Fact vs Fiction: The Advent of Fake News and How to Discern the Truth

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Turn on the television, pick up a paper or peruse social media and chances are you’ll find a mention of “fake news.” But what are the origins of fake news? The term is relatively new, but the proliferation of inaccurate information is nothing original. But it’s not just up to journalists to seek out the truth from fiction (though that’s an integral part of their jobs) — individuals must learn how to measure validity, too, because the impact of fake news on society is still being measured.
In the last national election, the term “fake news” reached its zenith in the public lexicon but many questions remain: How can an inaccurate news story influence voters’ choice of candidate? Did the proliferation of fabricated news influence the outcome of the 2016 presidential election? What are some strategies we can use to distinguish between fake news and truthful reporting? How can individuals, families, organizations, companies and governments protect themselves in this new information environment?
Join the Vail Symposium for a special program where these questions and many others will be addressed as our experts help distinguish fact from fiction.