The long history of fake news | Elizabeth Mehren | TEDxBerkeley

Fake News, Media Literacy, and Public Trust

Elizabeth Mehren argues that fake news is an old phenomenon, but its growing reach and political weaponization threaten public trust and democracy.

She distinguishes misinformation—false information spread by mistake and open to correction—from disinformation, which is deliberately fabricated or distorted to deceive. As an early example of manipulating the truth, she cites the ancient Egyptian ruler Ramses the Great, who claimed victory in a battle that was actually a draw.

Mehren contrasts this with the controversy surrounding The Washington Post and Richard Nixon’s resignation: although many blamed the newspaper for contributing to Nixon’s resignation, people did not generally claim that the resignation itself was invented.

Media Literacy as a Defense

Fake news is not confined to one political side. It can disrupt, mislead, and cause harm; labels such as “alternative facts” do not change the underlying problem.

Mehren sees media literacy as an important defense. It helps people distinguish facts from spin, propaganda, advertising, satire, and content that serves someone’s agenda.

She highlights the News Literacy Project, founded by her former Los Angeles Times colleague Alan Miller. Its Checkology learning platform teaches students to assess information and think critically. She also points to Finland, where media literacy has been part of the national curriculum since preschool. The country ranks highly in resistance to misinformation and disinformation.

Practical Advice

Mehren recommends that people:

• Scrutinize what they consume and verify claims and sources.
• Be wary of sweeping or implausible assertions.
• Check the math.
• Correct falsehoods with evidence.
• Avoid passing along dubious material and remain skeptical.

Above all, she says, truth can serve as a shield against fake news.

Presenter and Contributor

• Elizabeth Mehren — presenter
• Alan Miller — founder of the News Literacy Project, discussed in the talk. His name appears as “Ellen Miller” in the subtitles.