WHAT THE FACT?

How to navigate the information superhighway and engage with news like a pro.

The widespread dissemination of false information is not new. In 1683, German explorer Englebert Kaempfer went to Asia to verify centuries-old reports that lambs were growing…on trees! The term fake news is also not new, appearing in the title of a Harper’s Magazine article from 1925. The explosion of social media along with the dwindling of local newspapers has sent people to the internet as a main source of information. Doctor and journalist Yasmin breaks down the differences among misinformation, disinformation, and, perhaps most insidious of all, malinformation, which involves sharing real information in a way that maliciously distorts its meaning. Coverage of the Covid-19 crisis and the toppling of a statue of Saddam Hussein in Iraq in 2003 are offered as prime examples of information manipulation. Complicating matters is Poe’s Law, which describes how satire and parody are often received as fact and vice versa. From explanations of how the news is gathered, who decides what is news, and the myth of objectivity, the book moves on to the addictive nature of social media. Yasmin offers 10 concrete steps for constructively handling disagreement on hot-button subjects. There’s also a clear walk-through of the Socratic method and a useful step-by-step method for protecting yourself from being misled. Laden with entertainingly presented tips and techniques, this informative overview will encourage further exploration and contemplation.

A savvy, accessible, and critical guide to media literacy.