Request the Peer Health Educators to come present our educational workshop Husky Media Management for Mental Health, or make an appointment with a Peer Wellness Coach to learn skills for healthier and more informed media consumption!
Knowing the reliability and bias of your news source is important! Use this interactive Media Bias chart to learn more about news sources!
All UW Students, faculty and staff get a free NYTimes account through UW Libraries!
Key Questions for Decoding Media Messages PDF
Misinformation & Disinformation
Misinformation is false or inaccurate information. Examples include rumors, insults and pranks.
Disinformation is deliberate and includes malicious content such as hoaxes, spear phishing and
propaganda. It spreads fear and suspicion among the population.
Types of Misinformation and Disinformation:
- Fabricated Content: Completely false content;
- Manipulated Content: Genuine information or imagery that has been distorted, e.g. a
sensational headline or populist ‘click bait’; - Imposter Content: Impersonation of genuine sources, e.g. using the branding of an established
agency; - Misleading Content: Misleading information, e.g. comment presented as fact;
- False Context: Factually accurate content combined with false contextual information, e.g. when
the headline of an article does not reflect the content; - Satire and Parody: Humorous but false stores passed off as true. There is no intention to harm
but readers may be fooled; - False Connections: When headlines, visuals or captions do not support the content;
- Sponsored Content: Advertising or PR disguised as editorial content;
- Propaganda: Content used to manage attitudes, values and knowledge;
- Error: A mistake made by established new agencies in their reporting.
All from Types of Misinformation & Disinformation PDF from UNHRC