Tips on spotting if it’s fake news or factApplying some critical thinking can help you tell if a piece of news is fake or genuine. As Leigh-Anne said: “Don’t take everything at face value because things can be twisted [and] manipulated, so it’s always really important to do your own research.”Not sure about the type of research you need to be doing? Don’t worry. Other Side of the Story has its own guide on thinking like a journalist. It includes a few useful steps:1. Where is the story coming from? Is it from a reputable source or news site? Some sites specialise in ‘gossip’ and rumour style stories while others focus on the facts. It’s important to know the difference between the two.2. Who is telling the story? A report could come from an experienced, trusted journalist – or it could have been mistakenly shared by someone on social media who believed it was true. This is know as misinformation – when fake news is mistakenly shared. When someone knowingly shares fake news, it’s known as disinformation.3. Check the facts. Have you seen this story anywhere else? Look around for other examples from other sources – and for direct quotes from the people involved.4. Are experts talking about it? There is always two sides to a story, and it’s important to see if anyone else is discussing it and putting their trusted opinion forward.5. Images. They can speak a thousand words with good reason. If a fake image has been used to make a story look authentic, or an existing image used out of context, you can always do a reverse image search to find out where it has appeared previously.Want to test your own skills in spotting fake news? Try our regular quiz.This article was published in February 2026
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Leigh-Anne Pinnock on fake news: “Do your own research”
