At SMS Varanasi, we offer a BA (Hons) in Mass Comm program that is affiliated with Mahatma Gandhi Kashi Vidhyapith (MGKVP), Varanasi. And if you are studying Mass Communication, you should know How to Spot Fake News and authentic news. You need to learn to identify and avoid spreading misinformation so that you can establish trust with your target audiences and success as a Mass Comm professional.

In the world of Mass Communication, it is your ethical and moral duty to share accurate and verified information with your audiences. The public relies on Mass Comm professionals to be the gatekeepers of information. Many important decisions are made on the basis of info available in the market.

If you spread false information or biased news, even unintentionally, it can severely skew the lives of individuals and even communities as a whole. Keeping this in mind, we bring you a quick media literacy guide to help you identify fake news and biased content so that you can avoid spreading it further – and even counter these manipulation tactics.

Why is Media Literacy an Essential Skill for Those Who Are Pursuing Mass Communication?

When we talk about media literacy, we mean skills you need to figure out what the source of information is, what messages are they trying to convey, and be a media detective that can filter out the fake news or biased information. 

Is a cartoon trying to trick kids into buying an expensive toy? If you have media literacy skills, you will be aware of the tricks being used in the cartoon movie. You will learn to ask the right questions – and you will be able to make sure that the content you are creating or sharing is as true as possible.

Mass Comm students need to learn how to distinguish between fact and fiction, be able to critically analyze and evaluate information, and contribute to passing on the right information to society to help with the policy-making and decision-making processes by different stakeholders.

How to Spot Fake News?

People publish fake news for several reasons. From driving more traffic to their website to manipulating public opinion to serving more dangerous political or even terrorist agendas, fake news can serve many purposes. And it can come in various forms. From completely fabricated stories to half-truths (with exaggerations or generalisations to mislead the audiences), fake news often has clickbait headlines to attract more clicks.

We often see people spreading false or distorted information about someone in the political world for propaganda or defaming their opponents. 

Sometimes it’s unintentional. People deem satire or a parody as factual news. And at other times, it’s intentional. People use misleading headlines, do not fact-check or verify the info they have, and publish imposter content (on websites that impersonate legitimate news sources) – and these are all tell-tale signs of poor-quality journalism.

Fake news can be dangerous. It can sway the public’s decision on whom to vote or what healthcare choices to make based on info they receive on WhatsApp, Facebook, and other social media platforms. It can also lead to riots, lynchings, and mob violence.

Such news erodes trust in legitimate journalism, and, in academic circles, it can lead to several penalties.

That’s why, if you want to be a Mass Communication professional one day, you need to learn how to spot fake news. Here’s how you can do it:

1. Check the Source: Mass Comm students are advised to only believe established news organizations with a reputable track record (such as The Times of India, NDTV, The Indian Express, etc.), government websites, and trusted websites like Scroll.in. Avoid unfamiliar websites with spelling errors or unusual domain extensions.
2. Research the Author: To understand an article’s perspective fully, it is important to investigate the background, expertise, and potential biases of the author. 
3. Never Rely on a Single Source: Always cross-reference information. Check out stories on the same topic from different reputed news sources to get the full picture.
4. Check the Facts Critically: Mass Comm students should always keep an eye open for data, statistics, and quotes supporting the claim. They should always try to find out what’s the purpose of the article. Is it published to inform the audiences, persuade them, or manipulate them? Missing dates, timelines, and altered images are often the hallmarks of fake news.
5. Be Cautious of Emotional Manipulation: Like everyone, Mass Communication professionals have biases too. It affects their ability to evaluate information objectively. If you see content that evokes strong emotions (whether it’s fear, hate, or anger), beware! Emotional manipulation is the key recipe for fake news.
6. Resources to Cross-Check the Authenticity of a Piece of Information: You can use fact-checking websites (like Snopes, PolitiFact, Fact Check, and BBC Reality Check) to see if someone is true or false. You can also use Google Reverse Image Search to check the origin of images. 

If you are a Mass Comm student, you should make sure that the information you are sharing is accurate, credible, and verifiable. 

How to Detect Bias in New Reporting?

As a Mass Communication professional, it’s your duty to show all sides of a story- and that too objectively. Biased reporting distorts facts or ignores different perspectives while showing a story. 

It only shows you one side of the story – and it can skew public opinion. It might leave out information, use strong words, or make exaggerated claims which can lead people to make bad or harmful decisions. 

As a journalist, it can hurt your credibility. As a brand representative, it can hurt your company’s reputation and erode the trust of your target clients. 

Here are some questions you should ask to detect biased reporting:

Source and Perspective:

• Who are the sources quoted in this report? Are they experts or individuals directly impacted by the issue? Does the report include a variety of perspectives?
• Whose story is being told, and whose voice is missing? Focusing on the individuals most affected by an event often provides a more comprehensive view.

Representation and Double Standards:

• Does the news outlet represent the diversity of the communities it serves? Is there a fair representation of different viewpoints and experiences?
• Are different groups held to the same standards in the report? Be mindful of potential double standards that might portray certain groups unfairly.

Language and Framing:

• What kind of language is used in the report? Are there strong emotional words or phrases that seem to favour a specific viewpoint?
• What assumptions are being made in the report? Are there underlying messages that might influence how readers perceive the story?
• Does the headline accurately reflect the content of the article? Is it misleading or sensationalized?

Completeness and Prominence:

• Does the report provide enough context and background information to understand the issue fully? Does it seem like there’s important information missing?
• Where is this story placed within the news source? Is it prominently featured or buried deep within the website or publication?

If you are an aspiring Mass Communication professional, it is your responsibility to uphold the integrity of the field. These tips can not only help you spot fake news and detect biased reporting but can also play an important role in creating a more truthful and transparent media landscape – justifying the role of media as the fourth pillar of democracy!