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The story , of course , was fake .
The phone number did not work . No such study existed and the local police contact had no knowledge of such a switch from drug-sniffing dogs to ferrets .
Several students did try to call the number , but despite getting no response , went ahead with the story anyway . No students challenged the validity of the information they received .
Fake news is not new . What is new is its reach and ability to subvert the critical thinking abilities of even more people , especially students , as a recent study showed . The study focused on students ’ ability to tell the difference between fake and real news .
So because of the newfound
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attention directed toward critical news thinking and news literacy following a contentious election , we ’ d recommend focusing in 2017 on these 10 journalistic issues :
10 . Focus on answering the “ why ” news question to make the “ what ” meaningful .
9 . Help your communities understand the need for communications / sense making responsibilities as they question authorities .
8 . Once journalists have questioned authorities , question them about the quality , motive and detail of their information . Remain skeptical until all questions are answered .
7 . Double down and stress what speech is protected and why and its importance to the wellbeing of a democracy .
6 . Show diversity in all its meaning as a guiding light for scholastic journalism . Let all people and ideas be represented .
5 . Remember objectivity as a
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process remains the core of scholastic journalism . It ’ s a process rooted in truth , credibility and coherence as essential , even as reporters are skeptical and challenging of sources .
4 . Strive to focus on solutions ( journalism ) to the issues and problems coverage raises .
3 . Protect and empower the whole process of fighting fake and misleading news ; support and become involved in states ’ New Voices legislation .
2 . Stress journalists ’ social responsibility in a factionalized media / political environment .
1 . Fight the spread and use of fake news in all its forms and assist student journalists and their communities to understand , respond to and counter it .
After all , as U . S . Senator Daniel Patrick Moynihan said , “ Everyone is entitled is his own opinion , but not to his own facts .”
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Candace Perkins Bowen
Candace Perkins Bowen , MJE , is an associate professor in Kent State ’ s School of Journalism and Mass Communication and director of both the Center for Scholastic Journalism and the Ohio Scholastic Media Association . A former Dow Jones News Fund Journalism Teacher of the Year , she has served as the president of the Journalism Education Association . She is part of the Student Press Law Center ’ s Steering Committee for its Advisory Council and past head of the Scholastic Journalism Division of AEJMC
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