This document outlines an agenda for a workshop on identifying and combating fake news. It introduces the presenter and provides context on what constitutes fake news and why it exists. Specifically, it discusses completely fabricated news, manipulated news, and biased news. It then explores reasons fake news exists, such as some creators making money from ad revenue and how critical thinking diminishes when people are angry or fearful. The workshop further explains how fake news can change history, lead to violence, and widen divisions. Activities are included to examine confirmation bias and rank the credibility of news sources. Participants are directed to the presenter's library guide for ongoing tools and resources to thwart fake news.

1. FAKE NEWS
Workshop
BE AWARE
BEFORE
YOU SHARE
Presented by Lauren Sullivan Justice
Susan Colgate Cleveland Library
Colby-Sawyer College

2. THE AGENDA
plan of attack for today
INTRODUCTIONS CONTEXT STRATEGIES
let’s get to know each
other, shall we?
why is this fake news
phenomenon
happening?
let’s discuss methods
and tools for thwarting
fake news

3. Who are you?
What’s your name?
Do you use social media?
Have you ever encountered false information on social media?

5. The Context:
What is
Fake
News?

6. Completely
fabricated news
Manipulated
News
News presented
with bias

15. The Context:
Why Does
Fake
News
Exist
Today?

16. The Context:
Why Does
Fake
News
Exist
Today?

17. The Context:
Why Does
Fake
News
Exist
Today?

18. The Context:
Why Does
Fake
News
Exist
Today?
Jestin Coler of Disinfomedia
Owns numerous fake news sites.
Creators of fake news can make
up to $10,000 and $30,000 a
month off of ad revenue.

19. The Context:
Why Does
Fake
News
Exist
Today?
“When humans are
angry and fearful, their
critical thinking skills
diminish.” –Claire Wardle

20. THE CONTEXT:
Why Does Fake News Matter?
It can change
the course of
history
It can lead to
violence

21. THE CONTEXT:
Why Does Fake News Matter?
It furthers the divide
between us.
Have you ever
unfriended someone
for political reasons?

22. ACTIVITY
•Partner up
•Go to one of your social media newsfeeds (I
recommend Facebook or Twitter for this exercise)
•Analyze your own newsfeed for news content
•Count how many posts are left-leaning or liberal in
nature
•Count how many posts are right-leaning or
conservative in nature

25. Confirmation Bias

26. Rank the News Activity
•Group/Partner Up
•Pretend you’re a news consumer, searching for an
unbiased article that gives just the facts, and no
opinion.
•For each news piece on the library guide, decide how it
ranks according to your news quality grid. When you’re
done, place sticky notes on the big grid.
•As you’re analyzing, take note of strategies you use to
determine a source’s credibility.

27. Rank the News Activity
•Let’s discuss!
•How did you rank the news articles?
•Was it easy or hard to make these decisions?
•What strategies did you use to make these
decisions?

28. Your Ultimate Resource for
Thwarting Fake News
Please see my library guide, which is accessible on the
Colby-Sawyer library home page. There’s all sorts of tools,
tricks, and tips for combatting fake news.

29. Questions?
Please ask them now.
USE THE LIBRARY GUIDE THERE IS NO PERFECT SOURCE
tons of tools and
resources for combatting
fake news
Read widely and critically!