Can You Spot the Many
Faces of Disinformation?
Today, an unprecedented amount of information can be shared with more people in a manner that's easier than ever before. Although some of that information is dangerous, news literacy isn't just about recognizing disinformation—which intentionally misleads readers. There are other types of content we encounter daily that can be mistaken for reported news. Sorting fact from fiction is critical, and being able to identify the varieties of disinformation and other content out there can help you become an informed reader of news.
LET'S GET STARTEDInstructions
Answer the following questions about the range of disinformation and other non-news content that we consume with increasing frequency in modern times.
GO ›QUESTION 1
The term clickbait usually refers to stories posted online beneath sensational, juicy headlines that offer little in the way of facts or original reporting. Which of the following headlines is most likely to be clickbait?
THAT’S RIGHT!
Answer choice “C” sounds sensational and made-up, while the other headlines clearly point to stories with facts. Clickbait relies on sensationalism to create curiosity in the reader—it is a trap to lure a reader to a website. More clicks on these links from readers mean a larger number of users on the website. Publishers can tout this increase in viewership to advertisers, which means more revenue from the ads. While it's important to grow the business, news organizations must be careful not to mislead their reader base.
NEXT QUESTIONQUESTION 2
Circular reporting occurs when an error or a lie in one publication gets re-reported by other journalists, accidentally or intentionally. Which of the following is an example of circular reporting?
GOOD WORK!
Circular reporting guarantees that errors will travel from one story to the next. Over time, such an error comes to have the appearance of fact—since numerous media outlets published it—when in fact it originated with a single error.
NEXT QUESTIONQUESTION 3
During World War I, an American poster portrayed the enemy as a huge apelike monster carrying a vulnerable woman and a large, bloody club. This is an example of ______________________.
NICE JOB!
The poster was obviously meant to promote a certain message or point of view. This phenomenon relies on actual facts that are distorted or taken out of context in order to promote a point of view.
NEXT QUESTIONQUESTION 4
One way to identify disinformation and other non-news content in the form of clickbait or propaganda is to look for which of the following in headlines?
GOOD EYE!
Clickbait or propaganda doesn't concern itself with the facts or specific details—instead, this type of disinformation is created to grab attention. It's typically rife with emotional language or just exaggerates the point. In order to stay objective, good reporters stick to the facts and don't use emotional or exaggerated language.
NEXT QUESTIONQUESTION 5
If you make up a scary (but realistic-sounding) story in the school newspaper about a pack of superintelligent wolves that prowls the city at night, this would be considered ______________________.
CORRECT!
The most famous media hoax occurred in 1938 on a radio program called The Mercury Theatre on the Air. One episode featured host Orson Welles reading an adaptation of science fiction novel The War of the Worlds and reporting that alien spaceships were attacking Earth. Many people were fooled, and some were outraged at the hoax.
NEXT QUESTIONQUESTION 6
Which of the following headlines is likely to accompany an article that is actually an advertisement or sponsored content?
YOU’RE RIGHT!
While three of the choices sound factual, the headline in answer "B" is subjective and clearly meant to promote the shopping mall. A careful reader would be suspicious of the first word—"glamorous"—due to its exaggerated nature. However, "redefines luxury and good taste" is highly subjective and questionable as well.
NEXT QUESTIONQUESTION 7
Imagine that a well-known blogger is trying to hurt the chances of a candidate in the race for governor. He publishes story after story about the candidate's political donations, constantly suggesting they are from suspicious sources while never mentioning the sources of other candidates' many donations. This would be called ______________.
WELL DONE!
While the blogger might be including some facts about one candidate in his story, he is distorting the truth by leaving out key facts about the other candidates. The fact that he is doing this in order to influence the election makes this behavior "agenda-based misrepresentation."
NEXT QUESTIONQUESTION 8
Propaganda, which is often false information that's presented as true, is used to achieve a goal or to shape readers' opinions of a subject. Which of the following headlines is most likely to be propaganda?
THAT’S RIGHT!
While three of these headlines appear to be based on facts, the one in answer "D" does not. The headline is speculative, rather than factual—it is making a prediction, rather than reporting a fact. The headline is also meant to prey upon people's fears of losing something, which is a common feature of propaganda.
NEXT QUESTIONQUESTION 9
Some websites publish content that looks like journalism to make money. If these publishers can get readers to visit their sites, they will profit from advertisers. Their articles get attention-grabbing headlines or scandalous content. These articles are also known as ______________________.
NICE WORK!
Some websites run stories with multiple headlines in order to see which headline generates the most web traffic. For a short while, different readers see different headlines, and editors track which story gets the most clicks and shares. After a few hours, they will settle on the hottest headline.
NEXT QUESTIONQUESTION 10
Some disinformation is based on bias or an attempt to persuade readers. Why is that kind of reporting not responsible?
YOU’VE GOT IT!
It is widely assumed that the job of journalists is to report facts. Readers assume that journalists are trained professionals and practice a set of ethical standards. Many people in the history of journalism, such as Walter Cronkite, have reputations for trustworthiness. These assumptions can be taken advantage of by someone engaging in agenda-based misrepresentation.
BREAKING NEWSCongratulations!
You've demonstrated the strong critical-thinking skills necessary in navigating today's information-saturated media landscape. Distinguishing fact from fiction—particularly when assessing a news report—isn't easy, but remember: Credible journalism is based on facts. Keep that in mind, and you'll be on your way to becoming an informed citizen.
BACK TO FACTS FIRST