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5 Ways To Determine What's Fake News

For wading through the fake news and the BS, yo'.

Miura Rempis

Aug 20, 2018

Middle Tennessee State University

Instagram/sandulyulia

What exactly can determine whether or not a news source is biased, or releases fake news? Read below to find out.

1. Check the URL of the news story you're reading.

If the URL has numbers in it that do not belong to the news channel reporting (such as News Channel 5, or ABC 7), then you may be reading a fake site. If the URL is listed from The Onion, it is a satirical news source. If the URL resembles a real news site but is misspelled, then you may be reading fake news. Keep your eyes peeled, friends.

2. Locate the author's name and credentials.

On this article, you will see my name (Miura Rempis), community (Middle Tennessee State University), date of posting (most likely the beginning of the week), and a cheeky photo of me holding a packet in front of the Tennessee State Capitol building in Nashville, Tennessee. This is a pretty common set up for created content or freelance journalism, as well as on well-known media outlets. Sometimes, this information is posted directly after the conclusion of the article. Be on the lookout for credit given to the author. Sometimes, fake news outlets will credit authors with fake awards, such as small news outlets having authors with national writing awards. These are dead giveaways.

3. Look at their cited works.

Quotes a tweet? Google it. Quotes a speech? Google it. Quotes a law or proposal? Search your state archives for the bills' title. Claims a crime happened? Snopes it. This is one of the trickier ways fake news outlets reel in unsuspecting fake news spreaders; if something tangible can be cited in an article, most readers won't check to verify that info.

4. Read usernames and check for verification logo.

@DonaldTrump and @realDonaldTrump are different accounts. But beware, there are also fake Twitter generators that use real usernames and timestamps. The Internet is a crazy place.

PS- It can also be extremely entertaining to create fake tweets from your favorite celebrities talking about yourself. Or so I've heard. Totally have never done that before. Ever.

5. Look for bias (unintentional fake news).

It is no secret that Fox News is a conservative news outlet, nor that CNN is a liberal news outlet. Because of this kind of bias, unintentional fake news occurs. Most hesitate to actually call this fake news, but it's listed here because news sources often report to their audience in a perceptive way. The bias is intentional, the fake news aspect is often not.

There are obviously many ways to tell whether a news source is producing fake news, and the above are just a handful of ways! Happy news reading, y'all.

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This article has not been reviewed by Odyssey HQ and solely reflects the ideas and opinions of the creator.

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5 Ways To Determine What's Fake News

For wading through the fake news and the BS, yo'.

1. Check the URL of the news story you're reading.

2. Locate the author's name and credentials.

3. Look at their cited works.

4. Read usernames and check for verification logo.

5. Look for bias (unintentional fake news).

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For those long nights that turn into mornings when the struggle is real.

1. Walk in motivated and ready to rock

2. Disappointed you let it get this bad

3. Distracted: When a 10-Minute Break Becomes an Hour

4. When the Yearning for Sleep Sneaks Up

5. In the words of Lorelai Gilmore "Coffee, Coffee, Coffee"

Oh, so done.

You need sleep, but also have 13 things due in the span of 4 days.

1. When it's December 1 and you have seven things due, three exams, and haven't slept in three days.

2. So you stress.

3. And cry.

4. Then call your mom to cry some more.

5. After the pep talk, you feel determined to get everything done.

6. But, now you're tired.

7. And really hungry.

8. Suddenly, it's 2 a.m. and you have only written three sentences and your paper is due in the morning.

9. You've made it to Friday... somehow.

10. Then Sunday hits and you find yourself back at the Lib.

11. So you cry some more.

12. But, you fight through the tears to get everything done because you're determined.

13. In the end, you feel on top of the world because you made it through the last week of class alive.

14. But, now it's finals week so good luck.

"I want to thank Google, Wikipedia, and whoever else invented copy and paste. Thank you."

1. I'm so tired. I need a nap. Maybe I can sleep with my eyes open in class? Or pretend I'm not napping?

2. We have a test today? Why didn't anyone tell me? Did I know this?!

3. Can I quit school yet? It's only October, and I need a vacation.

4. The struggle is so real.

5. I'm so broke. SOS.

6. Stressed? Eat everything you own in your pantry and stuff your face with all your feelings.

7. "Did we have anything due in class today? Homework? Quiz? Test?" "Not that I know of..."

8. I need food. Where is the closest place to get food? I need it stat.

9. This is the longest day of my life. I need a drink, or two, or three.

10. Sleep? What is sleep? What a foreign concept.

11. When someone suggests going and studying in the library, let alone studying in general.

12. When the cafeteria or student center is packed and you can't find a seat anywhere so you literally have to sit in an abandoned corner.

13. When you see someone you used to hook up with. They see you, and approach you; so you have to pretend like everything is normal.

14. When you get your exam and realize you didn't study as much as you should have.

15. When you crush it on an exam or paper that you totally bullshitted.

16. I need a grande, extra strong coffee to get me through today.

17. When the professor announces you have a project due the following week with no instruction on what it's on and how to do it.

18. Is it Friday yet? Where's the weekend when you need it most?

19. It's freezing in here. I feel like I'm sitting in an igloo. I should have brought a jacket or worn long pants.

20. Did I remember my book? Damn, I forgot the book, and of course I need it for that quiz in class.

21. I would pay a million dollars to not go to class today; or actually never again.

22. I need a hoverboard to ride to class. Maybe then I wouldn't be running 15 minutes late to class every day.

23. Oh she/he's cute! I wonder if they're single. Who are they texting? They're BF/GF? I wonder if they think I'm cute. Could they be a potential new bae?

24. Why is there never any parking? I pay thousands of dollars a year for one parking spot to be open.

25. When it feels like you've been in class for an hour and you look at your phone and it has only been five minutes (I'm crying on the inside).

26. When the professor asks if there are any more questions at the end of class and someone raises their hand.

27. When you get assigned the most incompetent group of people possible for a group project.

28. I need a comfort dog so I can avoid all life and school responsibilities.

"A Christmas Story" is the star on top of the tree.

Who isn't stressing out over finals right now?

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