What is Fake News
Fake news sources deliberately publish hoaxes, misinformation, and propaganda designed to deceive readers for the purpose of political and/or financial gain. Fake news sources often follow design conventions of reputable news media sites to make the story seem more credible, making them more likely to be shared on social media.
Types of "Fake News"
Imposter News Sites
These websites are designed to look like legitimate sites and incorporate some facts into their stories, but the articles are false. They are an attempt to convince readers to pass the news on as if it were true. These fake news sites get revenue from the ads you see on the page, so the more they get you to share -- the more money they make. 
Satire
Satire websites not really "fake news." They are usually topical sites that are meant to be humorous, not to deceive the reader. The stories are not real news.
Clickbait and Hoaxes
These websites also have bits of true stories but make up other details to create an emotional response, typically anger or fear. They often feature outrageous headlines in capital letters and use inflammatory language.
Fact Checking Websites
Fact Checking Websites
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AllSidesAllSides provides multiple different views of the same story which allows for a much rounder picture of the subject. Instead of just news from the right or left, AllSides covers every side, including the middle.
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AP Fact CheckThe Associated Press website fact checks current news stories when a false story or questionable claim gains traction online.
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FactCheckA project of the Annenberg Public Policy Center that focuses on clarifying political claims.
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Media Bias/Fact CheckMedia Bias/Fact Check is an independent website that educates the public on bias in the media. Although this is a crowd-sourced operation run mostly by volunteers, you can find valuable links to good news sources.
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Open SecretsOpen Secrets is a nonpartisan, independent and nonprofit, run by the Center for Responsive Politics. The group focuses on reporting political donations.
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Politifact: Fact-checking US PoliticsA fact-checking website that looks into claims made by politicians.
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SnopesA website that checks claims, myths, rumors and misinformation in order to provide accurate information on a variety of topics.
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The Washington Post - Fact CheckerAward winning journalist Glenn Kessler provides excellent fact checking for The Washington Post.
Research Articles
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"Social Media and Fake News in the 2016 Election"The Journal of Economic Perspectives study attempts to determine if fake news disseminated on social media altered voting patterns in the 2016 U.S. election.
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"The Spread of True and False News Online"MIT researchers track "rumor cascades" in an attempt to understand the ways false news spreads, and why misinformation is disseminated faster than accurate information.
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"Selective Exposure to Misinformation: Evidence From the Consumption of Fake News During the 2016 U.S. Presidential Campaign"A study that examines different demographic groups, their news choices, and exposure to fake news about the 2016 U.S. election.
