Panelists examine 'Fake News' at Framingham forum July 16, 2018
Jonathan Philips 508-626-4338 Metrowest Daily News
FRAMINGHAM - Fake news might not be as new as we think, but the term has taken on a new life in recent years.

"There has always been fake news," said Burton Glass, executive director of New England Center for Investigative Reporting Monday night during a panel discussion at the McAuliffe Branch of the Framingham Public Library.

"Some of our favorite founding fathers had been leaders in fake news back in the 1700s, including Ben Franklin, who commissioned and wrote propaganda about Native Americans going on murder sprees and their connection with King George," Glass said.

However, he said that is no reason to accept the fabricated or twisted information.

"Fake news" is a term coined for inaccurate stories or information that gains local or national attention but have not gone through the proper steps in securing the integrity and accuracy of the information shared. Such information is sometimes fabricated, false or misleading as a means to deceive people.

About 50 people gathered in the library's function room to talk about the history of fake news and to the ways legitimate newsgatherers verify news and information today. The event was hosted by the Framingham chapter of the League of Women Voters and the MetroWest Daily News.


Given that this meeting did not bring up religion, you can tell that these people were seriously constipated and full of shit.

Anne Brennan will be allowing stories on the imans, priests and rabbis as though their sponsor, God, was real news that has been vetted by a one-eyed news editor.

If you do not read the local paper, you are not informed.
If you do read the local paper, you are misinformed.

As Pope Francis stated in 2018,

There is no such thing as harmless disinformation.
Trusting in falsehoods can have dire consequences.


There's been a cultural shift with most people constantly gathering information on computers and cellphones, said Anne Brennan, editor-in-chief for the MetroWest and Milford Daily News.

"The credibility of information in articles, photos, memes and video became based on who shared the information rather than who produced it," she said.

Many people share misinformation because it confirms beliefs or it's simply humorous, said Aimee Reinhart, of the Shorenstein Center at the Harvard Kennedy School of Government.

"Things are happening so quickly," she said. "Lot of things are happening around us so quickly and we decided in a hurry to share something with someone."

Mike Beaudet, investigative reporter for Channel 5 in Boston and journalism professor at Northeastern University, believes it's a shared responsibility between journalist and the public to check where their information is coming from.

"If we work together in terms of the public and journalists who are trying to do the right thing hopefully we can cut through that clutter," he said.

Framingham resident Fran Sansalone asked how readers can stop fake news.

"Do we have a responsibility in stopping fake news and if so what's the avenue?" she asked.

"I think a lot of this is out of the public's control," Reinhart said.

Reinhart encouraged the audience to be good digital citizens and scrutinize the information they are reading and sharing.

Glass encouraged the audience to have a good "media diet" and view multiple sources and subscribe to their local news organizations.

Brennan agreed.

"We do need your support," she said. "That is what is going to keep us going. We are also trying to be relevant to you and give you the types of news you want that you can't get other places."


Anne Brennan, editor-in-chief for the MetroWest and Milford Daily News likes to glorify these stupid religious people like Sudbury rabbi Josh Breindel when all they spew out is hatred and stupidity in science. What a fucking asshole jew. I have to conclude that she might be jewish. By glorifying them, she is stating very clearly that she believes in an imaginary god creature, endorses misogyny and slavery because both the bible and quran sure endorse it. She doesn't view god as fake news so by any other definition, she is an idiot.

But as she might say, freedom of the press is for those who have a press.

Fake news discussion Monday in Framingham July 12, 2018
Carolyn Sistrand Metrowest Daily News
FRAMINGHAM - Reporters and editors from local media outlets will lead a panel discussion on "fake news" on Monday evening at the McAuliffe Library on Water Street.

The event, scheduled to run from 7-9 p.m., is being hosted by the Framingham chapter of the League of Women Voters and the MetroWest Daily News.

Panelists include Anne Brennan, editor of the MetroWest and Milford Daily News; Mike Beaudet, investigative reporter for Channel 5 in Boston and journalism professor at Northeastern University; Burton Glass, executive director of New England Center for Investigative Reporting; and Aimee Reinhart from the Shorenstein Center at the Harvard Kennedy School of Government.

Panelists will discuss how to identify and understand what is "fake news."

"Reliable information is the lifeblood of democracy, as is the free press," said Brennan. "With the advance of social media and new operations with a political slant across the political spectrum, it is getting more difficult for news consumers to understand where news is coming from and what is reliable and what is untrue."

"Fake news" is a term coined for inaccurate stories or information that gain local or nationalized attention but have not gone through the proper steps in securing the integrity and accuracy of the information shared. Such information is sometimes fabricated, false or misleading as a means to deceive people.

Many media outlets on a national level have been accused of reporting on "fake news," while social media has also been blamed for playing a hand on the spreading of false information.

"Not only are people consuming this, they are sharing it," said Brennan. "Once it gets shared on social media it is hard to stop."

The discussion will include audience involvement, involving questions and an open dialogue so that identifying stories that are "fake news" can be easier to decipher. Attendees are encouraged to bring questions with them.

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