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FFYS 1000.28 : Feminist Science Studies

This guide is for FFYS 1000.28 with Dr. Mairead Sullivan.

What about Fake News?

What is Fake News?

  • Authentic material used in the wrong context 
  • Imposter news sites designed to look like brands we already know
  • Fake news sites
  • Fake information 
  • Manipulated content 
  • Parody content

A more comprehensive list of fake news can be found at the Daily Dot.

How does Fake News spread?

We know that the creators of fake news and fake news sites check verified news sources and use facts to confuse the reader. When confronted by both the fake news and verified news, people tend to discount both the misinformation and the facts. That's the power of fake news.

Verify Your News

1. Evaluate your news using IMVAIN

The bedrock method of deconstruction: Each source in a news report is evaluated using the “IMVAIN” rubric and you can to:

  • Independent sources are preferable to self-interested sources.

  • Multiple sources are preferable to a report based on a single source.

  • Sources who Verify or provide verifiable information are preferable to those who merely assert.

  • Authoritative and/or Informed sources are preferable to sources who are uninformed or lack authoritative background.

  • Named sources are better than anonymous ones.

2. Fact Check

  • Factcheck.org

  • PolitiFact: Fact-checking US politics

  • Snopes

  • Verification Handbook: An ultimate guideline on digital age sourcing

3. Check the Images

Found an image you think may have been manipulated or photo-shopped? Use these tools to check for any digital changes: