Political Science

The Oxford English Dictionary defines these terms as follows:

misinformation, n.:

The action of misinforming someone; the condition of being misinformed.
 

disinformation, n.:

The dissemination of deliberately false information, esp. when supplied by a government or its agent to a foreign power or to the media, with the intention of influencing the policies or opinions of those who receive it; false information so supplied.

Steps for approaching Fake News, Misinformation, and Disinformation:

• Learn to recognize false news stories. Be curious and actively investigate what you read and hear.

• Use news sources that are accountable for their content and that follow journalistic ethics and standards.

• Use care before sharing news content with others on social media. Pause and reflect on news and information that inspire strong emotions, positive or negative.

• Learn to recognize your own biases and compensate for them.

Be Media Literate: An excellent Guide from Cornell University!

Media bias is the tendency of news media to present information in a way that supports a particular perspective, worldview, preference, political ideology, or corporate and financial interests.

Bias can manifest in various forms, such as the selection of events and stories that are reported, the manner in which they are covered, and the framing of issues. There are several different types of bias, including Political Bias (favoring a particular political party or ideology), Corporate Bias (influenced by corporate interests or advertisers), Public Bias (catering to the preference of audience), and Selection Bias (highlighting certain stories over others to shape public perception), among others.*

In terms of political bias, news organizations can be generally placed on a left-right spectrum based on their editorial stance and coverage:

• Left-Leaning (Liberal)
  Emphasis on social justice, progressive policies, and government intervention in economic affairs.

• Center-Left
  Generally balanced reporting with a slight lean towards progressive views on social issues.

• Center
  Strive for neutrality and factual reporting without overt ideological slant.

• Center-Right
  Focus on economic conservatism, market-oriented policies, and balanced social issues.

• Right-Leaning (Conservative)
  Emphasis on traditional values, limited government intervention, and free-market policies.

Below are some helpful links for identifying political/ideological leanings of different news and other organizations.

*Statement adapted from Stony Brook University Libraries