See also: 'Fake news? What it is and isn't, and how journalists fight it
Facebook is targeting three key areas, according to its website
Twitter took down
Maria Molina and S. Shyam Sundar, researchers from Pennsylvania State University, presented their findings on identifying fake news at the 2018 Association for Education in Journalism and Mass Communication
- Linguistic features. This includes proper grammar and spelling, or language indicating something is an opinion piece rather than a news article
- Source and intentions. This refers to the credibility and agenda of the organization where the media came from.
- Structural components. The logo or structure of a website might look legitimate at first glance, but a closer look could reveal discrepancies. In addition, the 'About Us' section of a website can help show if the purported news source is actually satire or some other news alternative.
'I think the important thing is to realize that fake news is not only about one type of feature,' Molina said. 'We can find so many different types of information.'
That's why, whether a fake news story is actually an advertisement or something else, it's important to 'take it for what it is.'
Fact-checking initiatives also play an important role. According to the Poytner Institute
One of these fact-checking initiatives is TEGNA's Verify
Journalists with Verify receive training from Investigative Reporters and Editors
'(Consumers) want to know 'Where are you getting that information?'' Vice President of News TEGNA Corps Ellen Crooke
Deborah Dwyer
'Readers are starting to really demand more assertive reporting,' she said. 'Readers are now connecting with journalists to say, 'Why aren't you calling this a lie? Why aren't you calling this out more aggressively?''
However, Dwyer also said there's a 'silver lining' in the fake news problem: the opportunity for journalists to rebuild credibility.
'The public ought to feel safe in turning to mainstream media for information,' she said. 'We're not peddling fake news.'