Ivy Tech Libraries: Misinformation & Media Manipulation: Home

Examples of Fake News

Did Pope Francis Shock World by Endorsing Donald Trump for President?
Reports from a fake news website claimed that Pope Francis was endorsing President-elect Donald Trump.
Is Disney World Lowering the Drinking Age to 18?
A Tik Tok user made a video while at Disney World claiming the drinking age there was being lowered to 18.
Simone Biles Investigated by Olympic Commission for Performance-Enhancing Drugs?
Suspicions came up about Simone Biles using enhancing drugs during the 2024 summer Olympics.

Reasons why fake news and knowing what it is are important to us.

Naive people can be vulnerable and taken advantage of because they are quick to believe what they see online is true
It is possible that it can put some distrust in credible news organizations
It can be dangerous because trusting false advertisements can lead you to make decisions that may be harmful to your health.
Believing and especially sharing fake news can give you a bad reputation or embarrass yourself later
Fake news can also make you lose money if you invest in something that turns out to be a scam

Tips on spotting and/or preventing fake news

Fast-Checking websites

Politifact
Fact-checking journalism is the heart of PolitiFact. Our core principles are independence, transparency, fairness, thorough reporting and clear writing. The reason we publish is to give citizens the information they need to govern themselves in a democracy.
FactCheck.org
We are a nonpartisan, nonprofit “consumer advocate” for voters that aims to reduce the level of deception and confusion in U.S. politics. We monitor the factual accuracy of what is said by major U.S. political players in the form of TV ads, debates, speeches, interviews and news releases. Our goal is to apply the best practices of both journalism and scholarship, and to increase public knowledge and understanding.
Snopes
When misinformation obscures the truth and readers don’t know what to trust, Snopes’ fact-checking and original investigative reporting lights the way to evidence-based and contextualized analysis. We always link to and document our sources so readers are empowered to do independent research and make up their own minds.
Media Bias/Fact Check
We are the most comprehensive media bias resource on the internet. There are currently 8900+ media sources, journalists, and politicians listed in our database and growing every day. Don’t be fooled by Questionable sources. Use the search feature above (Header) to check the bias of any source. Use name or URL.
News Literacy Project
News literacy is the ability to determine the credibility of news and other information and to recognize the standards of fact-based journalism to know what to trust, share and act on.

Definitions and Types of Fake News

Hoax - news that is fabricated with the intention of misleading or confusing readers
Misleading News - news stories that report quotes, images, statistics out of context, some of these stories can be old stories that are re-reported with a new misleading headline
Disinformation Campaigns - coordinated efforts by foreign governments and organizations which use many channels (e.g., fake social media accounts; fake news websites & articles; email blasts; print media like newsletters and fliers) to manipulate public opinion regarding elections, policy decisions, and other social and political affairs.
Mimic Websites - fake news websites that mimic the look of trusted news sources in order to fool readers into thinking a story is real
Satire - fake and ironic news stories that are intended to be funny or entertaining. Examples: The Onion, The Borowitz Report
Clickbait - news that is promoted with dramatic or misleading headlines that do not reflect the content of the actual story
Alternative/Alternate Facts - A different interpretation of facts, usually derived from a misinterpretation of reports or by focusing only on a subset of the available information

LibGuides: Fake News and Alternative Facts: Finding Accurate news: home. (n.d.). https://researchguides.austincc.edu/c.php?g=612891&p=4257736

conspiracy theory - "a belief that an event or situation is the result of a secret plan made by powerful people"
confirmation bias - " a tendency for people to favor information that confirms their preconceptions or hypothesis regardless of whether the information is true"
fabrication - "the act of inventing false information in order to deceive someone, or the false information itself"

Cambridge Free English Dictionary and Thesaurus. (2025). https://dictionary.cambridge.org/us/dictionary/

Articles

American Psychological Association - Fighting fake news in the classroom
Misinformation and disinformation are enormous problems online. To help stop the spread, psychologists are increasingly incorporating debunking and digital literacy into their courses.
Fact or Fake? How News Title, Sentiment and Writing Style help AI to detect COVID-19 Fake News?
Ensemble based high performance deep learning models for fake news detection
LLM-Enhanced multimodal detection of fake news
Automated Detection of Misinformation: A Hybrid Approach for Fake News Detection
This study addresses the automated detection of misinformation within written content, a task that has prompted extensive research efforts across various methodologies.
Believing and Sharing False News on Social Media: The Role of News Presentation, Epistemic Motives, and Deliberative Thinking
How vulnerable are we to misinformation on social media? To address this question, this study examines not only how well (or poorly) individuals discern true and false news on social media, but also how contextual factors in news presentation and individual's cognitive and motivational tendencies might shape the patterns of their beliefs in and likelihood to engage online news.

Videos

Books

Fake News Nation by James W. Cortada; William Aspray
Call Number: PN4784.F27 C67 2019

ISBN: 9781538131107

Publication Date: 2019-10-01

How rumors, lies, and misrepresentations shaped American history After the election of Donald Trump as president, people in the United States and across large swaths of Europe, Latin America, and Asia engaged in the most intensive discussion in modern times about falsehoods pronounced by public officials. Fake facts in their various forms have long been present in American life, particularly in its politics, public discourse, and business activities - going back to the time when the country was formed. This book explores the long tradition of fake facts, in their various guises, in American history. It is one of the first historical studies to place the long history of lies and misrepresentation squarely in the middle of American political, business, and science policy rhetoric. In Fake News Nation, James Cortada and William Aspray present a series of case studies that describe how lies and fake facts were used over the past two centuries in important instances in American history. Cortada and Aspray give readers a perspective on fake facts as they appear today and as they are likely to appear in the future.
Fake News and Alternative Facts by Nicole A. Cooke
Call Number: ZA3075 .C675 2018

ISBN: 9780838916360

Publication Date: 2018-05-14

Listen to a podcast with the author now! Talk of so-called fake news, what it is and what it isn't, is front and center across the media landscape, with new calls for the public to acquire appropriate research and evaluation skills and become more information savvy. But none of this is new for librarians and information professionals, particularly for those who teach information literacy. Cooke, a Library Journal Mover & Shaker, believes that the current situation represents a golden opportunity for librarians to impart these important skills to patrons, regardless of their age or experience. In this Special Report, she demonstrates how. Readers will learn more about the rise of fake news, particularly those information behaviors that have perpetuated its spread; discover techniques to identify fake news, especially online; and explore methods to help library patrons of all ages think critically about information, teaching them ways to separate fact from fiction. Information literacy is a key skill for all news consumers, and this Special Report shows how librarians can make a difference by helping patrons identify misinformation.
Media, Journalism, and Fake News by Amy M. Damico
Call Number: PN4784.T34 D44 2019

ISBN: 9781440864063

Publication Date: 2019-10-25

This volume summarizes the evolution of news and information in the United States as it has been shaped by technology (penny press, radio, TV, cable, the internet) and form development (investigative journalism, tabloid TV, talk radio, social media). Media, Journalism, and "Fake News": A Reference Handbook provides readers with an overview of news and media in the United States. Additionally, the book discusses, additionally discussing the economic state of the news industry, partisan news, misinformation and disinformation, issues of representation, and the impact of social media. The volume starts with a background of the development of news and information in the United States. It then goes on to discuss significant problems, controversies, and solutions related to the topic. Readers also will be able to develop their understanding of the topic by reading profiles of key figures and organizations that contributed to the current news climate. A comprehensive list of resources will help readers decide where to go next should they want to learn more about a particular area of interest.
Post-Truth, Fake News and Democracy by Johan Farkas; Jannick Schou
Call Number: JC423 .F3584 2020

ISBN: 9780367322182

Publication Date: 2019-09-10

Western societies are under siege, as fake news, post-truth and alternative facts are undermining the very core of democracy. This dystopian narrative is currently circulated by intellectuals, journalists and policy makers worldwide. In this book, Johan Farkas and Jannick Schou deliver a comprehensive study of post-truth discourses. They critically map the normative ideas contained in these and present a forceful call for deepening democracy. The dominant narrative of our time is that democracy is in a state of emergency caused by social media, changes to journalism and misinformed masses. This crisis needs to be resolved by reinstating truth at the heart of democracy, even if this means curtailing civic participation and popular sovereignty. Engaging with critical political philosophy, Farkas and Schou argue that these solutions neglect the fact that democracy has never been about truth alone: it is equally about the voice of the democratic people. Post-Truth, Fake News and Democracy delivers a sobering diagnosis of our times. It maps contemporary discourses on truth and democracy, foregrounds their normative foundations and connects these to historical changes within liberal democracies. The book will be of interest to students and scholars studying the current state and future of democracy, as well as to a politically informed readership.
The True Story of Fake News by Mark Dice
Call Number: P96.P83 D53 2017

ISBN: 9781943591022

Publication Date: 2017-12-01

Is fake news being spread through social media as part of an information war? Are political operatives publishing disinformation to smear the opposition and help their own agendas? Who creates fake news, how does it spread, and can it be stopped? What are the real world effects of fake news stories that go viral? Did it affect the outcome of the 2016 presidential election? Or is 'fake news' a fake problem, designed to justify tighter control over the mechanisms of sharing information online to drive audiences back to brand name media outlets because their audiences and influence are dwindling? Media analyst Mark Dice takes a close look at the fake news phenomenon and the implications of mega-corporations like Facebook, Google, and Twitter becoming the ultimate gatekeepers and distributors of news and information. You will see the powerful and deceptive methods of manipulation that affect us all, as numerous organizations and political activists cunningly plot to have their stories seen, heard, and believed by as many people as possible. The depths of lies, distortions, and omissions from traditional mainstream media will shock you; and now they're colluding with the top tech companies trying to maintain their information monopolies. This is The True Story of Fake News.
Information Literacy and Libraries in the Age of Fake News by Denise E. Agosto (Editor)
Call Number: ZA3075 .I53275 2018

ISBN: 9781440864186

Publication Date: 2018-10-12

Going beyond the fake news problem, this book tackles the broader issue of teaching library users of all types how to become more critical consumers and sharers of information. As a public, school, or academic librarian or educator, you can help library users to become more conscious and responsible consumers of information. As you read, you'll gain a better understanding and appreciation of the core concepts involved in promoting critical information literacy, such as information ethics, media literacy, and civic education. You'll also learn the history of fake news and come away with practical ideas in mind for strategies to apply in your library. Chapters contributed by leading experts in public, academic, and school library services are written in plain, everyday language that librarians and library school students can easily understand and relate to their own experiences as information users, especially their experiences in social media and other online venues where sharing false information takes only a click.

Librarian

Elsie Smith

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812-374-5114

E-Books

Disinformation Debunked by Divina Frau-Meigs (Editor); Nicoleta Corbu (Editor)
ISBN: 9781032481012

Publication Date: 2024-06-03

Disinformation Debunked: Building Resilience through Media and Information Literacy examines the way media and information literacy (MIL) can address disinformation in conjunction with fact-checkers and developers, to benefit from the expertise of these fields in fighting disinformation. The book highlights the underlying stakes that are involved in the fight against disinformation, from producing smart tools to generalizing their use beyond the journalistic profession. It considers the MIL theories and methodologies at work in the digital era, especially from the perspective of digital visual literacy. Offering a comparative study of four European national experiences (France, Romania, Spain, and Sweden), the authors also make public policy recommendations to improve the fight against disinformation. This book is of great importance to students, scholars, and educators working on media and information literacy, digital media, journalism, mass communication, misinformation and disinformation.
Education in an Age of Lies and Fake News by Jānis (John) Tālivaldis Ozoliņs (Editor)
ISBN: 9780367611002

Publication Date: 2021-09-06

The 'post-truth' world in which we live has been beset by fake news, lies and a cavalier disregard for truth. If truth is neglected then an alternative is an appeal to the emotions in order to validate a particular position, which can quickly turn to the use of power to impose a particular view. The loss of truth results in the loss of freedom. This book contends that if we want to preserve our freedom then we have a serious obligation to pursue truth. One way to do this is through an adequate moral education. Education in an Age of Lies and Fake News: Regaining a Love of Truth makes an argument for the importance of truth. It explores how we can retrieve the concept of truth and how moral education can be deployed in order to re-establish a commitment to truth. It introduces Eastern perspectives on the question of truth and how we view reality, and presents a realist position on the nature of truth as a counter to scepticism, drawing on Augustine and Thomas Aquinas, amongst others. Further, the chapters are mindful of the significance of developing a pedagogy which not only enables students to be critical thinkers, but to foster a genuine concern for truth and for its pursuit. This book will be essential reading for students, educators, philosophers and researchers pursuing the question of truth in the modern age.
Fake News, Witch Hunts, and Conspiracy Theories by Pauline W. Hoffmann
ISBN: 9781737517887

Publication Date: 2024-04-02

What's the truth and what's a lie? What is the difference between misinformation and disinformation? How can I tell the difference? Looking to weaponize information, talking heads and other so-called experts use disinformation and conspiracy theories to prey on our fears and emotions. Why? It can be to get us to act and behave in a certain way. It may be done for some gain like money, power, or even an election. There is so much being done to create and craft messages to counter disinformation but not as much to explain the infodemic itself. Not much to explain science, health and other topics to those unfamiliar with it. To be fair, it can be difficult to explain one's field or passion because we are immersed in it and know it well. We don't always know what others don't know. What seems obvious may not be. That's where this book comes in. Fake News, Witch Hunts, and Conspiracy Theories is truth-telling through research and education to help you survive the infodemic.
Information Disorder by Francesco Biondo (Editor); Gevisa. La Rocca (Editor); Viviana Viviana Trapani (Editor)
ISBN: 9783631885574

Publication Date: 2023-03-20
Misinformation Detection by Gabrielle Taylor; Wenting Jiang; Xiao Qin; Ashish Gupta
ISBN: 9781638284161

Publication Date: 2024-10-02

Misinformation Detection: A Survey of AI Techniques and Research Opportunities highlights the evolution of techniques within misinformation detection. This monograph provides an overview of the types of misinformation, classification strategies, strengths and weaknesses, and potential solutions for open issues. This comprehensive survey is helpful for future research as a resource for successful solutions and possible ideas. The authors first present background information including search strategies in Sections 1 and 2 and identify the types of misinformation in Section 3. The monograph then elaborates on the methods and compares the existing successful techniques from various perspectives in Section 4. Section 5 provides tools and datasets for misinformation detection. Section 6 reviews the challenges and open issues of misinformation and makes suggestions on how one can address those challenges. The monograph concludes in Section 7 with final thoughts on the areas of misinformation detection and an overall analysis of this field.
The Propagation of Misinformation in Social Media by Richard Rogers (Editor)
ISBN: 9789463720762

Publication Date: 2023-03-27

There is growing awareness about how social media circulate extreme viewpoints and turn up the temperature of public debate. Posts that exhibit agitation garner disproportionate engagement. Within this clamour, fringe sources and viewpoints are mainstreaming, and mainstream media are marginalized. This book takes up the mainstreaming of the fringe and the marginalization of the mainstream. In a cross-platform analysis of Google Web Search, Facebook, YouTube, Reddit, Twitter, Instagram, 4chan and TikTok, we found that hyperpartisan web operators, alternative influencers and ambivalent commentators are in ascendency. The book can be read as a form of platform criticism. It puts on display the current state of information online, noting how social media platforms have taken on the mantle of accidental authorities, privileging their own on-platform performers and at the same time adjudicating between claims of what is considered acceptable discourse.
Your Brain Is Playing Tricks on You by Albert Moukheiber
ISBN: 9781915054708

Publication Date: 2023-05-02

Why are we often convinced that we're right even when we're wrong? Why are we jealous, or paranoid, even when we have absolutely no reason to be? Why is it so easy for fake news to spread around the globe and fool us? It's because we don't see the world as it is, rather we reconstruct it in our mind. Reality is way too complex and multiple to be apprehended by our capacities of attention, which are quite limited, as well as our brain abilities. That is why our perception of the world is subjective and various elements influence the way we acquire knowledge and form opinions. Our brain is recreating the world in its own way - most of the time for our own good: how hard would it be if, before making a choice, we had to know about all the options available in a given situation? It would take us forever to choose an item of clothing in a store, or a meal in a restaurant! Luckily, our brain can estimate: even if it makes us imperfect and subject to illusion, delusion and error, it allows us to reconstruct the world as we know it, and live in it. However, these very useful mechanisms can sometimes mislead us and have a rather negative impact on our actions, beliefs and opinions: when our brain behaves that way, we say it is biased. Albert Moukheiber gives us tips and tricks to fight against these cognitive biases - the first one being not to trust ourselves too much and to always doubt our thinking processes, especially in this era where social networks spread information like an epidemic. In this book, filled with multiple examples from our daily lives and psychosocial experiments, Moukheiber explores the building blocks of our perception, cognition and behaviour, which are involved in acquiring knowledge or forming opinions.