Matthew McConaughey is not moving to Durango and Pope Francis did not endorse Donald Trump for president.
No matter how much you wished these statements to be true, or if confirmation bias – information you agree with – led you to believe they were, they are just a few of the memes most of us at one time or another are guilty of falling for, and spreading. They are colloquially known as “fake news.”
This was the topic The Durango Herald addressed this week, first in an interactive presentation “Fake News: How to spot it and how to stop it,” in partnership with the Durango Public Library on Monday night, and with fake news trivia at SKA Brewing on Wednesday, in partnership with the Colorado Press Association.
At best, ‘fake news’ can be fun. How many of you reading this thought there was a strong possibility that McConaughey was indeed moving to Durango because you read the nice things he said about our community and barely even glanced at the source?
Considering the source is one of the most important lessons in spotting fake news. The Kty24news article spread like wildfire on Facebook and on the streets of Durango by people you know and trust. Those of us who bought in to the possibility were quickly duped.
The website publishes articles of fantasy and satire that are not true. They say so in their “About” section. They also have a Gmail address as their contact that does not match the website address, have no physical location or staff members listed – all important aspects of verifying any news source.
This is why the worst form of fake news comes from people we have come to believe we should be able to trust to tell the truth, those in elected office, judges, law enforcement and others who we hold to the highest standard because it comes with the responsibility of their position.
Their words – in testimony, rulings and decision-making – can have a significant impact on the lives of others. That is why we are troubled by Montezuma County Commissioners recent claims of spreading “fake news” as they did in explaining their vote to discontinue funding for the Colorado State University extension office as a lever to bring the regional director to the table, essentially saying they didn’t really mean it.
Take state Sen. Vicki Marble’s recent claims of fake news (that the media made up a comment she made about African-Americans’ diet). She made the comment; it is on tape, but a Denver cub scout, in revisiting the issue, got kicked out of his den by asking her about it.
Fake news is generally an accusation leveled at the news media by politicians who do not want to admit to or deal with inconvenient facts. For the commissioners and a state senator to involve the media in a campaign of disinformation is a different twist on a disturbing phenomenon of dishonesty.
Fake news is not a new phenomenon, but it is a big problem and a serious danger to our democracy.
As have most, this newspaper has been accused of publishing fake news. But sometimes it is not news, rather an opinion that comes through a letter to the editor or a column. The distinction is important.
As journalists, we take our jobs very seriously and strive daily to be accurate in our reporting, informing and educating our community, holding government accountable and providing a forum for honest and open communication. That is our community responsibility.
Learning to spot and stop spreading fake news can be yours, too.
