How to Debunk Fake News

Fake news has always been part of a broader mis- and disinformation spectrum. Simply put, it is news stories that are fabricated or do not have any source or quotes that can be verified. In a world where news spreads very quickly, fake news can damage the reputation of an individual, group, or even an organization by undermining trust and even creating chaos. Out of all the reasons why fake news spreads, one is that people are not patient enough to verify if the news is authentic. While some news sites claim to debunk fake news, there are ways for you to do it by yourself, just in case. So here’s how you can verify if the news is fake:

1. Do not share immediately: The best you can do to prevent fake news from spreading is not sharing it immediately, that too without verifying. Why would you want to join the bandwagon of those who share news immediately?
2. Reverse image search: The name may sound complicated, but in reality, it is not. A reverse image search is searching the internet with an image. To do so, go to Google Images and click the camera icon. You will get an option to either upload an image or link. Once you do, Google will identify the source; if the image is not what the news claims to be, the story is fake. Reverse image search will also help in detecting if an image is authentic or just photoshopped.
3. Refer to multiple sources: This is an underrated step. You can check if any other news has reported the story. If they do, check what content has been written across news portals and try pointing out the differences in the content, especially the ones missing in each story. This will be useful if you come across news referring to quotes from any prominent personality.
4. Dissect the content: When you read a news story that makes any claim without any sources, there is a high possibility that the news is fake. Also, if the news has any typos or grammatical errors, then the news is most probably fake. Are you reading news from a website? Check its URL. If it ends with .com.co, then it is probably not a credible source.
5. Check for bias: Look for language that seems one-sided, especially if it has an emotionally charged language. You can easily identify the same by checking if the language has strong opinions rather than neutral coverage. Also, check the past stories of the news portal. While some outlets produce quality journalism, some may even report news in a biased manner.
6. Do not display any emotions: News stories written using strong language aim to trigger certain emotions. You might end up feeling excited or angry and spreading the news. That’s what fake news wants to achieve—spreading information that is not true.

As responsible PR professionals, we have the responsibility to debunk fake news, too. Let us make sure that the news we share is authentic and that people are well-informed of nothing but the truth. If good PR involves conveying what is true, debunking fake news is also our responsibility. Let us ensure our target audience gets the most authentic information and remains well-informed with the best possible news sources.