"Without proper training in digital news verification, the dissemination of misinformation is both rapid and disastrous. Journalists are often processing a massive amount of information through social media with very little time to verify it--this presents unique challenges for journalists working with or in digital media especially in times of a pandemic. These problems have manifested themselves in situations where journalists and news organisations have also fallen prey to fake news and disinformation online. It is important to educate journalists and media practitioners regarding the use of proper tools and resources to check the authenticity of a news." (Introduction, page 5)
What is Fake news? 6
Origin of fake news before the internet, 10
Fake news in times of COVID-19, 11
Fake news leading to violence and confusion, 14
Legislation and steps to tackle fake news in Pakistan, 17
What are social media companies doing to counter fake news? 29
Fact-checking and source verification: why is source verification and fact-checking necessary? 33
Tools for countering disinformation, 37