LibGuides: Media Literacy: Posters & Handouts

How to Spot Fake News

Critical Questions for Spotting Fake News

Four PDF lists of Tips and Questions for Spotting Fake News

10 Good Tips to Spot Fake News
Ten useful clues for recognizing that the story may be fake.
[From EducatorsTechnology.com (8.31x27.42, portrait)]
Ten Questions For Fake News Detection
Ten questions for considering the possibility that some information is fake news. The more red flags you circle, the more skeptical you should be about the information.
[The News Literacy Project/Checkology, newslit.org, checkology.org (8.5x11, portrait)]
Critical Questions for Spotting Fake News
Ask yourself these questions to check news stories for fake or misleading information. The more red flags the less you should trust the information.
[Thoughtful Learning, k12.thoughtfullearning.com (8.5x11, portrait)]
The Ultimate Cheatsheet for Critical Thinking
Ask these questions whenever you discover or discuss new information. These are broad and versatile questions that have limitless applications.
[Global Digital Citizen Foundation, seemingly ceased operations]

The descriptions of these PDFs make them sound pretty similar, but they each look at how to spot Fake News in somewhat different ways. You might prefer one of these lists for reminding you of the questions to ask - but if you have read each of these lists you will be able to use your preferred list better.

Don't take the Clickbait!

Breaking News Consumer's Handout

Evaluating a News Article

Eight PDF Handouts about Misinformation, Bias, and more

Breaking News Checklist
What to do when information is scarce, falsehoods are rampant and the story is still unfolding. Six tips for being careful with Breaking News.
[From the News Literacy Project, newslit.org (Size: 17x11, landscape)]
Understanding Bias
The five types of Bias, and the five forms they can take.
[From the News Literacy Project, newslit.org, checkology.org (8.5x11, portrait)]
Five Types of Misinformation
Satire, False Context, Imposter Content, Fabricated Content, Manipulated Content. The first tries to make you laugh, the others try to lie to you.
[from the News Literacy Project, newslit.org, checkology.org. (8.5x11, portrait. Adapted from the work of Claire Wardle at First Draft.)]
Imposter Alert: Don’t fall for fake Labubus or news knockoffs
Here are some tips for spotting counterfeit news and other content.
[News Literacy Project, newslit.org (11x17, portrait)]
Five (plus) reasons people fall for conspiracy theories
Compelling Stories, Simplified Explanations, Motivated Reasoning, Sense Of Belonging, Cognitive Biases, “Proportionality
Bias”, “Illusory Pattern Perception,” or “Patternicity”.
[News Literacy Project, newslit.org, checkology.org (8.5x11, portrait)]
How to teach News Literacy in Polarizing Times
Eight strategies that can help you teach the most important stories and issues of the day while navigating social and political divides and making classroom conversations worthwhile.
[News Literacy Project, newslit.org (24x18, landscape)]
6 things to know about AI
Artificial intelligence technology is not new, but dramatic advances in generative AI have captured the world’s attention and are transforming the information landscape. Here are six news literacy takeaways and implications to keep in mind as this technology continues to evolve.
[News Literacy Project, SmartNews, newslit.org (11x17, portrait)]
The Six InfoZones
Six types of information: Propaganda, Raw Information, Opinion, News, Advertising, Entertainment.
[News Literacy Project, Checkology, newslit.org, checkology.org (8.5x11. portrait)]