Sometimes the knowledge is a few candidate, but it may even be about a difficulty, an event, or perhaps a natural disaster. There were quite a few false statements and online rumors during and after Hurricane Helene. Some false statements amplified by a presidential candidate were so outrageous and potentially dangerous that members of his own party needed to distance themselves from the statements.
Identification of false information
It's sometimes difficult to identify false information, but there are some clues. First, check whether the source is reputable. In most cases, news organizations, academic institutions, and government agencies are trustworthy. But there are exceptions. Any organization could make a mistake, but reputable organizations will correct any mistake. Sometimes scientists report what they consider to be true or probably true and later revise their reports as latest information emerges.
There are some organizations that decision themselves news organizations which might be very biased and willing to spread false or unverified information. This often comes from opinion makers or their guests reasonably than from real journalists, but I still think it’s reprehensible when someone deliberately or carelessly spreads lies. Sometimes organizations report inaccurate information within the deluge of breaking news, but ideally they acknowledge the error and self-correct because the story develops.
Even if someone has an opinion, that doesn't necessarily mean they're lying. However, if there may be a robust and protracted bias, it’s price questioning any “facts” he passes along. Most government agencies work hard to share only accurate information. Occasionally mistakes occur, but there are also cases through which officials intentionally spread false information. So while you hear something from an elected official or candidate, you might want to envision that person's track record of telling the reality and confirm any information before believing it, acting on it, or sharing it.
Do your research
If you hear or see something you might be unsure about, search for confirming reports from multiple independent sources. Be particularly wary of sensational or emotionally charged language and know the difference between reporters and commentators.
If a story you see online accommodates a byline, do somewhat research on the writer to seek out out whether or not they are credible, qualified, or have proven to have shared false or sensational information.
Sometimes after I see a social media post that seems exaggerated or unfaithful, I right-click on a portion of the text to do an easy search and sometimes find that it has been debunked. Websites like Snopes, FactCheck.org, and PolitiFact do job of debunking misinformation.
Look for outdated information. If you see an image of a horrific scene, don't react or share it until you've made sure it's recent and didn't occur a protracted time ago or perhaps someplace else.
Don't mislead your mates
I cannot emphasize enough the importance of not sharing potentially misinformation. You may by chance mislead your personal friends.
Of course, keep an eye fixed out for deep fakes, which have gotten easier to create due to generative AI. Just since you see a photograph or video of something doesn't mean it's true. Again, check other sources to see if the image's claim has been confirmed or debunked by reputable sources.
Unfortunately, we are able to't all agree on what reputable sources are. There are those that often sow distrust of the so-called “mainstream media,” which some politicians have mistakenly labeled as fake news. Over the course of my profession, I actually have written not just for the Mercury News and other MediaNews Group newspapers, but in addition for the Los Angeles Times, the New York Times, and the Washington Post, amongst others. I actually have worked in broadcasting for CBS News, BBC, CNN and NPR.
Although individuals who work for these news organizations could make mistakes, they’re almost all the time corrected. And in all of those organizations, anyone who intentionally lies will face disciplinary motion and certain termination. For the big variety of journalists, even an honest mistake is amazingly embarrassing. I do know because I've done just a few over the course of my 40-year profession. They were minor and comparatively harmless, but still embarrassing and quickly remedied.
We are all citizen journalists
Most people aren’t skilled journalists, but anyone who posts on social media or speaks to family and friends acts as a disseminator of knowledge. Sharing an incorrect post on social media may not get you into skilled trouble, but it may be embarrassing and damage your status. Of course, you may get praise from people who find themselves glad to see their prejudices confirmed again, but even for those who get likes from people who find themselves glad to see it, that doesn't mean that it is correct to pass on misinformation.
I avoid sharing posts that I haven't reviewed. If I don't like a politician or disagree with a difficulty, I would like it to be based on facts, not lies or misinformation. You can never be 100% sure that something is true, but with somewhat research you possibly can be reasonably sure. It's often pretty easy to inform if something is incorrect. When I see misinformation, especially from someone whose opinion I share, I often politely indicate the error within the hope that the misinformation will probably be removed or corrected.
To quote the late Senator Daniel Patrick Moynihan: “Everyone is entitled to their own opinion, but not to their own facts.”
Originally published:
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