What is Fake News?
Currently, there are many definitions of fake news – Typically, it refers to the distorting (or exaggerating) or falsifying reports on the current political state (or any other topic, really).
It is meant to mislead the audience, if not out-right lie about a subject.
There are usually multiple goals behind fake news:
- Persuading the reader/viewer to hold one ideological viewpoint or position over another based on information that is simply not true – not true by the fact that it is false, or less than completely factual – thus it acts as propoganda
- Obscure/distort factual information in hopes of damaging political entities (politicians, a governmental department, a nation)
- It is debatable as to whether fake news is actually accomplishing this. Also to make money: like an advertisement: the creator makes a few cents each time that a story gets clicked on. Social media like facebook and twitter drives people to the stories.
In simpler terms, FAKE NEWS = LIES
- Fake news is different than reporting the present details of a story: reporting a story that turns out to not be true is part of the journalistic/editorial process, and not a way of purposely deceiving the audience – a story can naturally change as it develops.
- Fake news intends to mislead on purpose by making information up.
Adapted from Wichita State University's Fake News Libguide
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