It's a sentence that perfectly captures the current mood: " You go crazy and don't know what to believe anymore." A user who made this cry for help is just one of many who feel lost in the flood of information on the Internet.

Federal government confirms chemtrail projects

She recently came across an article in the “ Kölner Abendblatt ” with the headline “ Federal government confirms chemtrail projects ”. She was unsure what to think and asked us for help.

“Kölner Abendblatt” with the headline “Federal government confirms chemtrail projects”
Screenshot: “Kölner Abendblatt” with the headline “ Federal government confirms chemtrail projects

We revealed that the article was satire, created on a platform called Paul Newsman, where anyone can post their own joke or satirical articles.

MIMIKAMA
Screenshot: Paul Newsman

This is not an isolated case

In the flood of information that bombards us every day, it is difficult to distinguish truth from fiction. Here are some tips on how we can find our way:

  1. Always read the entire article : The truth – or the hint that it is a hoax – is often hidden in the text. Don't just be blinded by headlines.
  2. Check the source : Not everything that looks like a reputable news source is one. It's always worth a second look.
  3. Understand the context : Many satirical or fake articles make reference to current events. With a little background knowledge it is easier to classify them.
  4. Be skeptical and check : If a piece of news sounds too unbelievable to be true, it often is. When in doubt, don't hesitate to investigate.

We live in a time where information is ubiquitous and constantly available. This is great, but it can also be overwhelming. That's why it's important to remain critical and to classify sources correctly. And when in doubt? Ask Mimikama!


Something else about the aforementioned “Paul Newsman” website!

Paul Newsman is a platform that allows any user to publish fake or satirical articles in various fictional magazines within seconds.

The fake articles produced are given a professional optical frame so that the articles appear like a serious publication. The different layouts are based thematically on existing formats. There are usable domains from the supposedly reputable Kölner Abendblatt, Boulevard from Blitz Kurier, women's-specific content from Britta, sporty content from Grätsche, but also the Pharmacy Review on health topics.

Paul Newsman website
Screenshot of the Paul Newsman website

Therefore, you should include Paul Newsman's offerings in your own knowledge repertoire in order to be able to recognize the satire and treat it as such.

The fairness clause: How can the reader expose the fake?
Paul Newsman offers a few emergency brakes that can be used to recognize the items on offer. How to read:

We show a detailed and clear explanation box directly below each article. In addition, there are no further links for a fake article. What is common on real media and fake news sites are links to other sections or other articles in the same newspaper, and advertisements or “promoted content”. We act as if we have all of this, but if you click on something, you end up on the Paul Newsman homepage and an explanation appears. Even with animated fire there! #clearly

It's amazing how rarely readers see this notice or get to the Paul Newsman site.

German imprint linked on every article page , which can be accessed without any effort. And there too it is clarified immediately.

So there are plenty of ways to tell that it is not what it claims to be – a “real” online magazine.

It is also important to us that anyone who reads our articles can easily see, even if they may not see it at first glance, that it is clearly nonsense. If we didn't make this clear, there would be a very high risk that people would believe what they read from us, even if they had actually already been informed by a third party. But it's right below! That should clear up any doubt.

Also read:


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Notes:
1) This content reflects the current state of affairs at the time of publication. The reproduction of individual images, screenshots, embeds or video sequences serves to discuss the topic. 2) Individual contributions were created through the use of machine assistance and were carefully checked by the Mimikama editorial team before publication. ( Reason )