Richland Library combats fake news with new public resource
October 27, 2019
As local residents prepare to cast their votes in several municipal elections on November 5, 2019 and look ahead to the 2020 presidential election, Richland Library is offering access to a new resource that vets misinformation and fake news.
The NewsGuard browser extension is now available on public computers at our library locations across Richland County. Using a color-coded system, it helps users figure out whether the material that they’re reading is reliable or not.
“We are in the business of learning, creating and sharing,” said Richland Library Chief Program and Innovation Officer Tony Tallent. “By connecting people with NewsGuard, we are empowering them with the knowledge that they need to advocate for themselves and fully participate in democracy.”
While perusing websites or social media feeds, NewsGuard icons appear next to the links, indicating the nature of the source:
- Green for accuracy and accountability
- Red for falsehood and unaccountability
- Gray for platforms (like Wikipedia)
- Orange for satire (like The Onion)
Users can hover over the icons to read specific details on why each rating was assigned by NewsGuard analysts, who are trained journalists with varied backgrounds. They look for certain criteria, such as if a website repeatedly publishes false content, regularly corrects or clarifies errors, avoids deceptive headlines, and discloses ownership and management.
For questions, please contact Emily Stoll at 803-587-3637 or email [email protected].
About Richland Library
Awarded the National Medal in 2017 by the Institute of Museum and Library Services, Richland Library is a vibrant, contemporary organization that provides resources and information that advance the Midlands. Offering state-of-the-art technology, a variety of literary and cultural programs and 12 bustling facilities located throughout the county, Richland Library provides a truly customizable, modern library experience for residents and visitors alike.
About NewsGuard Technologies
Launched in March 2018 by media entrepreneur Steven Brill and former Wall Street Journal publisher Gordon Crovitz, NewsGuard provides reliability ratings and detailed “Nutrition Labels” for thousands of news and information websites. NewsGuard’s ratings and Nutrition Labels can be licensed by internet service providers, browsers, news aggregators, and social media and search platforms in order to make NewsGuard’s information about news websites available to their users.
