How to Avoid the Real Fake News

The best way to combat wild conspiracy theories is through media literacy

The “first-of-its-kind” “Misinformation News stand” on Sixth Avenue and 42nd Street, one block from Times Square, in New York City. The Columbia Journalism Review (CJR) erected it “to educate news consumers about the dangers of disinformation in the lead-up to midterms”. The news stand contains totally fake periodicals with fake headlines and articles. Photo: SOPA Images/Getty Images

It seems like Americans are increasingly skeptical of the media, and it’s easy to see why. President Donald Trump repeatedly attacks the credibility of major media outlets, calling them “fake news” as recently as last week, and claiming that he is victim to a larger conspiracy of foes…