Fake News

Image public domain courtesy The Library of Congress

"Fake News" is a catch-all term used to describe false information designed to look like news media. Traditional media outlets have editorial standards, factcheckers, and copy editors to ensure the information disseminated is accurate and credible. The Society of Professional Journalists Code of Ethics can be accessed here.

Conversely, Fake News is intended to deceive, persuade, damage a reputation or institution, or simply for profit. Fake News comes in different forms (All definitions below from the Cambridge English Dictionary):

• Disinformation: false information spread in order to deceive people
• Misinformation: wrong information, or the fact that people are misinformed (not necessarily intended to deceive) 
• Propaganda: information, ideas, opinions, or images, often only giving one part of an argument, that are broadcast, published, or in some other way spread with the intention of influencing people's opinions

Courtesy International Federation of Library Associations and Institutions (IFLA)