Media Literacy & Fake News

Fact Checking Sites

• Politifact - If a politician said it, Politifact may have already fact-checked it!
• AP FactCheck - When a public figure says something questionable, AP Fact check investigates the claim.
• FactCheck.org - This non-partisan non-profit monitors "the factual accuracy of what is said by major U.S. political players in the form of TV ads, debates, speeches, interviews and news releases." 
• Lead Stories - "Just because it's trending doesn't mean it's true" is the motto employed by this fact-checking organization. " Visit the "Blue Feed"/"Red Feed" sections to see what misinformation is being spun by the political left and right. 
• Snopes - This site claims to be the "go-to source for discerning what is true and what is total nonsense." A great place to check before you share. 

Games and Simulations

• BBC iReporter - Play this game to understand the pressures journalists are under to balance accuracy, speed, and impact when publishing the news.
• Spot the Troll - Think you know how to spot a troll on social media? Try this game to test your skills. 
• Factitious 2020 - Pandemic Edition - Swipe left if you think the Covid-19-related article is fake, swipe right if you think it's real. Also try the original edition. 
• Get Bad News - Put yourself in the position of someone who creates and spreads false news in order to understand how better to spot it. Teachers: download the free PDF for a guide for using in the classroom. 
• NewsFeed Defenders - Your job? Maintain a fictional social media site, grow traffic, and spot misinformation. It's harder than it might seem! Former Supreme Court Justice Sandra Day O'Connor founded the organization behind this game (& several others that explore U.S. government and civics issues).