The Truth Matters : A Citizen's Guide to Separating Facts From Lies and Stopping Fake News in Its Tracks

Distinguish fake news from reliable journalism with this clear and concise handbook by New York Times best-selling author Bruce Bartlett. Today’s media and political landscapes are littered with untrustworthy sources and the dangerous concept of “fake news.” This accessible guide helps you fight this deeply troubling trend and ensure that truth is not a permanent casualty. Written by Capitol Hill veteran and author Bruce Bartlett, The Truth Matters presents actionable tips and tricks for reading critically, judging sources, using fact-checking sites, avoiding confirmation bias, identifying trustworthy experts, and more. A lucid, practical, and concise guide for citizens who want to cut through the lies in this era of "fake news" and "alternative facts." As recent national events have proven, the floodgates have opened and the political terrain is shifting rapidly with the dangerous concept of "alternative facts" supplanting actual facts at the highest levels of our government and in new media sources that are intentionally designed to spread obfuscation and lies. This brief, accessible citizen's guide helps you fight this deeply troubling trend and ensure that truth is not a permanent casualty. Written by Capitol Hill veteran and longtime journalist Bruce Bartlett, The Truth Matters reveals how to drive through a media environment littered with potholes and other dangers, providing actionable tips, tricks, recommendations, and shortcuts for both casual news consumers and journalists. Introduction Why the traditional media no longer serves our needs The difference between primary and secondary sources How to use links Confusing press conventions Journalistic techniques that may obfuscate rather than illuminate sources Trusting academic sources What your local library has to offer in terms of news Numbers must be put into context Beware of deceptive labeling The perils of polling Using Wikipedia The problem of fake news Designing your own newspaper Editorial opinions How to fight fake news. Today's media and political landscapes are littered with untrustworthy sources and the dangerous concept of "fake news." This accessible guide helps you fight this deeply troubling trend and ensure that truth is not a permanent casualty. Written by Capitol Hill veteran and author Bruce Bartlett, this book presents actionable tips and tricks for reading critically, judging sources, using fact-checking sites, avoiding confirmation bias, identifying trustworthy experts, and more The media and political landscapes are littered with untrustworthy sources and the dangerous concept of "fake news." Bartlett helps you fight this deeply troubling trend and ensure that truth is not a permanent casualty. He presents actionable tips and tricks for reading critically, judging sources, using fact-checking sites, avoiding confirmation bias, identifying trustworthy experts, and more