"Fake news is just as it sounds: news that is misleading and not based on fact or, simply put, fake...fake news has the intention of disseminating false information, not for comedy, but for consumption."
— Barbara Alvarez, "Public Libraries in the Age of Fake News." Public Libraries, Nov 2016: 24-7. Accessed 13 Feb. 2017.
Access to accurate news reporting is critical for active participation in a democratic society. Read like a fact-checker.1 Open a new page in your browser, and search around to ask questions and seek out multiple viewpoints. You are smart enough to make up your own mind when presented with the facts.
Citing fake news sources destroys your credibility. If your arguments are rooted in information that has been proven false, it will impact your reputation as a scholar and a professional. Look for news sources that follow the Code of Ethics outlined by the Society of Professional Journalists.
Searching Google is not a special skill -- anyone can do it. Learning to research with academic journals and discipline-specific databases is a valuable skill that we are proud to teach at the library. Whether you are writing a research paper, voting in an election, preparing for a job interview, or researching for personal interest, you can find a wide collection of resources at the library to support your research.
You can always ask a librarian for help navigating resources at the library. There is no such thing as a dumb question. You are not bothering us -- helping you access information is our job.
Images courtesy of openclipart.org
A November 2016 release of study results by the Stanford History Education Group indicating that K-12 and college students have difficulties identifying credible, objective, non-manipulated information online;
A PEW Research Center report (2018) on survey results showing that 68% of United States adults "at least occasionally get news on social media," even though many have concerns about its accuracy.