WEST BARNSTABLE – A panel of Cape Cod Community College staff stressed education yesterday to help determine what separates fact from fiction when it comes to news stories.
Professors discussed “fake news” which has become a catchall term to describe hoaxes, conspiracy theories and propaganda spread primarily through social media.
Journalism Professor and former Boston Globe editor Kerry Drohan believes consumer bias plays a role.
“People believe what they want to believe,” Drohan said. “There have been several studies that show that people will keep chasing the news they are being fed.”
Professor Naomi Arenberg, who teaches radio classes and is the general manager of the campus radio station, says it is up to the consumer to figure out what smells foul or not.
“I don’t see enough analysis, enough thought, enough time taken to ask the important questions,” Arenberg said.
Reference Librarian Tim Gerolami, who teaches information literacy workshops for students, says the public should think about stories and double check their facts before reacting to them and sharing them on social media.
The panelists agreed that media consumers should check and research authors and find supporting sources to make sure stories read are factual.
Material from the Associated Press was used in this story
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