12 Fake News Signals from the Website
/CLUES FROM THE SITE
43. ABOUT US. Check the site’s “About” page for information about who is behind the operation. If you aren’t familiar with the name, look for information about who owns it. For instance, the Russian government owns the RT network. There is a big difference between state media (RT) and public media in a democracy (like the BBC). If a website does not provide information on its mission, staff members, or physical location, it is most likely unreliable. The language used here should be straightforward. If it seems overblown, be skeptical.
44. ADDRESSES. There should be a mailing address (better yet, a physical address) and an email address. Any site concerned about making factual corrections (and avoiding defamation) needs a way for readers to contact them.
45. LEGAL NOTICES. Look for a legal section on the website. It may be called a “disclaimer.” Satirical websites sometimes disclose this information in those sections. A site without obvious legal notices (such as EEOC or FCC public file information for TV stations) is a red flag.
46. GOOGLE “FAKE.” Put the website name in quotes and then add “fake.” Something indicating the site is known for publishing fake news might come up.
47. DATES. Look for a date to make sure the event is recent. Sometimes real stories from several years ago are posted as if they were new. This happens with photos as well. Reliable news outlets want readers to know when the information is posted and will usually display the headline's date. If you are looking at an article on social media, go to the article and look first for a timestamp. Even an old article with good information at the time of publication can be problematic because a study (for instance) may have since been retracted.
48. WEB DESIGN. Poor web design is a red flag. Is the design out of date when compared to other reputable sites? Is the display navigable and professional?
49. DOWNLOADS. If the website contains advertisements, particularly pop-up ads, asking you to download software, it is likely to be an unreliable.
50. CORRECTIONS. Does the site make corrections as it receives new information, and does it make those corrections obvious? Typically, a note will be added to the top or bottom of a news article when even a factual change is made to a story. In a print or broadcast story, the original error should be clearly stated along with the correct information. The editorial process of a legitimate news organization catches and corrects many errors. If you don’t see corrections from time-to-time on a website, that’s a red flag. Corrections and updates are a part of journalism.
51. OTHER ARTICLES. Search for the information you know to be false in other articles on the site. Does the site offer quality information on different topics besides the one you are investigating?
52. COMMUNITY POSTS. Some sites allow individuals to post pieces under the banner of the news brand (ex: BuzzFeed Community Posts, Kinja blogs, Forbes blogs). The site editors typically do not vet these posts, making the material suspect.
53. PREVIOUS FAKE NEWS. Do Wikipedia, Snopes, or other such sites show the website in question as having a connection to spreading false information in the past? While Wikipedia is generally pointed in the right direction but can contain some questionable information, the links to other sites it provides can be invaluable in the hunt for the truth.
54. EMBARGOS. Does the publisher respect embargos? This is common practice in media, where information suppliers ask publishers to hold back new information until a certain time. It is considered common courtesy and accepted practice to honor embargos except in unusual circumstances. Ignoring these expectations could be a sign the publisher is more interested in rushing out material than operating by industry standards.