Have you ever heard the term “fake news”? This is when someone fabricates a story about something and uses the internet and social media to promote the story to mislead readers. Fake news stories are designed to look like they are from legitimate news sources.
The internet is an amazing information resource and it is also the perfect platform for spreading false information.
Some of these fake news stories gain incredible traction and deceive millions of people. For example, last October there was an online story stating that tens of thousands of fraudulent U.S. election ballots were uncovered in an Ohio warehouse.
This story reached 6.1 million people before it was disproven. I’m sure that many of the people who read the story never heard that it wasn’t true and probably still believe that the fraudulent ballots are reality.
There are so many examples of fake news stories that have been uncovered that it has reached a level of being common. If you click a link to a story from a friend on your social media feed how would you know if it is real or fake?
This is one of the reasons why newspapers are critical; professional reporting of real events. When you read an article in the Okotoks Western Wheel newspaper, you know that the reporters have an education in journalism. Interviews have been conducted with real, live people for their perspectives on the topic. The article has been reviewed and proofread by other qualified reporters and editor before going to print.
Newspapers are an important vehicle for truth at a time when it’s difficult to know what to believe.
