Updated 07/22/20
"If we understand the mechanism and motives of the group mind, it is now possible
to control and regiment the masses according to our will without them knowing it."
​-- Edward Bernays  1891 - 1995


Ways to Identify Manipulated News 
​

“Fake News VS Real News.   How to tell the difference." 

" The mainstream media has been caught red handed creating fake news
websites complete with made up stories that were spread online .... 
and shared by millions of people on Facebook who had no idea they were
reading and spreading Fake News.“   ​ 

Darrin McBreen, published Mar 4, 2017
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=r86hMwB6A-Q    (13 minutes)
"How You Can Spot Inaccurate News"

"Proven ways to detect whether web or social media news is deceptive or a hoax"

"Unlike a print publisher, a digital news provider can observe and store your every news
choice, how long you interacted with it, whether you shared it and what you did after viewing it.
With such data, it can filter what you see, showing you more content that aligns with your
worldview — essentially putting you in a news bubble."

by Emily Paulin, AARP, July 8, 2020
https://www.aarp.org/politics-society/government-elections/info-2020/how-to-spot-fake-news.html


 "How to Spot Fake Political Ads and Posts on Social Media"

by Kathryn Masterson, AARP, February 27, 2020
https://www.aarp.org/money/scams-fraud/info-2020/fake-political-ads.html

About AARP:  https://www.aarp.org/about-aarp/




SourceWatch  "...profiles the activities of front groups, PR spinners,
industry-friendly experts, industry-funded organizations and think tanks
trying to manipulate public opinion on behalf of corporations or government."

"We also highlight key public policies they are trying to affect and provide
ways to get involved."

"In addition, SourceWatch contains information about others who help
document information about PR spin, such as reporters, academics, and
watchdog groups."

Enter the name of a person or organization
in SourceWatch search box:

http://www.sourcewatch.org/index.php/SourceWatch:Purpose


We should never assume everything we read from any source is legitimate
without confirming references. 

  • Assertions outside of noted personal opinion in articles should always
    be presented with linked, credible, supporting references --
    the more, the better. 

  • Bear in mind, that even a reputable source may inadvertently copy or
    reference some unconfirmed information.  Always try to find the original
    quoted source.

  • Also be aware, that 'astroturf' strategy can creep into any article's
    footnotes, sidebars and claimed references --  either through ignorance
    or by design.
​ 

Lists of Identified Manipulators:
http://www.sourcewatch.org/index.php/Front_groups
http://www.sourcewatch.org/index.php/Public_relations_professional
http://www.sourcewatch.org/index.php/Industry-friendly_experts
http://www.sourcewatch.org/index.php/Industry-funded_organizations
​http://www.sourcewatch.org/index.php/Think_tanks
​ 

Useful Resources:
"We have guides....
how to research front groups and uncover propaganda tactics,
such as the use of the third party technique and great insider tips for web researching
 http://www.sourcewatch.org/index.php/Help:How_to_research_front_groups   
Try using an Internet search engine
that bypasses corporate-controlled information:   

".....Good Gopher is the only search engine that completely bypasses the
systematic censorship of the truth that's currently undertaken by Google, Facebook,
Wikipedia and other sources of corporate-controlled disinformation.
It's the premier tool for finding independent information and news on liberty, natural
healing, central banks, food freedom, advanced science and a multitude of other
vital topics."

About Good Gopher:  http://www.goodgopher.com/Welcome.asp
http://www.goodgopher.com/HowItWorks.asp