Mass Media: Digital Media and Fake News How does digital media shape the public perception?

Do Now: Can YOU spot a fake? Take a look at the following sources and evaluate if the material is credible or not!

Compare and contrast your reactions to the sources in your groups Identify the Sources! Compare and contrast your reactions to the sources in your groups Come to a consensus on which source is credible/ not credible Justify your responses

Source #2: American News Source #3: The New York Times Spotting the fake! Source #1: The Onion Source #2: American News Source #3: The New York Times

DISCUSS! How has digital media created more information from less credible sources?

More information but fewer facts! Anyone can be an author! Political activists can manipulate facts to fit the agenda! Information can be posted on multiple digital platforms and shared between social media platforms! Companies and politicians campaigns constantly need new information to stay relevant! Emphasis is placed on quantity of new information as opposed to quality of the sources!

What is a credible source? In your notebooks, record the the following information: Define credible source. How can you identify a credible source?

Credible vs. Non Credible Sources • Journals by authors respected and well-known in their specific fields • Websites from credible institutions like Mayo Clinic, Department of Justice, and University- affiliated institutions • Materials published in the last ten years (when more recent information is available) • Websites: The more information available, the more credible the website. There is a specific author, the audience is clear, the purpose is informative not biased, and the information is regularly updated. Also look for websites ending in .edu and .gov. Non-Credible Sources Blogs, facebook posts, or other self-authored sites • Research articles without citations • Websites with information not from an author or governmental department • Materials published over 15 years ago or have theories that are clearly out-of-date • Websites: There is not much information available. If the purpose is not informative but may have other motives, like to persuade, the site may not be credible. The website is not regularly updated or the author is unreliable.

Are conservatives more susceptible? If conservatives are more susceptible to “fake news” than liberals and are voting based on these sources, how do we confront this as a society? The Journal of Economic Perspectives “confirm that fake news was both widely shared and heavily tilted in favor of Donald Trump.” The “database contains 115 pro-Trump fake stories that were shared on Facebook a total of 30 million times, and 41 pro-Clinton fake stories shared a total of 7.6 million times.”

Rejection of Facts? What happens when they just do not care? Trump supporters have reported that they overlook certain facts and continue to support the Administration no matter what! Why are they willing to turn a blind eye?

Please consider our individual rights under the first amendment. Summary! Please consider our individual rights under the first amendment. To what extent should social media platforms/blogs be regulated and censored? Why is that the case?