Disinformation Toolkit: Consuming Media Safely
Journalism is one of society’s most important institutions. The United States prides itself on our freedom of expression and speech, which is evident in the journalism industry. However, the availability of all kinds of information also means that what’s available might not be totally accurate.
I tested some of the best disinformation detectors out there so you don’t have to. This post hopes to provide some tools so that you can be sure that you have access to the truth. These are all free and accessible.
This is the second article in our media literacy series. You can find more information in the first installation on this topic here.
As discussed in the first part of this series, disinformation can come in many different forms and influence many different platforms. These websites and tools are meant to help you double check what is already written or better educate yourself on the topic more generally.
Fact Checking Websites
This is a platform that automatically fact checks live events, like presidential debates. It also has a portal for checking your own text. ClaimBuster was created by funding from the National Science Foundation, Facebook Journalism Project, and more prestigious institutions.
One of the most thorough fact checking websites, FactCheck.org features an extensive list of articles about political hot topics and past events that discuss factual inaccuracies. It was developed by the Annenberg Public Policy Center at the University of Pennsylvania.
FakerFact is a tool that aims to go further than just fact checking sources. This artificial intelligence platform uses a tool named “Walt” to detect whether the language of the post is meant to influence or manipulate the reader.
Know News is a free browser extension that rates the news websites you visit as either credible or dodgy/uncredible. It is meant for the Chrome browser.
Learning materials/ further reading
UNESCO (United Nations Educational, Scientific and Cultural Organization) Handbook
This a lengthy textbook style document offered by the United Nations about the basics of journalism and disinformation. It’s an in depth guide about all things media, from fact checking to social media to news sources.
The International Center for Journalists has offered this free downloadable 20 page document detailing the way information is consumed and how it can be harmful in today’s world.
CrashCourse Media Literacy Playlist
Reading long PDFs not your thing? Well the CrashCourse Youtube page might be for you. It features a series of 12 engaging videos covering all of the aspects of media literacy.
Bonus round: Disinformation games
In this game, you learn some of the effective tactics used to spread misinformation by playing as someone that wants to spread it. This game was developed by Cambridge University researchers to not only create a fun platform to learn about the subject but also as a way to conduct research.
Build your defense against fake news by playing Factitious, a game in which you swipe right or left based on guessing if an article is true or fake. Try out the new pandemic news edition.
These are just a few of the tools out there to make the fight against disinformation and fake news just a little bit easier. However, the best tool is you! Make sure to always do your own research, trust your intuition, and think critically about what information you consume.
Maya Sobchuk is a third-year at Macalester College in Minnesota studying international law and international relations theory. She is from Kyiv, but grew up in Los Angeles, California. She has previously worked for the Kyiv Post, is the Web Editor for her college newspaper, and is involved with Ukrainian-American causes in Minnesota. Maya is particularly interested in the post-colonial space, multilateral diplomacy, and disinformation.