I’ve always been obsessed with information when I was a kid I remember
information when I was a kid I remember
information when I was a kid I remember even then being obsessed whenever my
even then being obsessed whenever my
even then being obsessed whenever my parents or my siblings were having a
parents or my siblings were having a
parents or my siblings were having a conversation eight-year-old me would
conversation eight-year-old me would
conversation eight-year-old me would immediately start asking questions who
immediately start asking questions who
immediately start asking questions who are you talking about why where did you
are you talking about why where did you
are you talking about why where did you hear that
hear that
hear that what difference does that make what
what difference does that make what
what difference does that make what happens next it would get so annoying
happens next it would get so annoying
happens next it would get so annoying that my sister would say to me are you
that my sister would say to me are you
that my sister would say to me are you writing a book I wasn’t I was just
writing a book I wasn’t I was just
writing a book I wasn’t I was just interested in information I like to know
interested in information I like to know
interested in information I like to know things a few years later the internet
things a few years later the internet
things a few years later the internet came along and I spent a lot of time
came along and I spent a lot of time
came along and I spent a lot of time surfing the web reading articles
surfing the web reading articles
surfing the web reading articles blogging and learning how to code on web
blogging and learning how to code on web
blogging and learning how to code on web pages probably too much time to be
pages probably too much time to be
pages probably too much time to be honest I became obsessed all over again
honest I became obsessed all over again
honest I became obsessed all over again with the idea of instant information it
with the idea of instant information it
with the idea of instant information it was readily available everywhere the
was readily available everywhere the
was readily available everywhere the good the bad and the bizarre I devoured
good the bad and the bizarre I devoured
good the bad and the bizarre I devoured it I dare say that people probably
it I dare say that people probably
it I dare say that people probably thought I was becoming the Internet at
thought I was becoming the Internet at
thought I was becoming the Internet at that point fast forward a few years and
that point fast forward a few years and
that point fast forward a few years and that obsession with how I and others use
that obsession with how I and others use
that obsession with how I and others use technology to get information led me to
technology to get information led me to
technology to get information led me to my master’s program in Library and
my master’s program in Library and
my master’s program in Library and Information science I’ve been an
Information science I’ve been an
Information science I’ve been an information professional for several
information professional for several
information professional for several years now and I am gloriously surrounded
years now and I am gloriously surrounded
years now and I am gloriously surrounded by the Internet there’s a lot of news
by the Internet there’s a lot of news
by the Internet there’s a lot of news out there on the the web and I have a
out there on the the web and I have a
out there on the the web and I have a daily news ritual so the first thing I
daily news ritual so the first thing I
daily news ritual so the first thing I do when I get up in the morning is I
do when I get up in the morning is I
do when I get up in the morning is I grab a cup of coffee and I immediately
grab a cup of coffee and I immediately
grab a cup of coffee and I immediately search the news either on my desktop or
search the news either on my desktop or
search the news either on my desktop or my phone I see things about celebrities
my phone I see things about celebrities
my phone I see things about celebrities now the government national disasters
now the government national disasters
now the government national disasters and I still follow the oddities for fun
and I still follow the oddities for fun
and I still follow the oddities for fun there’s a lot of news out there and it’s
there’s a lot of news out there and it’s
there’s a lot of news out there and it’s gotten much much harder to tell what is
gotten much much harder to tell what is
gotten much much harder to tell what is real from what is not real the constant
real from what is not real the constant
real from what is not real the constant stream of information that were
stream of information that were
stream of information that were assaulted with on a daily basis some of
assaulted with on a daily basis some of
assaulted with on a daily basis some of it blatantly false and some of it
it blatantly false and some of it
it blatantly false and some of it convincingly false makes to
convincingly false makes to
convincingly false makes to understanding what real news is more
understanding what real news is more
understanding what real news is more important that at any other time in
important that at any other time in
important that at any other time in history so when I say fake news I want
history so when I say fake news I want
history so when I say fake news I want to make sure you understand what I mean
to make sure you understand what I mean
to make sure you understand what I mean fake news comes in a few varieties and I
fake news comes in a few varieties and I
fake news comes in a few varieties and I want to be clear what I’m talking about
want to be clear what I’m talking about
want to be clear what I’m talking about tabloid news like the National Enquirer
tabloid news like the National Enquirer
tabloid news like the National Enquirer and satirical news
and satirical news
and satirical news the onion have been around a while some
the onion have been around a while some
the onion have been around a while some as long as 50 years tabloids host
as long as 50 years tabloids host
as long as 50 years tabloids host sensational stories about celebrities
sensational stories about celebrities
sensational stories about celebrities oddities and sometimes complete fiction
oddities and sometimes complete fiction
oddities and sometimes complete fiction satirical news presents pop culture in a
satirical news presents pop culture in a
satirical news presents pop culture in a comedic way and it’s often a commentary
comedic way and it’s often a commentary
comedic way and it’s often a commentary on social issues this isn’t the kind of
on social issues this isn’t the kind of
on social issues this isn’t the kind of fake news that dominates our discourse
fake news that dominates our discourse
fake news that dominates our discourse these days however I’m talking about the
these days however I’m talking about the
these days however I’m talking about the spreading of false information as fact
spreading of false information as fact
spreading of false information as fact either deliberately misleading or not
either deliberately misleading or not
either deliberately misleading or not that gets shared by people on the
that gets shared by people on the
that gets shared by people on the Internet be it by retweets bloggers
Internet be it by retweets bloggers
Internet be it by retweets bloggers Facebook posts or any of the other ways
Facebook posts or any of the other ways
Facebook posts or any of the other ways that people share information how do we
that people share information how do we
that people share information how do we know that this is causing a problem in a
know that this is causing a problem in a
know that this is causing a problem in a recent study by the Stanford history
recent study by the Stanford history
recent study by the Stanford history education group which looked at middle
education group which looked at middle
education group which looked at middle and high school students
and high school students
and high school students 80% of middle school students couldn’t
80% of middle school students couldn’t
80% of middle school students couldn’t tell the difference between real and
tell the difference between real and
tell the difference between real and fake news high school students accepted
fake news high school students accepted
fake news high school students accepted photographic evidence of a supposed
photographic evidence of a supposed
photographic evidence of a supposed Fukushima radiation effect on daisies
Fukushima radiation effect on daisies
Fukushima radiation effect on daisies which caused them to mutate in a way
which caused them to mutate in a way
which caused them to mutate in a way that’s unnatural without asking any
that’s unnatural without asking any
that’s unnatural without asking any questions about the image what evidence
questions about the image what evidence
questions about the image what evidence in the image is there that this was
in the image is there that this was
in the image is there that this was caused by nuclear radiation aside from
caused by nuclear radiation aside from
caused by nuclear radiation aside from the posters comments can we believe what
the posters comments can we believe what
the posters comments can we believe what we see is real in the age of Photoshop a
we see is real in the age of Photoshop a
we see is real in the age of Photoshop a study by researchers at the University
study by researchers at the University
study by researchers at the University of Warwick found that people have a poor
of Warwick found that people have a poor
of Warwick found that people have a poor ability to identify when a real-world
ability to identify when a real-world
ability to identify when a real-world image is original or has been
image is original or has been
image is original or has been manipulated what about sponsored content
manipulated what about sponsored content
manipulated what about sponsored content those are articles that are essentially
those are articles that are essentially
those are articles that are essentially elaborate infomercials in the form of
elaborate infomercials in the form of
elaborate infomercials in the form of news students couldn’t tell the
news students couldn’t tell the
news students couldn’t tell the difference between sponsored content in
difference between sponsored content in
difference between sponsored content in real news either according to the
real news either according to the
real news either according to the Stanford history education study
this problem isn’t just affecting our
this problem isn’t just affecting our students though many adults are
students though many adults are
students though many adults are struggling with the same problems many
struggling with the same problems many
struggling with the same problems many of us were never taught how to evaluate
of us were never taught how to evaluate
of us were never taught how to evaluate information sources and so in an age of
information sources and so in an age of
information sources and so in an age of digital news we’re finding ourselves
digital news we’re finding ourselves
digital news we’re finding ourselves bamboozled by it as well
bamboozled by it as well
bamboozled by it as well researchers at Duquesne University
researchers at Duquesne University
researchers at Duquesne University conducted a study that assessed adult
conducted a study that assessed adult
conducted a study that assessed adult students educational ability at
students educational ability at
students educational ability at understanding information sources and
understanding information sources and
understanding information sources and found them to be weak which they
found them to be weak which they
found them to be weak which they theorized would lead to problems for
theorized would lead to problems for
theorized would lead to problems for adults because many of us turn to the
adults because many of us turn to the
adults because many of us turn to the internet for information why is this
internet for information why is this
internet for information why is this important to know because fake news has
important to know because fake news has
important to know because fake news has real-world consequences in May 2017
real-world consequences in May 2017
real-world consequences in May 2017 false news reports began to appear on
false news reports began to appear on
false news reports began to appear on Facebook stating that South Sudanese
Facebook stating that South Sudanese
Facebook stating that South Sudanese President Salva Kiir had been shot dead
President Salva Kiir had been shot dead
President Salva Kiir had been shot dead then another news story appeared saying
then another news story appeared saying
then another news story appeared saying that a militia loyal to removed army
that a militia loyal to removed army
that a militia loyal to removed army chief were withdrawing and assembling in
chief were withdrawing and assembling in
chief were withdrawing and assembling in a city chaos erupted in South Sudan
a city chaos erupted in South Sudan
a city chaos erupted in South Sudan Digital bigotry and incitement were
Digital bigotry and incitement were
Digital bigotry and incitement were accompanied by targeted killings and
accompanied by targeted killings and
accompanied by targeted killings and rapes of members of ethnic groups a
rapes of members of ethnic groups a
rapes of members of ethnic groups a special adviser to the United Nations
special adviser to the United Nations
special adviser to the United Nations pointed out in a Slate Magazine article
pointed out in a Slate Magazine article
pointed out in a Slate Magazine article that violent attacks against individuals
that violent attacks against individuals
that violent attacks against individuals and communities based on political
and communities based on political
and communities based on political affiliation could be linked back to
affiliation could be linked back to
affiliation could be linked back to these false news reports this is not
these false news reports this is not
these false news reports this is not just an isolated incident this is
just an isolated incident this is
just an isolated incident this is happening everywhere fake news is like
happening everywhere fake news is like
happening everywhere fake news is like wildfire and it’s spreading sometimes it
wildfire and it’s spreading sometimes it
wildfire and it’s spreading sometimes it can be really hard to think of ways to
can be really hard to think of ways to
can be really hard to think of ways to deal with problems on a global scale
deal with problems on a global scale
deal with problems on a global scale when I was first approaching the idea of
when I was first approaching the idea of
when I was first approaching the idea of this talk I remember being overwhelmed
this talk I remember being overwhelmed
this talk I remember being overwhelmed by how big of a problem this really is
by how big of a problem this really is
by how big of a problem this really is and someone told me I should try to
and someone told me I should try to
and someone told me I should try to remember that planting seeds leads to
remember that planting seeds leads to
remember that planting seeds leads to growth and that actions I take can
growth and that actions I take can
growth and that actions I take can ripple outward small actions can become
ripple outward small actions can become
ripple outward small actions can become large over time and it occurred to me
large over time and it occurred to me
large over time and it occurred to me the same is true about how we fight fake
the same is true about how we fight fake
the same is true about how we fight fake news we start with ourselves one thing
news we start with ourselves one thing
news we start with ourselves one thing we need to consider is how we react to
we need to consider is how we react to
we need to consider is how we react to news it can be easy and a politically
news it can be easy and a politically
news it can be easy and a politically charged climate to have an immediate gut
charged climate to have an immediate gut
charged climate to have an immediate gut reaction to something that we see online
reaction to something that we see online
reaction to something that we see online after all it’s widely known that people
after all it’s widely known that people
after all it’s widely known that people can be swayed by
can be swayed by
can be swayed by their emotions so instead of hitting
their emotions so instead of hitting
their emotions so instead of hitting that share button and fury agitation or
that share button and fury agitation or
that share button and fury agitation or astonishment we should ask ourselves
astonishment we should ask ourselves
astonishment we should ask ourselves three things first ask yourself who is
three things first ask yourself who is
three things first ask yourself who is the author of the article you’re looking
the author of the article you’re looking
the author of the article you’re looking at one of the easiest ways to identify
at one of the easiest ways to identify
at one of the easiest ways to identify fake news is by doing research on the
fake news is by doing research on the
fake news is by doing research on the author you’re looking to see what
author you’re looking to see what
author you’re looking to see what articles they’ve written what other
articles they’ve written what other
articles they’ve written what other publications they have and anything
publications they have and anything
publications they have and anything about them personally well-known
about them personally well-known
about them personally well-known journalists often have twitter feeds
journalists often have twitter feeds
journalists often have twitter feeds regular publications and easily findable
regular publications and easily findable
regular publications and easily findable information about themselves out there
information about themselves out there
information about themselves out there if you can’t find anything about the
if you can’t find anything about the
if you can’t find anything about the author chances are they’re not a real
author chances are they’re not a real
author chances are they’re not a real person or they’re deliberately
person or they’re deliberately
person or they’re deliberately misleading the public by providing a
misleading the public by providing a
misleading the public by providing a fake name be skeptical of authors that
fake name be skeptical of authors that
fake name be skeptical of authors that have no public information next you
have no public information next you
have no public information next you should ask yourself where did this
should ask yourself where did this
should ask yourself where did this article come from on today’s world wide
article come from on today’s world wide
article come from on today’s world wide web anyone can host a publication some
web anyone can host a publication some
web anyone can host a publication some publications are easily identifiable
publications are easily identifiable
publications are easily identifiable things like the New York Times The Post
things like the New York Times The Post
things like the New York Times The Post and even CNN are easily recognizable
and even CNN are easily recognizable
and even CNN are easily recognizable names many articles say where they came
names many articles say where they came
names many articles say where they came from
from
from but how often have you stopped to click
but how often have you stopped to click
but how often have you stopped to click through and look at the original article
through and look at the original article
through and look at the original article for yourself go back to the original
for yourself go back to the original
for yourself go back to the original article and take a good look at it
article and take a good look at it
article and take a good look at it does it have obvious problems sometimes
does it have obvious problems sometimes
does it have obvious problems sometimes we can see things immediately like
we can see things immediately like
we can see things immediately like misspelled words are bad grammar even
misspelled words are bad grammar even
misspelled words are bad grammar even doing a simple google search but the
doing a simple google search but the
doing a simple google search but the article can tell you more about it you
article can tell you more about it you
article can tell you more about it you should click on the articles and
should click on the articles and
should click on the articles and actually make sure they work this is the
actually make sure they work this is the
actually make sure they work this is the Denver Guardian in November 2016 the
Denver Guardian in November 2016 the
Denver Guardian in November 2016 the website published a story about Hillary
website published a story about Hillary
website published a story about Hillary Clinton that was widely shared by
Clinton that was widely shared by
Clinton that was widely shared by Facebook users this is fake news
Facebook users this is fake news
Facebook users this is fake news clicking anywhere but on the site
clicking anywhere but on the site
clicking anywhere but on the site inquire and the article in question
inquire and the article in question
inquire and the article in question would tell you that they were
would tell you that they were
would tell you that they were experiencing technical issues with their
experiencing technical issues with their
experiencing technical issues with their website remember the double Daisy image
website remember the double Daisy image
website remember the double Daisy image earlier we can’t always believe our own
earlier we can’t always believe our own
earlier we can’t always believe our own eyes so you have to do more than just
eyes so you have to do more than just
eyes so you have to do more than just look at it poke around read the about Us
look at it poke around read the about Us
look at it poke around read the about Us page read other articles even a simple
page read other articles even a simple
page read other articles even a simple google search for the name of the
google search for the name of the
google search for the name of the publication can kind of lend you more
publication can kind of lend you more
publication can kind of lend you more information about the authenticity of
information about the authenticity of
information about the authenticity of the article this leads us to our final
the article this leads us to our final
the article this leads us to our final question
question
question is this article credible what does it
is this article credible what does it
is this article credible what does it mean to be credible credibility is the
mean to be credible credibility is the
mean to be credible credibility is the quality of being trusted or believed in
quality of being trusted or believed in
quality of being trusted or believed in and with fake news it requires a
and with fake news it requires a
and with fake news it requires a synthesis of the first two questions who
synthesis of the first two questions who
synthesis of the first two questions who is the author and where did the article
is the author and where did the article
is the author and where did the article come from into a final answer of
come from into a final answer of
come from into a final answer of trustworthiness for the entire article
trustworthiness for the entire article
trustworthiness for the entire article this step is usually the easiest you
this step is usually the easiest you
this step is usually the easiest you already know who the author is
already know who the author is
already know who the author is and whether they’re credible as writers
and whether they’re credible as writers
and whether they’re credible as writers and you know something about the
and you know something about the
and you know something about the publisher so now you decide if you feel
publisher so now you decide if you feel
publisher so now you decide if you feel like this is a trustworthy news source
like this is a trustworthy news source
like this is a trustworthy news source if it is that’s great if it isn’t then
if it is that’s great if it isn’t then
if it is that’s great if it isn’t then congratulations you’ve just potentially
congratulations you’ve just potentially
congratulations you’ve just potentially identified a fake news story for
identified a fake news story for
identified a fake news story for yourself
yourself
yourself remember that headlines are meant to
remember that headlines are meant to
remember that headlines are meant to grab your attention and to inflame your
grab your attention and to inflame your
grab your attention and to inflame your passions in the hopes that you will read
passions in the hopes that you will read
passions in the hopes that you will read it and maybe even share it don’t react
it and maybe even share it don’t react
it and maybe even share it don’t react research ask yourself these three
research ask yourself these three
research ask yourself these three questions before you blindly share an
questions before you blindly share an
questions before you blindly share an article and contribute to the fake news
article and contribute to the fake news
article and contribute to the fake news problem each article we review is one
problem each article we review is one
problem each article we review is one less instance of fake news and actions
less instance of fake news and actions
less instance of fake news and actions can ripple so the next time that you’re
can ripple so the next time that you’re
can ripple so the next time that you’re on social media you feel the urge to
on social media you feel the urge to
on social media you feel the urge to share an article ask yourself where the
share an article ask yourself where the
share an article ask yourself where the article came from who wrote it and why
article came from who wrote it and why
article came from who wrote it and why and we can all help stem the tide of
and we can all help stem the tide of
and we can all help stem the tide of fake news one article at a time thank
fake news one article at a time thank
fake news one article at a time thank you
you
you [Applause]
[Applause]
[Applause] [Music]
”
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