fact checking "news"

Many people ask or comment on the amount of time and effort it takes to assure the veracity of print, TV, documentary, internet news stories.

 It surely can seem daunting, when we appear at times to be subject to relentless propaganda via distortions, one sided news, disinformation, misinformation and omissions.

At the same time, it is defeating to see blind acceptance of stories owing to this "overhead".

Now: since we live in the age of the information wars - fact checking is not a perfect science, however with the internet, there is always the option of checking:

For example:
Step 1: Saw documentary on called "Food additives: an edible adventure"

Step2: type "Food additives: an edible adventure" into Google and look at the results - add the word "review" or "forum" to the search to get comments made - select a site and have a quick read

Step3: type "Food additives: an edible adventure" with the addition of word "propaganda" - do the same regarding "reviews", "forums"

Step4: type "Food additives: an edible adventure" with the addition of "brilliant" or "thought provoking" or similar - do the same regarding "reviews", "forums"

Another way to "feel" out the veracity, is to observe how the piece represents the "other side" - is it done superficially, not at all, in a cartoonish, one dimensional way -> if you suspect, grab the data that seems wrong and apply Steps 1-4 with it...

This should take about 15 minutes. It may not work for all cases, and certainly the additional words may need customising, but at least you will be reading what others (from both extremes) have been saying about the piece.

Let’s not be fooled, when a cursory internet search would clear up much….There is also a sense of achievement and discovery when a propaganda piece is uncovered

Good luck!