Aug. 27: Beyoncé and Taylor Swift rumors

This is a shortened version of Get Smart About News , a free weekly newsletter that explores trends and issues in misinformation, social media, artificial intelligence and journalism. Subscribe HERE .

Amid an unrelenting news cycle, we hope you’ve found the resources in the summer edition of this newsletter helpful in navigating an eventful election season. We will return in our regular format Sept. 10.

Top reads

A roundup of the latest topics in news literacy.

Misinformation

• “These are the big election-related misinfo themes on Chinese-language social media” (Kimmy Yam, NBC News).
• “Former MMA fighter Ronda Rousey apologizes for posting Sandy Hook conspiracy online 11 years ago” (Susan Haigh, The Associated Press).

Social media

• “Teens are making thousands by debating Trump vs. Harris on TikTok” (Viola Zhou, Rest of the World).
• “About half of TikTok users under 30 say they use it to keep up with politics, news” (Colleen McClain, Pew Research Center).

Journalism

• “Why It's Important for Journalists to Correct Misconceptions” (Susan A. Nolan and Michael Kimball, Psychology Today).
• “‘I Was Pulled Off of the Sidewalk’: At Least 3 Journalists Arrested Covering DNC Protests” (Akela Lacy and Jonah Valdez, The Intercept).

Think like a journalist.

Living in a news desert during an election year? Try thinking like a journalist to find quality information about what’s on your ballot. Check the accuracy of candidates’ claims against standards-based sources, refer to official sources like your local elections office for questions about voting and ask your local librarian for additional resources.

❌ No, pop music star Taylor Swift hasn’t endorsed a 2024 presidential candidate.

❌ No, Democratic vice presidential nominee and Minnesota Gov. Tim Walz didn’t change the Minnesota state flag to resemble Somalia’s.

Check out more of the latest debunked rumors on NLP’s RumorGuard® !

Featured video

How did viral rumors about a possible Beyoncé appearance at last week’s Democratic National Convention turn into misinformation? Check out this NLP TikTok to learn more. (You can also view this video on Instagram and YouTube .)

One last thing...

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