Library - How fake news is spread.

Library - Assignment 17

Dear students,

Let's explore " How false news can spread " by Noah Travlin. Youtube video is shared with you is in next slide.

In previous decades, most news with global reach came from several major newspapers and networks with the resources to gather information directly. The speed with which information spreads now, however, has created the ideal conditions for something called circular reporting. Noah Tavlin sheds light on this phenomenon.

Link to the Ted ed

https://youtu.be/cSKGa_7XJkg

After listening to Noah Travlin ted video, answer all the questions mentioned in the next slides.

You can record your Multiple choice answer in the same document & open-ended questions in a google document and upload them in GC.

Multiple Choice Questions

Read the question and answer the multiple choice questions.

Multiple Choice

What makes circular reporting 'circular'?

• It is round and symmetrical

• It has neither a beginning nor an end

• Sources become validated by themselves in a logical loop

• It is uniformly consistent in its reporting

Multiple Choice

Which of the following has NOT directly contributed to an increase of circular reporting?

• The speed of the news cycle

• The ability for anyone to write, edit and publish on the Internet

• Increased accessibility to the Internet

• Human curiosity

Multiple Choice

Why might the anti-vaccer movement be considered a product of circular reporting?

• It is based on misinformation

• The body of literature and information supporting the theory can all be traced to one, initial, discredited source

• As a movement, it has enough momentum to be considered a serious problem

• Because the media has reported on the anti-vaccine movement

Multiple Choice

Before the 20th century, because it took longer to publish writing, it was more accurate.

• True

• False

Multiple Choice

Which of the following is NOT an example of circular reporting?

• When one incorrect source informs multiple sources, which are then cited as multiple verifications of the incorrect information

• When a website is edited to include false information without verification, someone writes an article based on the un-cited fact, and then someone uses that article to verify the false information on the original website

• When an incorrect source directly informs another source, and the two sources are considered to have independently verified the same information

• When a source intentionally provides false information to a writer

Multiple Choice

Which of the following is NOT an example of circular reporting?

• When one incorrect source informs multiple sources, which are then cited as multiple verifications of the incorrect information

• When a website is edited to include false information without verification, someone writes an article based on the un-cited fact, and then someone uses that article to verify the false information on the original website

• When a source intentionally provides false information to a writer

• When an incorrect source directly informs another source, and the two sources are considered to have independently verified the same information

Open ended questions.

Read the question and record your answers in the google document and upload it in GC.

Open Ended

What are some ways you can avoid falling for false information, and avoid contributing to the cycle of circular reporting?

Open Ended

What makes circularly reported facts so difficult to correct?

Open Ended

Circular reporting isn't limited to large-scale media and news. How does circular reporting apply to rumors and gossip?

Open Ended

Does everyone who publishes any writing—even if it’s on their personal blog—have a responsibility to cite their sources and be factually accurate? Or does this responsibility only apply to professional writers published by well-known publications and websites? Why or why not? - Share your opinion .