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Month: October 2016

Google plans to offer "fact check" for news.google.com

Google plans to offer "fact check" for news.google.com

Source: Labeling fact-check articles in Google News It appears they will add links to sources that might help to check if items in the news story are true or false. That this needs to be done says something about news reporting 🙂 I am having a difficult time seeing how “fact checking” would work on stories like this, this and this, which we showed, were incorrectly reported initially, and in some cases, led to the creation of “false” facts. President Obama also…

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When are journalists obligated to report on received information?

When are journalists obligated to report on received information?

Glenn Greenwald presents the basic principles: 1. A source’s motives are irrelevant in deciding whether to publish. 2. Journalists constantly publish material that is stolen or illegally obtained (e.g. NY Times and Donald Trump’s 1995 tax return) 3. The more public power someone has, the less privacy they are entitled to claim. 4. Whether something is “shocking” or “earth-shattering” is an irrelevant standard. 5. All journalists are arbiters of privacy and gatekeepers of information. Core principles of journalism are ignored…

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Many on social media are misquoting #Wikileaks

Many on social media are misquoting #Wikileaks

Recent releases from Wikileaks are, without question, exposing ethical failures and outright corruption in our government officials. The emails contain enormous evidence that this is occurring and that our government officials are as corrupt as the worst in the world. That said, numerous people are posting excerpts on social media that are taken 100% out of context, to say something that is not true. For example, I have seen this quote widely distributed on social media today, being presented as…

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Learn how to recognize propaganda in public statements

Learn how to recognize propaganda in public statements

There have been leaks of emails whose content is embarrassing. In response, U.S. intelligence agencies issued the following statement alleging that Russia is behind the hacking and release of the emails in order to influence the U.S. election: “The U.S. Intelligence Community (USIC) is confident that the Russian Government directed the recent compromises of e-mails from US persons and institutions, including from US political organizations. The recent disclosures of alleged hacked e-mails on sites like DCLeaks.com and WikiLeaks and by the Guccifer…

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Political campaigns use fake “Astro turf” social media influencers

Political campaigns use fake “Astro turf” social media influencers

In politics, “grass roots” supporters refers to an organically developed  group that supports an initiative, a party or a politician. The idea is the group has arisen “from the people”. Counter to that, lobbying organizations create fake “grass roots” support groups, with fake names such as “Citizens for Jobs”. These fake organizations are known as “astro turf” – literally fake grass roots support organizations funded and managed by lobbying groups working to present the false impression that this is a…

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