9 Webinars this week about AI, Journalism & Media

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Tue, Feb 3 - Vibe Coding: Build Interactive Learning Experiences

What: In this webinar, you will learn how to use small HTML, CSS, and JavaScript pieces to enhance learning experiences inside the tools you already use. No coding background required. If you can describe what you need, you can build it.

When: 12 pm, Eastern

Who: Destery Hildenbrand, Learning Technology Consultant and Founder; Jeff Batt, Founder, Learning & Development Specialist, Course Author, Learning Dojo.

Where: Zoom

Cost: Free

Sponsor: Training Magazine Network

More Info

 

Tue, Feb 3 - Leveraging AI to Streamline Operations for Nonprofits

What: Explore how AI tools can enhance operational efficiency for nonprofits. Learn practical strategies for automating repetitive tasks, optimizing resource allocation, and driving organizational impact. Gain actionable insights into implementing AI solutions tailored to nonprofit needs.

Who: Zach Patton, Tapp Network; Kyle Barkins, Tapp Network.

When: 1 pm, Eastern

Where: Zoom

Cost: Free

Sponsor: TechSoup

More Info

 

Tue, Feb 3 - Responding to Research Misconduct Allegations

What: Allegations of research misconduct can be challenging for institutions and the teams responsible for communicating about them. In this PIO webinar our guests will share practical insights on how institutions can respond when concerns arise. The session will focus on how to navigate investigations and communicate clearly, effectively and transparently during challenging situations. 

Who: Ivan Oransky, co-founder of Retraction Watch, and Megan Phelan, Communications Director for the Science family of journals at AAAS.

When: 1 pm, Eastern

Where: Zoom

Cost: Free to members

Sponsor: EurekAlert!

More Info

 

Tue, Feb 3 - Influencers, AI, and Credibility: Teach Students About the Information Ecosystem

What: We will explore teaching strategies and resources to help students distinguish between different kinds of content on social media. The session will demonstrate how to use the rich analogy of an ecosystem to help students understand today’s information landscape. Attendees will consider what makes an information ecosystem healthy and examine ways to encourage students to be mindful about the content they consume, share, create, and act on. 

Who: Hannah Covington, Senior Director of Education Content, News Literacy Project.

When: 4 pm, Eastern

Where: Zoom

Cost: Free

Sponsor: News Literacy Project

More Info

 

Tue, Feb 3 - Covering Immigration: ICE, Journalism, and Imperiled Civil Rights

What: A digital dialogue on covering the crisis surrounding immigration enforcement policy, the mandate of journalism, and the erosion of constitutional rights and civil liberties.

Who: Martin Reynolds, co-executive director of the Maynard Institute; Andrés Cediel, ASU Walter Cronkite School of Journalism; Michelle Zenarosa, Editor-in-Chief at LA Public Press; Christopher Mark Juhn, a photojournalist covering ICE, Customs and Border Patrol and Homeland Security operations in Minnesota.

When: 7 pm, Eastern

Where: Zoom

Cost: Free

Sponsor: The Maynard Institute

More Info

 

Wed, Feb 4 - Key Trends on AI in Newsrooms

What: It's 2026, and innovative newsrooms across the globe are using AI for a range of tasks. What are the key trends that are emerging? How can we ensure that we are prepared for the future and that editorial integrity remains central to all our efforts? How can collaboration help us get there faster?

Who: Florent Daudens, co-founder of Mizal AI; Ole Fehling, senior manager of data science at Highberg Consulting; Christoph Mayer, a partner at Highberg who leads the data & AI practice. 

When: 10 am, Eastern

Where: Zoom

Cost: Free to INMA members

Sponsor: International News Media Association

More Info

 

Wed, Feb 4 - Welcome to AI Fundamentals

What: In this workshop, we will explain generative artificial intelligence and discuss its impact. You will gain a basic understanding of its shortcomings, as well as the ways it can be used effectively. You will leave the session understanding how to create prompts that will get you the best results in your conversations with the AI.

When: 12 pm, Eastern

Where: Zoom

Cost: Free

Sponsor: Duke University Center for Teaching and Learning

More Info

 

Wed, Feb 4 - Citizen Journalism 101: Local Voices, Real Stories

What: A hands-on workshop especially for Malden community members who care about the city and want to tell its stories.

Who: Kristin Palpini is a journalist and feature writer with 20 years of experience reporting, editing, and leading newsrooms in Massachusetts.

When: 7 pm, Eastern

Where: Zoom

Cost: Free

Sponsor: Urban Media Arts

More Info

 

Fri, Feb 6 - Mobile Reporting: Tools for Making Content on The Go

What: Level up your content creation skills with freelance journalist Victoria Lim, and discover a wide array of apps, gear, and strategies for shooting high quality photo and video using a smartphone. In this hands-on demonstration, we will also discuss how these skills have helped her to raise her earning potential with existing clients, and also helped her to attract new ones.

Who: Victoria Lim, Freelance Journalist; Jennifer Chowdhury, Independent Journalist & Founder, Port of Entry.

When: 12 pm, Eastern

Where: Zoom

Cost: Free

Sponsor: The Institute for Independent Journalism

More Info

222 Movies about Journalism

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2025

News Without A Newsroom - A documentary about journalism's uncertain future in the digital age.

Opus - Satire about the relationship between celebrity worship and journalism.

Words of War - Based on a true story of a journalist's brave crusade, fighting for an independent voice in Putin's Russia.

2024

Black Box Diaries - A Japanese journalist investigates her own rape leading to accusations against a prominent TV executive, triggering Japan’s #MeToo movement. Personal and compelling.

Civil War - In a dystopian future America, a team of military-embedded journalists race against time to reach DC before rebel factions descend upon the White House.

Impulse - A journalist uncovers a cult and shadow government. Low production, poor acting, and not much in the way of journalism.

Lee - (Kate Winslet) A fashion model becomes an acclaimed war correspondent during World War II. Based on a true story. Conventional and melodramatic but well-acted.

Monolith - A disgraced Australian journalist starts a podcast and follows a conspiracy theory that leads to herself. A slow-burn sci-fi flick set in one location.

No Other Land - This film was made by a Palestinian-Israeli collective and shows the relationship that develops between a Palestinian activist and an Israeli journalist.

Players - A group of single Brooklyn reporters spend their evenings scheming for short-lived hookups until one of them falls for one of his targets. Predictable.

See the entire list

Podcasts about Journalism

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The 404 Media Podcast —  A journalist-owned digital media company exploring the way technology is shaping–and is shaped by–our world. 

The Digiday Podcast — A weekly show about subscriptions, commerce, the modern newsroom, content creation, audio, streaming, and more.  

Freelancing for Journalists - How to approach freelancing, covering topics ranging from how to get started and what to include in pitches, to how to negotiate rates. Each episode includes guests on different career paths, and who have a variety of perspectives.    

IRE Radio Podcast (Investigative Reporters and Editors) — Behind the story with award-winning reporters, editors and producers to hear how they broke some big stories.

It's All Journalism — The series talks to working journalists about how they do their jobs, the latest trends in journalism, and the changing state of digital media. (not being updated) 

Journalism History — A scholarly journal covering the history of mass media.    

The Journalism Salute — A spotlight on interesting and important journalists and journalism organizations. 

The Kicker — This Columbia Journalism Review podcast explores serious and challenging topics related to journalism and media. (not being updated) 

Longform Podcast (longform.org) — A weekly conversation with a non-fiction writer on how they tell stories. (not being updated)  

Media Voices — Major media industry news each week from three experienced freelance journalists. The focus is on the business side of media and its impact on journalists’ work.

On the Media — Produced by WNYC radio, this is a weekly investigation into how the media shapes our worldview.  

Reveal (The Center for Investigative Reporting) — A look at CIR’s investigative reporting, focusing on real-world impact—from civil and criminal investigations to new laws and policies, better-informed conversations and community-driven solutions. 

Reuters Institute for the Study of Journalism — A discussion of the Institute's research on trends in media. Based at the University of Oxford, this think tank offers research on the future of journalism.   

The Tip Off — A behind the scenes look at standout investigative reporting from the journalists themselves. (not being updated) 

WriteLane (Tampa Bay Times and Poynter) — Some episodes explore a piece of the writing process: finding ideas, interviewing, seeking structure. Others dive deep into a single story, breaking down the how and why. Some include interviews with other journalists. (not being updated) 

Examples of older podcasts about journalists doing journalism: 

I'm Not A Monster (BBC Panorama and FRONTLINE PBS) — “How did an American family end up in the heart of the ISIS caliphate? Over four years, journalist Josh Baker unravels a dangerous story where nothing is as it seems.”   

The Other Latif (Radiolab)  — “How did this nerdy suburban Muslim kid come to be imprisoned at Guantanamo Bay?” 

The Canary | Washington Post Investigates —  “Two women and a shared refusal to stay silent. A seven-part podcast hosted by investigative reporter Amy Brittain.”

White Lies (NPR) — “In 1965, Rev. James Reeb was murdered in Selma, Alabama. Three men were tried and acquitted, but no one was ever held to account. Fifty years later, two journalists from Alabama return to the city where it happened, expose the lies that kept the murder from being solved and uncover a story about guilt and memory that says as much about America today as it does about the past.” 

The Line (Apple) — “Explore the impact of the forever wars on the U.S. Navy SEALs through the lens of the Eddie Gallagher case.”

The Lazarus Heist (BBC)  — “‘Almost a perfect crime.’ The hacking ring and an attempt to steal a billion dollars. Investigators blame North Korea. Pyongyang denies involvement. The story begins in Hollywood.” 

In the Dark (American Public Media) — “We investigate the case of Curtis Flowers, a Black man from Winona, Mississippi, who was tried six times for the same crime. Flowers spent more than 20 years fighting for his life while a white prosecutor spent that same time trying just as hard to execute him.”

25 Professional Journalism Organizations

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Places to Keep up with News

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Major Broadcast Networks

ABC News

CBS News

NBC News

NPR

Aggregate Sites

Google News

The Week

Yahoo News

 

eNewsletters

1440 Newsletter

Axios

Next Draft                                       

 

Aggregation Apps

Apple News

Flipboard (you’ll need to mute weak & non-news sites)

 

Explainer Journalism

Fact Tank (Pew)

the Intersect - WaPo

Up Shot (NY Times)

Vox

Wonkblog (WaPo)

the Conversation (articles written by university and research experts)

 

National News

NPR (morning edition)

Washington Post (list of daily print articles)

New York Times (list of daily print articles)

Semafor

 

Tech   

Tech Crunch  

MIT Tech Review

Social Media Today

BBC (future section)

Ars Technica


Politics

Politico

Washington Post (politics section)

Investigative Journalism

ProPublica
 

Education

Chronicle of Higher Ed

Inside Higher Ed

Scholarly Kitchen

Retraction Watch

 

Business

Quartz

Economist (sub. req.)

Fast Company

 

Science

Live Science

SciCentral

New York Time (science section)

Futurity

Greater Good

The Naked Scientists

Quanta

 

Religion

Christianity Today

Religious News Service

Washington Post (Acts of Faith section)

Ministry Watch

 

Health

Stat

New York Times (health section)

Study Finds

 

News Media

MuckRack Daily

Nieman Reports

Poynter

 

Opinion

The Atlantic

Big Think 

8 Takeaways from Oxford’s 2025 Reuters Institute for the Study of Journalism

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  • For the first time, social media has displaced television as the top way Americans get news.

  • Engagement with traditional media sources such as TV, print, and news websites continues to fall, while dependence on social media, video platforms, and online aggregators grows.

  • In the U.S. between 2021 and 2025, the share of population consuming news video at least weekly increased from 55% to 72%, with most of the news video being viewed on social platforms.

  • The vast majority of audiences remain unwilling to pay for online news.

  • More than a third of respondents say they turn to a news outlet they trust to check if information is false or misleading. But younger users are more likely than other groups to check social media, including by reading comments from other users.

  • In the U.S. a similar proportion now consume news podcasts each week as read a printed newspaper or magazine (14%) or listen to news and current affairs on the radio (13%).

  • Audiences in most countries remain skeptical about the use of AI in the news and are more comfortable with use cases where humans remain in the loop.

  • Overall trust in the news (40%) has remained stable for the third year in a row.

    2025 Digital News Report from the Reuters Institute for the Study of Journalism

A Journalist’s AI 'Go Bag'

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"What should be in a journalist’s AI go bag? For starters, the one basic thing that should be in everyone’s bag, the AI prepper’s equivalent of a flashlight and bottled water: skill at using AI tools. It is not enough to use it as a slightly better Google; you need to keep abreast of the latest releases and spend time every week pushing both its capabilities and your own. Trying to make it do your job is table stakes. Try making it write a children’s book, or invent a new game, or solve cold fusion. As with any learning process, the outcome is less important than the effort, because the effort is how you learn not just what it can do, but what you could do with it." -Megan McArdle writing in The Washington Post

27 Recent Articles about AI & Journalism

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We need to bridge the fault line emerging in debates about AI and the future of news – Reuters

What news audiences can teach journalists about artificial intelligence – Editor & Publisher 

How AI is steering the media toward a ‘close enough’ standard – Fast Company

The LA Times Has ‘Moved On’ From AI-Driven Bias Meter After KKK Snafu – The Wrap

The New York Times’ Zach Seward on embracing AI – Depth Perception 

Audiences are still skeptical about generative AI in the news – Poynter

Will A.I. Save the News? – New Yorker 

AI tools have fueled a rise in expert commentator—who are not real – Press Gazette  

Bloomberg Has a Rocky Start With A.I. News Summaries – New York Times  

Independent says readers ‘often prefer’ stories provided by new AI service to human-written versions of those articles– Press Gazette

How ProPublica Uses AI Responsibly in Its Investigations - ProPublica

AI search has a news citation problem - Digital Content – Digital Content Next 

Newsquest now employing 36 ‘AI-assisted reporters’ – Press Gazette

AOL’s AI Image Captions Terribly Describe Attempted Murder – 404 Media 

AI in the newsroom: What researchers learned from the AP and the BBC – Journalism Resources

What Journalists Should Know About Deepfake Detection in 2025 – Columbia Journalism Review

We Compared Eight AI Search Engines. They’re All Bad at Citing News. – Columbia Journalism Review

Gannett seeks AI sports editor amid union tensions, past controversies – Awful Announcing

Patch says it has expanded to nearly every town in the U.S. using AI – Axio  

LA Times to display AI-generated political rating on opinion pieces - The Guardian

Key Questions for Journalists to Consider Before Using Generative AI – The Open Notebook

Meet the journalists training AI models for Meta and OpenAI – Nieman Lab

How DeepSeek stacks up when citing news publishers - Nieman Lab 

The Dangerous A.I. Nonsense That Trump and Biden Fell For - New York Times  

How AI “expert sources” have duped journalists and four tips on how to avoid being the next victim – Dynamics of Writing  

Is this AI or a journalist? Research reveals stylistic differences in news articles – Tech Explore  

5 ways science journalists can leverage AI in their work - International Journalists' Network

AI-generated Ratings for Opinion Pieces

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Some Los Angeles Times opinion pieces will now be published with an AI-generated rating of their political content, and an AI-generated list of alternative political views on that issue. The AI-generated tool “operates independently” from the paper’s human journalists, and “the AI content is not reviewed by journalists before it is published.” - The Guardian

212 Movies about Journalism

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(or a little about journalism)

2024

Black Box Diaries - A Japanese journalist investigates her own rape leading to accusations against a prominent TV executive, triggering Japan’s #MeToo movement. Personal and compelling.

Civil War - In a dystopian future America, a team of military-embedded journalists race against time to reach DC before rebel factions descend upon the White House.

Impulse - A journalist uncovers a cult and shadow government. Low production, poor acting, and not much in the way of journalism.

Lee - (Kate Winslet) A fashion model becomes an acclaimed war correspondent during World War II. Based on a true story. Conventional and melodramatic but well-acted.

Monolith - A disgraced Australian journalist starts a podcast and follows a conspiracy theory that leads to herself. A slow-burn sci-fi flick set in one location.

Players - A group of single Brooklyn reporters spend their evenings scheming for short-lived hookups until one of them falls for one of his targets. Predictable.

2023

Boston Strangler - Two underestimated female journalists battle sexism as they are the first to connect the 1960s Boston Strangler murders.

Freelance - An ex-special forces operative hired to protect a journalist becomes involved in a coup in South America.

The Good Mother - (Hilary Swank) A journalist works with her murdered son’s pregnant girlfriend Paige to track down the killers. A talented cast with an underwhelming script.

Line of Fire (aka Darklands) - An Australian blogger and amateur journalist pursues her relentlessly for an interview, unwittingly endangering her family.

Origins - The personal and professional journey of Pulitzer Prize-winner Isabel Wilkerson

The Night Doctrine - When an Afghan journalist tries to discover who murdered her family 30 years ago, she uncover hundreds of civilians killed in a secretive American-backed program. This short animated documentary was produced by ProPublica.

See the entire list

19 Recent Articles about AI & Journalism

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Three experts discuss the rise of low-quality content and its implications for the profession, the news industry and the public sphere. – Reuters Institute

Discussing the future of journalism: From conflict to AI – Vatican News  

The AI Reporter That Took My Old Job Just Got Fired – Wired  

Creating an AI chatbot to speak to a country’s budget – Reuters Institute

Particle launches an AI news app to help publishers, instead of just stealing their work – Tech Crunch  

The Washington Post's new generative A.I. tool, "Ask The Post" – Washington Post  

AI firms need media more than they admit – Axios   

'Garbage in, garbage out': AI fails to debunk disinformation, study finds – VOA News

How Journalism Groups in Africa Are Building AI Tools to Aid Investigations and Fact-Checking – Global Investigative Journalism Network

Using AI to sift through federal regulations for news tips – Fast Company 

94% of people want journalists to disclose their use of Al – Trusting News  

Using AI in PR: Experts explain how AI is enhancing PR workflows – Muckrock

When it comes to using AI in journalism, put audience and ethics first - Poynte 

London’s Evening Standard Plans To Revive Art Critic In AI Form As It Stops Daily Presses & Fires Journalists – Deadline

Three predictions about AI’s impact on FOIA and how you can help – Muckrock

How is AI being used in journalism? – IBM

Lawrence student journalists recognized for fighting district’s use of AI surveillance – Lawrence Times

Five Canadian news media outlets sue OpenAI for copyright breach – Al Jazeera

Study of ChatGPT citations makes dismal reading for publishers – Tech Crunch

26 free (mostly one hour) Journalism courses

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These short online courses will strengthen your journalism skills (and add a line to your resume). Most of these Poynter courses are one-hour in length or less.

Journalism Fundamentals: Craft & Values - A five-hour, self-directed course that covers basics in five areas: newsgathering, interviewing, ethics, law and diversity.

Telling Stories with Sound - Learn the fundamentals of audio reporting and editing in this self-directed course.  

How to Spot Misinformation Online - Learn simple digital literacy skills to outsmart algorithms, detect falsehoods and make decisions based on factual information.

Understanding Title IX - This course is designed to help journalists understand the applications of Title IX.

Clear, Strong Writing for Broadcast Journalism - One-hour video tutorial  

Powerful Writing: Leverage Your Video and Sound - In this one-hour video tutorial, early-career journalists will learn how to seamlessly combine audio, video and copy in captivating news packages.  

Writing for the Ear - In this five-part course, you’ll learn everything you need to write more effective audio narratives.  

Fact-Check It: Digital Tools to Verify Everything Online

News Sense: The Building Blocks of News - What makes an idea or event a news story?

Cleaning Your Copy: Grammar, Style and More - Finding and fixing the most common style, grammar and punctuation errors.

Avoiding Plagiarism and Fabrication

The Writer’s Workbench: 50 Tools You Can Use 

Ethics of Journalism Build or refine your process for making ethical decisions

Conducting Interviews that Matter   

Make Design More Inclusive: Defeat Unconscious Bias in Visuals

Online Media Law: The Basics for Bloggers and Other Publishers - Three important areas of media law that specifically relate to gathering information and publishing online: defamation, privacy and copyright.

Freedom of Information and Your Right to Know - How to use the Freedom of Information Act, Public Records Laws and Open Meetings Laws to uphold your right to know the government’s actions.

Journalism and Trauma - How traumatic stress affects victims and how to interview trauma victims with compassion and respect. 

How Any Journalist Can Earn Trust (International Edition)

What news audiences in various parts of the world don’t understand about how journalism works

Is This Legit? Digital Media Literacy 101

MediaWise’s Campus Correspondents explain the fact-checking tools and techniques that professionals use in their day-to-day work.

The On-Ramp to Media Literacy

How Any Journalist Can Earn Trust 

Dignity and Precision in Language 

How to Avoid Being Sued: Defamation Law in the 21st Century

Conducting Interviews That Matter

Power of Diverse Voices: Writing Workshop for Journalists of Color

4 Fake News Signals from Outside the Website

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Here are some tips for determining if a story is likely reliable. An organization does not need to tick off all these qualifiers in order to be considered authentic and accurate, but the more you see red flags pop up, the more a healthy skepticism is in order.

69. YOUR COMMUNITY. There’s no substitute for knowing people who are well-informed and will let you know when you’ve posted something questionable. These are people you can ask when you have your doubts. Don’t know any experts or researchers, or information junkies from various fields who are critical and helpful? Make some new friends! Developing such a support system is critical for navigating effectively through life. Read some books written by experts. 

70. FACT-CHECKING SITES. Does a fact-checking site identify the assertion of the article as a hoax? Check one of the sites listed at the end of this article or type the article’s topic into a search engine and add “hoax” or “fake.”  

71. THE OTHER SIDE. Take time to check sites that do not agree with your politics. If you discover they are wrong and perhaps not addressing the best arguments of your side, it is a confirmation you are on the right side of an issue. Or maybe you will discover a weakness in your own reasoning you haven’t considered. Either way,  you'll know what other people are consuming, sharpening your thinking.

72. GOOGLING THE TOPIC. If you do a Google search for a topic, remember that reliable researchers do not write material answering questions like “Did the Holocaust exist?” Instead of decent sources, this type of search will bring up conspiracy theorists. Don’t be misled by a search that frames issues as secret plots and nefarious schemes.

 More ways to spot fake news

12 Fake News Signals from the Publisher

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Here are some tips for determining if a story is likely reliable. An organization does not need to tick off all these qualifiers in order to be considered authentic and accurate, but the more you see red flags pop up, the more a healthy skepticism is in order.

57. REPUTATION. Is the writer’s reputation at stake if they are wrong? Does the organization risk losing reputation or losing finances if it becomes known for having promoted false news? 

58. RELIABILITY. Has the organization been reliable in the past? Have you read other information from the organization confirmed to be accurate?

59. AMATEURISH. Data collected by an amateur is more error-prone than data collected by a professional scientist. Does a quick web search confirm whether the people who collected and organized the data have a good track record of collecting and distributing data?  

60. RESPONSE TO CRITICS. Does the publisher respond publicly to its critics when there are reasonable questions? Does it acknowledge when the critics have a point? 

61. DATA SOURCES. Look closely at the sources of data the publisher uses: is this material provided by for-profit companies, partisan organizations, or advocacy groups? While the material may be accurate, data from groups with agendas require greater scrutiny than data from nonpartisan organizations. 

62. PAYING THE WRITERS. Content Farms (or Content Mills, if you like) pay very little in return for lots of writing. When news writers are focused on cranking out material to feed the beast, the quality of the work suffers. If you discover a site is considered a Content Farm by professionals or pays writers very little for their work, that’s a big red flag. 

63. DIVERSE VOICES. Does the news organization offer diverse perspectives in its articles? A professional outlet will make a concerted effort to give voice to various ethnicities and political persuasions. The more a newsroom focuses on a single viewpoint, the greater the likelihood it will leave out significant perspectives from its news converge.

64. FEEDBACK. Reputable news publishers want readers’ feedback on stories for accuracy and look for help in determining coverage priorities.  

65. AGREEMENT. Do you find yourself agreeing with everything your preferred news outlet says? If so, something is wrong. Find a commentator whose politics don’t match with your own—vary your media consumption to get a balance of perspectives. 

66. EASY STORIES. Suppose a news outlet overlooks stories worth telling in favor of the stories that can be easily told. In that case, it may not have the resources to dive into investigative reporting or may not have the goal of getting beyond the low-hanging fruit.

67. ANONYMOUS SOURCES. Legitimate news outlets will only reference unnamed sources that would endanger them physically or put them in legal jeopardy. Overreliance on anonymous sources should be a red flag to be skeptical of the information, even if it comes from an otherwise trustworthy site.   

68. FRAMEWORK. Some sites have a framework for all their stories (like the College Fix, which is focused on college campus outrage). Articles on these sites may leave out moderating information, so stories lean toward the framework.

 More ways to spot fake news

12 Fake News Signals from the Website

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Here are some tips for determining if a story is likely reliable. An organization does not need to tick off all these qualifiers in order to be considered authentic and accurate, but the more you see red flags pop up, the more a healthy skepticism is in order.

45. ABOUT US. Check the site’s “About” page for information about who is behind the operation. If you aren’t familiar with the name, look for information about who owns it. For instance, the Russian government owns the RT network. There is a big difference between state media (RT) and public media in a democracy (like the BBC). If a website does not provide information on its mission, staff members, or physical location, it is most likely unreliable. The language used here should be straightforward. If it seems overblown, be skeptical. 

46. ADDRESSES. There should be a mailing address (better yet, a physical address) and an email address. Any site concerned about making factual corrections (and avoiding defamation) needs a way for readers to contact them.  

47. LEGAL NOTICES. Look for a legal section on the website. It may be called a “disclaimer.” Satirical websites sometimes disclose this information in those sections. A site without obvious legal notices (such as EEOC or FCC public file information for TV stations) is a red flag.  

48. GOOGLE “FAKE.” Put the website name in quotes and then add “fake.” Something indicating the site is known for publishing fake news might come up.

49. DATES. Look for a date to make sure the event is recent. Sometimes real stories from several years ago are posted as if they were new. This happens with photos as well. Reliable news outlets want readers to know when the information is posted and will usually display the headline's date. If you are looking at an article on social media, go to the article and look first for a timestamp. Even an old article with good information at the time of publication can be problematic because a study (for instance) may have since been retracted.

50. WEB DESIGN. Poor web design is a red flag. Is the design out of date when compared to other reputable sites? Is the display navigable and professional? 

51. DOWNLOADS. If the website contains advertisements, particularly pop-up ads, asking you to download software, it is likely to be an unreliable.

52. CORRECTIONS. Does the site make corrections as it receives new information, and does it make those corrections obvious? Typically, a note will be added to the top or bottom of a news article when even a factual change is made to a story. In a print or broadcast story, the original error should be clearly stated along with the correct information. The editorial process of a legitimate news organization catches and corrects many errors. If you don’t see corrections from time-to-time on a website, that’s a red flag. Corrections and updates are a part of journalism.  

53. OTHER ARTICLES. Search for the information you know to be false in other articles on the site. Does the site offer quality information on different topics besides the one you are investigating?

54. COMMUNITY POSTS. Some sites allow individuals to post pieces under the banner of the news brand (ex: BuzzFeed Community Posts, Kinja blogs, Forbes blogs). The site editors typically do not vet these posts, making the material suspect.

55. PREVIOUS FAKE NEWS. Do Wikipedia, Snopes, or other such sites show the website in question as having a connection to spreading false information in the past? While Wikipedia is generally pointed in the right direction but can contain some questionable information, the links to other sites it provides can be invaluable in the hunt for the truth.   

56. EMBARGOS. Does the publisher respect embargos? This is common practice in media, where information suppliers ask publishers to hold back new information until a certain time. It is considered common courtesy and accepted practice to honor embargos except in unusual circumstances. Ignoring these expectations could be a sign the publisher is more interested in rushing out material than operating by industry standards.

 More ways to spot fake news

Fake News Signals from Website Addresses

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Here are some tips for determining if a story is likely reliable. An organization does not need to tick off all these qualifiers in order to be considered authentic and accurate, but the more you see red flags pop up, the more a healthy skepticism is in order.

38. DOT-GOV. Does the site have a dot-gov address? Generally, data provided by government organizations are more trustworthy. Official news agencies are often the starting place for establishing the truth of a matter.   

39. DOT-EDU. Does the site have a dot-edu address? Generally, data provided by university research laboratories are reliable.

40. LO & DOT-CO. Websites ending with odd letters like “lo” (such as “Newslo”) or “.co” could be a red flag for fake news sites. For instance, abcnews.com.co is not the actual URL (web address) for the real ABC News. What looks like an .edu domain, followed by .co or “lo” is likely a fake or deceptive site. Sites like Clone Zone make this easy to do.

41. COM.COM.  Another way to trick readers is to add a “com” so the web address almost looks right. For instance, “USATodaycom.com.”

42. PERSONAL BLOGS. A domain such as “.wordpress” or “blogger” usually signifies it’s a personal blog rather than a news source.

43. COUNTRY-CODE TOP-LEVEL DOMAINS. The end of some website addresses is a clue to the site’s originating country. For instance, “dot-au” means the site is based in Australia, and “dot-ng” means the site is based in Nigeria. Suppose you find a supposed article about your community on a website coming from a country far away. In that case, it probably means the writer isn’t likely to have access to the necessary sources to write a competent story. 

44. ODD NAMES. Odd domain names generally equal odd and rarely truthful news.

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14 Fake News Signals around Articles

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Here are some tips for determining if a story is likely reliable. An organization does not need to tick off all these qualifiers in order to be considered authentic and accurate, but the more you see red flags pop up, the more a healthy skepticism is in order.

24. OUTRAGE HEADLINES. Fake news outlets have found stories that make the reader angry can generate more shares. The use of ALL CAPS or numerous exclamation points is a red flag. If the headline is compelling, then read the entire story, not just the headline. Does the story deliver what the headline promises?

25. HYPERBOLIC HEADLINES. Hyperbolic headlines claiming you’ll “never believe” the article’s epic content suggest you shouldn’t click. If the headline promises to tell you something the "media doesn't want you to know," as if you are being given secrets to an inside story, be skeptical. 

26. AUTHOR ATTRIBUTION. Lack of author attribution can mean the news story is suspect. Some respected sites, such as The Economist, don’t typically identify their  writers, but that’s an exception to the rule. Nearly all quality news outlets will identify the writer(s) of each article. 

27. AUTHOR CREDENTIALS. Look for other articles by the same author by Googling the person’s name. Have they produced legitimate writing for legitimate news outlets? Their credentials and backgrounds are a guide to the quality of work they are likely to produce as well as the quality of the news outlet you are considering. Suppose the story is about a specialized area, such as health or science. In that case, it’s a bonus if the author regularly writes about the subject because the person is also likely to possess basic knowledge of that particular area. 

28. SUPPORTING PHOTOS. Do accompanying photos visually back up the story’s claims? Do the images even relate to the headline and content? If a site uses lots of stock photos rather than original images related to the story, that’s a red flag—perhaps that the reporters are not professional, but it could indicate more serious problems.  

29. ODD PHOTOS. Are photos cropped oddly or taken from some strange angle? Does it appear the photographer was deliberately trying to avoid showing something in the shot? Legit news organizations avoid picking unflattering photos that might bias the reader unless that’s part of the story. This goes for distorted images as well, taken very close to a subject to emphasize someone’s age or physical characteristics. When a site shows a politician or celebrity’s face contorted or just plain goofy in a photo, it’s a subtle attempt to affirm your negative impression of that person and cue you that the article will fit your bias.   

30. MANIPULATED IMAGES. Sometime real images are cropped to give viewers a misleading impression. One way to check a photo is to use Google Reverse Image Search. Paste in the image link or upload the photo. This should give you information on where else the image has been posted so you can compare for manipulation. This will also show if there is mislabeling, and the photo has been repurposed from another event or time. Other free reverse image search engines include TinEye and RevEye. Another way to check graphics is to match the image against Google Street View or satellite imagery of the location. Consider details like vehicles and weather for consistency.

31. MISLEADING GRAPHS. Look closely at any charts related to an article. Using plot points that misinterpret data can skew the results displayed in the image. The axis should always have labels and the value should start at zero. A pie chart should not add up to more than 100%. Trends over significant spans of time are more meaningful than isolated events.

32. GRAPH INFORMATION. Legitimate news sites will include the source of information from which infographics are built. A graphic that does not include a data source is a major red flag; the information is either false or the organization fails to maintain ethical and professional practices. The source of the data can be checked for more information on the topic. There better be a good reason to see a three-dimensional chart. They are seldom needed.   

33. BAIT & SWITCH. Does the headline match the article? Many compelling headlines don't. Reliable websites respect readers by avoiding discrepancies between the headline and the story. Teases designed to trick readers into clicking are a sure sign of a disreputable organization. Reputable sites deliver on the headline’s promise and do not frustrate readers by holding back information in the headline.

34. MEDICAL STUDIES. If the article is based on a new study, the “gold standard” are double-blind peer-reviewed studies. Double-blind studies mean that neither the researchers nor the subjects know who is getting the real medicine or a placebo. If the study is a preprint, it has not been peer-reviewed. If the study was conducted on animals, it does not necessarily mean the findings will apply to humans. Beware of studies from so-called “predatory journals.” These publications do not peer-review manuscripts they publish, and they charge authors a fee to publish.  

35. CONTENT TAGS. Some social media platforms are trying to counter misinformation by adding tags to content that has been identified as misleading. 

36. EDITED VIDEO. If video accompanies an article, look for multiple edits and odd cuts. Amateurs with basic software can easily create cheap fakes by making edits that slow down video, speed it up, cut it into snippets, insert or remove details, or present it in a false context. 

37. FAKE VIDEO. The development of “deep fakes”—videos created using artificial intelligence is making it more difficult to identify manipulated images. Technology can swap faces, clone voices and synchronize lips to a different audio track than the original. A screenshot from a questionable video placed in Google Reverse Image Search might show if there history of manipulation for the image and thus the video as well. Look for visual cues that suggest the video is manipulated, such as distortions, odd movements, and syncing issues between the voice and the facial movements.

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23 Fake News Signals from the Writing

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Here are some tips for determining if a story is likely reliable. An organization does not need to tick off all these qualifiers in order to be considered authentic and accurate, but the more you see red flags pop up, the more a healthy skepticism is in order.

You’ll notice these are “tips” and not a checklist. Checklists can oversimply the nuances of discernment into black-and-white boxes.

1. ORIGINAL REPORTING. Does this article cite sources likely to know this information? Does the news organization have reporters attending news conferences in person, working in cities where the news is happening, and talking to key sources directly? Or does the organization have to rely on second-hand information from other sites?

2. LONE-WOLF REPORTING. Compare the information with other sites you trust. Are these sites reporting the same information? The site might have a scoop, but a lack of multiple independent accounts means it is more likely that the story is false. Sometimes lack of coverage is the result from writer and producer bias within a company or the result of the particular focus of the outlet (which may include not offending certain sponsors or other companies owned by the same parent company). Typically, you should expect more than one source reporting on an important topic or event. Plus, it’s always best to read multiple sources of information to get various viewpoints and media frames.

3. AP STYLE. Most legitimate news organizations will use the AP Stylebook as a writing guide (no Oxford comma, full name on the first reference and only last name thereafter, etc.). Some organizations have developed their own style guides (New York Times, Wall Street Journal, etc.). Most news organizations use an in-house style guide (to deal with writing issues unique to the publication’s area of reporting).   

4. POOR GRAMMAR. When a writer makes obvious grammatical mistakes, they also may not have taken the time to ensure the article’s facts are accurate. 

5. ADJECTIVES & ADVERBS. Objective journalism avoids adjectives and adverbs. The more of them used in an article, the more you should question whether the writer’s goal is to inform you or to convince you of something.

6. BALANCE. Did the writer engage with anyone who disagreed with the gist of the article? Quality news organizations are looking for both sides—and sometimes, there are more sides than that. 

7. EXPERTS. Does the article quote not only more than one side in a dispute but experts as well? A he-said-she-said story without experts’ opinions in the field is weak reporting. When there’s only a single source for a news article, be hesitant to accept the information without further corroboration.

8. OBJECTIVE. Like the scientist aiming to discover the truth, having some bias does not mean a journalist cannot arrive at the truth through a tested and effective approach (as does the scientific method, despite the researcher’s bias). The complaint that “no one can really be objective” misses the point that it’s not the journalists themselves but the articles that need to be neutral. While bias websites can still post real news, carefully look at the specific evidence, they offer and see if reporting from other legit sites backs it up.

9. OPINION. Is the article part of an opinion section? Does the video feature a commentator? Commentary has a long history of having a part inside the pages of newspapers, but many readers confuse an editorial article with news reporting. The same can happen online or on TV news. There’s no need for an opinion piece to be neutral in its presentation. Just don’t confuse it with an unbiased news piece.           

10. GENERIC ENEMIES. Does the article focus on vague foes who are never specified? “The media,” “supporters of (insert name of politician),” “The right,” “The left,” “Washington,” etc. Good reporting doesn't make these kinds of generalizations.

11. DOXING. Doxing is making private information public in order to hurt a person or organization. If the writer suggests anything like doxing, run the other way.

12. EMBEDDED LINKS. Quality journalism values clarity over style. Links in the article to original source material show a commitment to transparency and allow readers to make up their own minds about its use. Sometimes bogus stories will cite official or official-sounding sources and even link back to them that do not back up the claims in the article. An article without links or quotes from identified sources should be suspect.

13. SPONSORED CONTENT. Some legit news organizations publish articles similar to what they usually publish as real news—only, in this case, an advertiser actually sponsors the material. The intention could be to provide legitimate information about a subject while at the same time promoting the advertiser's product. Sometimes referred to as native advertising, reputable publishers will identify the article as “sponsored content” or “paid partner content” in a prominent location. A precursor to sponsored content was advertorials—a combination of advertising and editorial opinion. These placements were ads disguised as editorial content. 

14. LOCAL REPORTING. If the story involved a particular locale, was local expertise included? Was the reporting conducted on the scene?

15. YOUR REACTION. Be sensitive to occasions when you become angry as you read an article. If you are outraged after reading something, the story may be written to manipulate your emotions. The more shocking and outrageous, the more work is necessary to confirm the information before passing it along.

16. PARTISAN APPEAL. If a story sounds big but appears only on hyperpartisan sites and seems designed for outrage, it could have significant flaws that stopped legitimate news outlets from covering it.

17. FIRSTHAND SOURCES. Use an article’s information to work back to original sources to verify what’s in the article. If the report references a lawsuit, it can often be found online through a Google search or third party like Scribd, CourtListener, or DocumentCloud. Or, if the article references something a company is doing, check that company’s website (or a government agency) to see if there is a news release about that topic or an announcement on a site like PR Newswire.    

18. MULTIPLE SOURCES. Use keywords from the article (unique terms such as someone’s name) that are likely to bring up the same topic from another source using Google News search. The information from each story can be compared. It is unusual for a single outlet to have exclusive information, especially after several days have passed since the article was posted. To avoid generic, unhelpful search results, use unique keywords in your search—like the name of an unfamous person who’s quoted in the story. 

19. TANTALIZING QUOTES. Search for a questionable quote by pasting the text (in quotation marks) into a search engine. If the exact phrasing doesn’t come up or if only a few small outlets have printed the outrageous quote (perhaps from a famous person or politician), then be skeptical about its authenticity. Look for the sentences before and after the quote that makes your blood boil. If the article fails to give them, that could be a warning sign. If the quote is taken out of context, the site (or writer) belongs on your naughty list.

20. SOCIAL MOVEMENTS. A social movement or political uproar can be manufactured artificially. Look for evidence that the people behind a petition or boycott are real people and the effort is organic. Social media posts shouldn’t come from obscure users or bots. There’s a difference between a few snarky tweets and an actual public outcry.

21. THE WRITERS CREDENTIALS. Does the writer possess specialized knowledge in an area, either advanced education or experience covering a particular beat? This is especially important for opinion pieces. A list of qualifications in a writer’s bio should inform the audience as to their expertise. If they are not knowledgeable about the topic, they rely on other sources. An article without quotes or information from experts raises red flags, especially if creators present themselves as experts when they’re actually enthusiasts. 

22. ODD WORDING. AI-created text lacks the ability to write in a way that sounds natural—for now. When word choices or sentence structures are odd, it could be the product of a computer. The same is true with repeatedly using the same words and phrases or writing that lacks emotion. These are signs of machine-generated text.

OpenAI’s GPT-2 Detector is a tool that help to identify whether text is likely AI generated. While AI writing tools are not useful for reliable scientific texts without strong human intervention, it is likely predatory journals will exploit the quick production of scientific articles to generate low-quality content.

23. IMPROBABLE PRECISION. It’s a red flag when someone claims, "I drove from Chicago to Miami in 1.5847 hours." That kind of precision is unlikely.

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What Fake News is NOT

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Some people will mislabel rumors, hoaxes, and real news stories they don’t like as “fake news.” Another area of confusion is stories that result from mistaken or bad journalism.  

Sometimes well-respected news organizations get it wrong: sources can lie, documents can be faked, and reporters can mishear quotes. Sometimes new information changes the basic understanding of what is known publicly. You wouldn’t call this fake news since the motivation for posting the original (but mistaken) information wasn’t to deceive. What can make the situation worse: is the financial pressure of shifting away from legacy media (like newspapers) into the digital world, leaving the news industry scrambling to figure out how to support quality journalism financially. 

Between the pressure to meet social media engagement quotas and competition with other publications, writers often don’t get the necessary time to craft thoughtful and nuanced stories—or possess the power to reject an assignment over concerns about amplification.

Inaccurate details, such as reporting that four people are dead in a plane crash instead of six, can result from an honest mistake. The wrong number might have been heard or written down.

During breaking news, information will quickly shift as bits trickle into news organizations. It takes time to get a clear overall picture of what’s happening. Sometimes law enforcement officials or public relations professionals get the story wrong and send inaccurate information. At those times, news organizations are simply repeating mistakes. This is most likely to happen when only one source of information available whenever a story breaks.

Legitimate news sources will report the truth—as best they know it at the time. But as new information comes in, the story can shift. Just like with scientific research, this meandering pathway is just part of the process of getting to the truth.

It’s worth noting that the approach of legacy news organizations (The Washington Post, CNN) differs from new media outlets (BuzzFeed News, Politico). Traditional outlets aim at objectivity or neutral-voice reporting, where the focus is on being balanced, keeping the journalist’s opinions out of reports. More recently launched news sites are likely to focus on immediacy and transparency over neutrality and update readers whenever more information is known. Each approach presents different weaknesses for reporters to overcome. Of course, commentators may reference news information but are not acting as neutral reporters. Opinion pieces are often confused with basic news reporting. Pay attention whether you are reading a news report, an editorial, a guest blogger, a review, a disguised ad, or a comment.

The bottom line: be skeptical and bring a critical mind with you to everything you read. Keep in mind that “fake news” can be about something else besides the truth. As University of Southern California media scholar Mike Ananny has said, it is often “a struggle between [how] different people envision what kind of world that they want.”

Here are some tips for determining if a story is likely reliable. An organization does not need to tick off all these qualifiers in order to be considered authentic and accurate, but the more you see red flags pop up, the more a healthy skepticism is in order.

You’ll notice these are “tips” and not a checklist. Checklists can oversimply the nuances of discernment into black-and-white boxes.

More about spotting fake news

Four Kinds of News Sites

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1-Quality news brands (like the BBC and The Washington Post) have earned their reputations over time as consistently reliable news sources (not perfect, but more trustworthy). Savvy readers don’t expect as much from 2-inconsistent outlets that sometimes show bias but are not “fake” (Huffington Post, Fox News). In these cases, some information may be misleading by the way an issue is framed. Then there are 3-satirical news sites (The Onion, Clickhole, and The Babylon Bee). The articles and videos are intentionally fake but intended to be funny or make a point. They aren’t designed to fool anyone. 4-Fake news sites deliberately fabricate stories. (RT News, The Globe) Packaged as legitimate journalism, these articles may mix some truth with outright lies to deceive readers or gain clicks. Fact-checkers distinguish between misinformation, where the sharer may not realize the information is fraudulent, and disinformation, where the creator/sharer knows the information is false. In each case, the motivation of the sharer can be different.

Google searches for “Fake News” since 2014

The Society of Professional Journalists Code of Ethics encourages journalists to “seek truth and report” and “be accountable and transparent” while doing it. Looking for these qualities is an effective way to separate the fake and the real.