Facebook, Twitter Partner To Help Google Filter Fake News Stories
Facebook and Twitter have joined a network of more than 30 international media organisations to tackle a growing trend of “fake news” circulating on social media and improve the quality of information found online, the group announced Wednesday.
First Draft Coalition, a group formed in June 2015, which includes outlets such as the New York Times Washington Post, Buzzfeed News and CNN, is intended to train journalists in how to use the web to find and report news.
The group announced a number of initiatives, such as creating a voluntary code of practice, promoting news literacy among social media users, and launching a platform in October that will allow members to verify questionable news stories.
Advertisement
“There is a thriving community of specialists working around the world who have developed and honed social news gathering and verification skills,” Jenni Sargent, managing director of the coalition, wrote in a blog post.
“With the launch of this partner network, First Draft brings these people together to work on ideas and initiatives, including a train-the-trainer programme, the launch of a collaborative verification platform, and the creation of a voluntary code of practice.”
Facebook currently has more than a billion monthly active users, and its Trending Topics is prominent section for views, whether stories are true or not.
The world’s largest socia media network has been criticized for its role in spreading fake stories and misinformation. It will provide coalition members with tools and services that can help them figure out if they’re looking at a hoax.
Advertisement
“The First Draft partner network represents an important opportunity for the news industry to work together on best practices, trainings, research and more. We’re excited to help and support newsrooms that are experts in using eyewitness content,” Áine Kerr, manager of journalism partnerships at Facebook, said in a statement.
Twitter said it was thrilled to be part of the network “so that we can collaboratively shape best practices, ethical guidelines and tools when it comes to discovering and verifying eyewitness media.”
Social networks have become a popular source of news for many, trailing only TV as a top source of information, the report added.
