The Durango Herald: The phrase “fake news” has become shorthand for misinformation and distrust in media, but its impact varies by scale. Nationally, “fake news” narratives – especially those perpetuated by President Donald Trump, Fox “News” and other online outlets claiming to deliver news – have continued to erode public confidence.

Studies by the Knight Foundation and Pew Research Center show that 64% of Americans say fake news causes a great deal of confusion about basic facts, and many find it difficult to tell the difference between real and fabricated stories online. Social media algorithms that reward outrage over accuracy, partisan echo chambers where users mostly see stories that confirm their beliefs, and deliberate misinformation campaigns that mimic legitimate outlets all fuel this confusion. The result is a public increasingly skeptical of where to turn for reliable information and uncertain whom to believe.

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