Fake news on the spotlight in Dubai media forum

  DUBAI – Social media plays a large role in spreading fake news and more has to be done to reverse its negative effect on society, an expert said at a recent media forum in Dubai. Speaking at the Emirati Media Forum on Monday, Sky News CEO Nart Bouran said that a legal system needs to be implemented to track publishers of fake news and stop the spread of wrong information to the public. Bouran said fake news can also creep into newsrooms, urging journalists to do a fact-checking of stories from all sources, including news agencies. “Media outlets and journalists need to avoid falling victim to fake news. We need to spread awareness about the types of fake news among media agencies,” he said. Bouran also said that social media channels need to do their part by tightly monitoring what is posted on their platforms. “Social media channels should also take responsibility and place regulations to prevent the sharing and spreading of fake news,” he added. He urged the public to check reliable news sources and to confirm the information before sharing it on social media. DAJ/Expat Media
How to spot fake news According to the International Federation of Library Associations and Institutions (IFLA), critical thinking is a key skill to develop in sifting real news from fake. To find out the authenticity of the news story you are reading, the IFLA gave these pointers: 1. Consider the source. Click away from the story to investigate the site, its mission and contact information. 2. Read beyond the headline. Headlines can be outrageous in an effort to get clicks. Read the full story. 3. Check the author. Do a quick search on the author. Are they credible? Are they real? 4. Supporting sources. Determine if the information given actually supports the story. 5. Check the date. Reposting old stories doesn’t mean they are relevant to current events. 6. Is it a joke? If it is too outlandish, it might be satire. Research the site and author to be sure.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