The important thing is to not stop questioning. -Albert Einstein
Let's be real for a moment: How many times have you seen an article headline on social media that immediately either a) enrages you enough to share it or b) resonates with you enough to share it?
Now, how many times have you later realized that it's a spoof article, one that comes from an unreliable and inaccurate source, or that it's just false and misleading altogether?
Remember a few weeks ago when Facebook had that little reminder at the top of your news feed that offered advice on how to identify false news? It wasn't a coincidence or mistake that they placed it there.
And while it's kind of laughable that it showed up on Facebook, of all places--one of the most powerful and wide-reaching social media outlets (and also the one on which people are most likely to see an outrageous headline and hit the "share to timeline" button immediately without concern for truth and accuracy)--you have to admit that Mark Zuckerberg and Co. have an extremely valid point.
In a society where we're constantly on the move and live for instant gratification, shortcuts and Cliffs Notes whenever possible, we've gotten really lazy and careless with our news judgment and common sense.
Yes, I said it. In the age of social media and the vast expanse of the Internet, we have SO much information readily available at the tips of our fingers. The problem is that not all of this information is accurate, and we're often too lazy to dig deeper to ensure that what we read or see is true.
As a journalist, this makes me cringe harder than I do when I read my old tweets to One Direction.
But also as a journalist, I constantly am looking at news articles and tweets to determine what's true and what's complete rubbish. Anyone can do it; all it takes is the use of common sense and the willingness to dig a little deeper.
1. Be wary of the headlines you read.
Newsflash: Not every headline is 100% accurate, unfortunately. Some news outlets, especially tabloids and entertainment publications, tend to sensationalize their headlines to stir up conversation and interest from their audience. Or, a publication might word a story's headline in such a way that you can't resist clicking to find out what happens next. That's called clickbait. When you see a headline, run over it a couple of times in your head. Does it sound too good or outrageous to be true? If so, it probably is.
2. Check the source of the news.
As you've probably learned, not every news source is accurate and reliable. (This sucks, because these guys tarnish the reputation of true journalism. But hey, I'm not biased or anything...) This is why you really need to pay attention to the source of whatever you're reading.
Not everything will be 100% accurate 100% of the time, because journalists are still human, and humans make mistakes. But your best bets for official, more reliable news include sources such as Associated Press, CNN, BBC, NPR, USA Today, ABC, CBS and the like.
Don't trust spoof or fake news sites like The Onion, News Examiner, World News Daily Report, National Report and more. Tabloids often are unreliable as well. Avoid satirical, clickbait-y and misleading content, and shy away from odd or unfamiliar domain names. Lastly, check to see if the author of the article is qualified to be writing on the topic.
3. READ. THE. ARTICLE.
This is one of my pet peeves and also one of the top reasons that false or misleading news spreads like wildfire. Don't rely on the headline and deck (aka the subtitle or description) of the story alone! As mentioned previously, sometimes headlines are sensationalized or missing information. Don't judge the story solely by its headline or take the lazy route and click in the comments under the story to find out what it's about--chances are that the comments are sensationalized too! Take the time to read the story and then make your judgment. Please. Read it. Read the whole thing. Do it. Use that news judgment!
4. Scope out and account for any bias.
Although journalistic publications are supposed to be unbiased in their reporting, that's unfortunately not the case most of the time. We all have some degree of bias, but the goal is to find the reporting that is as balanced as possible. Many news sources lean liberal, so they might have a liberal spin. Some are conservative, and that can reflect in the coverage. And then you, the reader, have your own bias. Be sure to take all bias into account and shove it out the door until you get both sides of the story and all the facts. Then you can make your judgment and form an opinion.
5. See it? Don't spread it!
Finally, just use your common sense here: If you see false or misleading news on your social media feeds, don't spread it! Don't add to the fire by commenting, tagging friends or reposting on your timeline. If you're as sick of seeing stupidity and lack of good judgment on your feed as I am, do your part to put a stop to it!
