case, there is a higher level of distrust in the media today than we as a society have ever seen. And it’s starting to become as big an epidemic as the unfortunate Covid-19.

In a documentary released in March on HBO called After Truth: Disinformation and the Cost of Fake News, directed by Andrew Rossie, the idea of fake news is heavily explored. This documentary is not the only evidence suggesting distrust in the media. Many people are starting to recognize that they may not be getting the full story when it comes to Instagram posts and Tweets.

With an election coming up, unrest in the streets, and contradicting facts flying out of everyone’s mouths, it can be difficult discovering who or what to believe. 

Brendan Johnson, a Reference and Instruction Librarian at Penn State Abington spoke on the matter saying, “Don’t believe a source just because they’re telling you what you want to hear. We all must push through our own beliefs and worldviews to find information from a variety of sources, including information that may present information that is the opposite of what we believe.” Even though it can be hard, do not be discouraged, there are many ways to find out what you need to know.

Your First Stop

Penn State students have access to the 7th largest research library and current national and international news sources, for free. Not only are their many online databases, but there are also free workshops and classes to learn tips and tricks about fact-checking. In these classes, Johnson says that “We walk students through various techniques about how to evaluate both scholarly and non-scholarly sources (such as newspaper articles).”

Use Google Scholar

Although some full texts require special access, many articles and papers on Google Scholar are free to the public. So, read away, and easily become the most informed person on any current issue!

Go to the Original Source

In many cases of “fake news” it is not an actual lie being told, but a manipulation of the truth. Rather than hearing about a current event, such as a protest, election update, or celebrity news, try to find the original video, post, or press release.

For example, here are two articles from two different news sources, reporting on the same story. Yet they both have very different headlines and very different meanings.

 

Trust Yourself

Above all else, you have to trust your intuition. When it comes to figuring the whole truth is being told, listen to your gut, and evaluate what you already know. At the end of the day, only you can decide if you believe in something or not. Johnson says, “One key element to keep in mind about misinformation is that it is often presented in a way to generate a strong emotional response, such as fear or anger. If you feel yourself reacting strongly to a news story or a social media post, at the very least it is worth checking on it somewhere else to see if it has some credibility.”

As consumers of the media, we have a lot of power when it comes to how we are informed. With the internet at our fingertips, there is no reason why we all shouldn’t know as much as we can to form opinions.