On this week's radio show, we trace the history of fake news. Plus, in a time when accurate information is so important, we ask who ultimately bears the cost when no one wants to pay for local news.
Middle and high schools have been adding courses about how to spot fake news. Older adults also struggle to sort disinformation online, but there are fewer resources tackling the problem.
The law allows the government to determine what constitutes false information and stipulates hefty fines and jail sentences for people and media companies that violate it.
Nearly all the phony accounts were caught by artificial intelligence and a boost in human monitoring. CEO Mark Zuckerberg said breaking up the company would make purging abusive accounts harder.
A new report says students who received media literacy training were 18 percent better at identifying false reports than students without the lessons. Girls gained more knowledge than boys.
Scott Simon talks with Maria Ressa of the investigative website Rappler in the Philippines about being named one of Time's Persons of the Year, and the mortal dangers some journalists faced this year.
"We don't feel we have had straight answers from Facebook," a member of the U.K. Parliament says. The company had fought to keep the records private; some are marked "highly confidential."
A federal judge in Washington appointed by the president will hear a case brought by CNN and joined by other outlets about the stripped credentials of a reporter.
On his best behavior at a subdued rally Wednesday, the president left out insults of three Democratic targets. But a Thursday tweet pointed a finger at "purposely false and inaccurate reporting."
President Trump proclaimed the gesture "as a mark of solemn respect" for five people killed at the Capital Gazette newsroom. The White House had initially declined to do so, according to the city.
Fake news in the U.S. is as old as American journalism itself. We explore the trade-offs journalists have long faced between elitism and populism, and integrity and profit.
President Trump is known for his particular style of tweets. NPR's Scott Simon muses about what other famous lines from history might sound like if they'd been composed by Trump.
Danish citizen Salah Salem Saleh Sulaiman was charged with spreading fake news after he posted a video to YouTube accusing police in Kuala Lumpur of a slow response to a shooting.
How can we succeed in creating and perpetuating a culture that values and promotes truth? Cognitive scientist Tania Lombrozo considers the science of fake news — and how to protect ourselves.
"As unprecedented numbers of people channel their political energy through this medium, it's being used in unforeseen ways with social repercussions that were never anticipated," says Facebook.
It will combat fake news by pushing up news articles that come from "high quality" sources, and pushing down the others. It's asking users which news organizations they trust.
Experts say such propaganda sows divisions within society by confirming beliefs. Facebook, Google and Twitter officials are testifying this week about Russian influence on the 2016 election.
Horner made his living making bogus reports go viral and said he didn't expect for his stories to believed by Trump supporters. Authorities say they do not suspect foul play.
