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The Dangers of Fake News Fake news is different from satire, which uses humor, sarcasm, irony, exaggeration or some other approach to make its point. And unlike legitimate news that may contain unintentional errors made under deadline pressure or some other valid circumstance, fake news refl ects a deliberate, cynical attempt to deceive. It traffi cs in hoaxes, disinformation and propaganda, and its effects can lead to serious consequences, as when a North Carolina man, on a mission to "self-investigate" a bogus claim spread through fake news, fi red an assault rifl e inside a Washington, D.C. pizza restaurant. Use Reliable Sources A time-tested way to avoid fake news is to rely on mainstream news organizations that employ professional journalists and operate under strict ethical guidelines. The mainstream media include such outlets as The New York Times, The Washington Post, NPR, CBS News, and Politico. When students are in doubt about a news source's trustworthiness, they should consult their librarian. Fact-checkers Students can also try to check the veracity of news stories through reputable fact-checking websites, such as PolitiFact, a project of the Tampa Bay Times; FactCheck.org, a project of the Annenberg Public Policy Center; Snopes.com, an independent site that checks the truthfulness of Internet rumors and other misinformation; and The Washington Post's Fact Checker, which focuses on political news. The Internet is rife with fake news, some preposterous on its face and some wrapped in a deceptive cloak of credibility. It has wormed its way into the national discourse through bogus "news" outlets and through social media. Reputable fact-checking sites have helped expose the lies in many of these stories, but fake news persists in ways that can make it challenging for students to separate fact from fi ction—and for teachers to help students understand the difference. Integrate current, unbiased research into your course. To learn more visit library.cqpress.com/cqresearcher CQ Researcher Paves the Way Within this rapidly changing world, fi nding reliable information has become a daunting challenge. Students need balanced, accurate and accessible information to guide them on their research journey and help them develop and refi ne their research skills. CQ Researcher offers an incomparable roadmap to complex topics, with clear waypoints and a trusted format to help students avoid the pitfalls of fake news and contextualize the day's most pressing issues and controversies. Featuring 44 carefully researched reports and 20 "Hot Topics" annually, CQ Researcher provides students and other researchers with everything they need to navigate today's most vital issues. Finding credibility in a world of fake news CQ Researcher Offers a Roadmap to Reliable Research Research Tools 9

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