It is becoming increasingly difficult to distinguish between real news and fake news. With so many events taking place in Israel and the Gaza Strip, it can be difficult to select the right photos. Experts give you tips for checking messages.
Als het nieuws zich steeds sneller verspreidt, wordt de kans ook steeds groter dat je nepnieuws leest. En het vervelende is: het is niet altijd gemakkelijk te herkennen. Dat vertelden jullie ons zelf ook via NUjij.
Eugène Loos, onderzoeker fake news en nieuwe media aan de Universiteit Utrecht, denkt dat het goed is meer aandacht te besteden aan mediawijsheid. “Zodat iedereen kritisch leert denken en zelf kan bepalen in hoeverre digitale informatie betrouwbaar is.”
Check niet alleen de bron van de informatie, maar raadpleeg ook andere media. En vraag je altijd af wie belang heeft bij een bepaald bericht, zegt Henri Beunders, emeritus hoogleraar Publieke Opinie.
“Wees altijd kritisch. Dat wil zeggen: veronderstel ook het omgekeerde. Dan kun je beter afwegen of iets waar kan zijn of niet.” Heb je tijd om je er verder in te verdiepen, dan raadt Beunders een factchecksite als Snopes aan.
1:51Why is it so difficult for TikTok to identify fake news?
Always look for supporting evidence
According to Beyonders, it may also be helpful to carefully examine the web address, as well as the author’s name and whether the message has been hijacked by other (trusted) media. Mathias Le Lox, foreign correspondent at NU.nl, says the editorial board treats messages that cannot be verified with caution.
“We always try to get as close to the origin of the news as possible by checking its source and finding out who said it. In addition, the editorial team also investigates whether there is supporting evidence available before we simply copy something.” He says.
Mattis cites as an example the report on beheaded children in a kibbutz. “This news came out after a press trip to this kibbutz organized by the Israeli army. But there seems to be no evidence to support this.” There is debate about whether or not this news should be included.
The image is more difficult to distinguish
“Everyone can make mistakes, but as a journalist, it is important to remain professional and not get caught up in emotion. When you have doubts, we always provide context and point out, for example, that the source or origin of the message is questionable.”
When it comes to photos, it’s sometimes difficult to distinguish between real ones and fake ones, says Joelle Swart, a media researcher and assistant professor at the University of Groningen. “Especially with the advent of artificial intelligence. This allows anyone to easily create photos or even videos of events or people that don’t exist.”
According to Swart, there are things you can pay attention to. “Think of an extra arm or leg or a hand with more than five fingers.” She warns that as artificial intelligence continues to develop, images are becoming more realistic and therefore increasingly difficult to recognize.
That’s why she recommends using Reverse Image Search when in doubt. Google then runs the image through a database and verifies the source of the image.
It starts with a trusted source
“You can then see if the photo has been posted before or not,” Swart says. “Sometimes, for example, misinformation is supported by an image that was previously placed in a completely different context, or by zooming in on certain parts of the image or omitting details.”
Frank Brinkhuis, head of video at NU.nl, has to deal with this as well. “It starts with a trusted source. We often work with a news agency Environmental Protection Agency. “We can always copy the images they use.”
However, as a video editor, you always need a healthy dose of journalistic sense if you want to differentiate the real from the fake. Especially in these times of conflict, it’s important to pay close attention to this, Frank says. “We can easily see through a bad fake. And with a good fake it’s sometimes more difficult.” In this video the video editor explains how to do this.
“Sometimes, it’s not clear where an image comes from. But, for example, if it’s been captured by a reliable source like CNN, we’ll do so more quickly. If the origin remains unclear, we’ll always mention it.” We don’t publish anything without context.”
