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Spotting Fake News

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Spotting Fake News

Read the report and evidence carefully. Decide what is known, what is uncertain and what needs checking. You do not need outside sources to answer.

The Mystery of the Empty Oval

A message appears in a local community group: “URGENT! Strange lights seen over Wattle Bay. Officials say everyone must stay indoors tonight!” It includes a blurry photo of a glowing oval in the sky. The post has been shared hundreds of times, but it does not name an official or link to a report. The next morning, the Wattle Bay community website publishes a short update: “The lights reported last night were from a weather balloon carrying research equipment. It was launched from the coastal research centre at 7.10 pm. No stay-indoors advice was issued. The centre says the balloon’s reflective surface can look bright when it catches the setting sun.” A radio reporter contacts the research centre and confirms the launch time and purpose. The reporter also checks with the local emergency service, which confirms that no public warning was sent. The original post is later edited to say, “Maybe a weather balloon?” but it does not explain where that claim came from.

Investigate the Report

Use details from the report and your own reasoning. A claim can be misleading even when part of it is true.

1.Which statement best describes the first community-group message?

It gives a confirmed explanation and names its sources.
It makes a frightening claim without showing reliable evidence.
It reports that the research centre cancelled a balloon launch.
It is an official emergency warning.

2.What did the radio reporter do to check the story? Name two checks described in the report.

3.Which detail is the strongest evidence that the lights were probably from a weather balloon?

The message was shared hundreds of times.
The photo was blurry.
The research centre confirmed a balloon launch at 7.10 pm and explained its reflective surface.
The original post used the word “URGENT”.

4.True or false: Because the original post was shared hundreds of times, its claim must be accurate. Explain your choice using the report.

5.Fill in the blank: Before sharing a surprising claim, check who published it, what evidence they provide, and whether another source confirms it.

6.The post was later edited to say, “Maybe a weather balloon?” Why does that edit not make the original message trustworthy?

7.Match each checking action to what it helps you find out.

Look for the date and original source
Compare with a second reliable report
Notice words such as “URGENT!”

See whether the claim is confirmed independently
Recognise language that may be trying to provoke a quick reaction
Check whether the information is current and where it began

8.Is the weather-balloon explanation fully confirmed in this report, or is some uncertainty still possible? Give a careful answer and one reason.

9.Write a responsible two-sentence reply you could post in the community group. It should correct the unsupported warning and say how the explanation was checked.