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{{pp-vandalism|small=yes}}
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{{for|satirical news|List of satirical news websites}}
{{for|satirical news|List of satirical news websites}}
This is a list of sites that sources have identified as [[fake news]].
This is a list of [[fake news site]]s. These sites intentionally publish [[hoax]]es and [[disinformation]] for purposes other than [[news satire]].


Some of these sites use a [[URL]] that ends in '''[[.co]]''' or otherwise resembles genuine news outlets.<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.businessinsider.com/nytimescomco-posts-fake-news-articles-pretending-to-be-the-new-york-times-2015-6 |title=Watch out for this fake news website masquerading as ''The New York Times''|work=businessinsider.com|accessdate=12 December 2016}}</ref><ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.nbcnews.com/news/us-news/five-tips-how-spot-fake-news-online-n687226 |title=Would you believe the pope endorsed Trump? Five tips for spotting fake news|work=NBC News|accessdate=12 December 2016}}</ref>
Some of these sites use a [[URL]] that ends in '''[[.co]]''' or otherwise resembles more established news outlets.<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.businessinsider.com/nytimescomco-posts-fake-news-articles-pretending-to-be-the-new-york-times-2015-6 |title=Watch out for this fake news website masquerading as ''The New York Times''|work=businessinsider.com|accessdate=12 December 2016}}</ref><ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.nbcnews.com/news/us-news/five-tips-how-spot-fake-news-online-n687226 |title=Would you believe the pope endorsed Trump? Five tips for spotting fake news|work=NBC News|accessdate=12 December 2016}}</ref>


==Definition==
==Definition==
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|[[ABCnews.com.co|ABCnews.com'''.co''']]
|[[ABCnews.com.co|ABCnews.com'''.co''']]
|Owned by [[Jestin Coler]]. Mimics the URL, design and logo of [[ABC News]].
|Owned by [[Jestin Coler]]. Mimics the URL, design and logo of [[ABC News]].
|<ref name=cjr>{{Cite news|url=http://www.cjr.org/analysis/how_fake_news_sites_frequently_trick_big-time_journalists.php|title=How fake news sites frequently trick big-time journalists|newspaper=Columbia Journalism Review|access-date=2016-11-20}}</ref><ref name=kxlh>{{Cite news|url=http://www.kxlh.com/story/33744836/heres-how-to-outsmart-fake-news-in-your-facebook-feed|title=Here's how to outsmart fake news in your Facebook feed|access-date=2016-11-20}}</ref><ref name=politifact>{{Cite news|url=http://www.politifact.com/truth-o-meter/statements/2016/nov/17/blog-posting/no-someone-wasnt-paid-3500-protest-donald-trump-it/|title=No, someone wasn't paid $3,500 to protest Donald Trump|newspaper=@politifact|access-date=2016-11-18}}</ref><ref name=wapo18november2016>{{Cite news|url=https://www.washingtonpost.com/news/the-intersect/wp/2016/11/17/facebook-fake-news-writer-i-think-donald-trump-is-in-the-white-house-because-of-me/?tid=sm_tw|title=Facebook fake-news writer: ‘I think Donald Trump is in the White House because of me’|last=Dewey|first=Caitlin|date=2016-11-17|newspaper=The Washington Post|language=en-US|issn=0190-8286|access-date=2016-11-18}}</ref><ref name="atc" />
|<ref name="dd" /><ref name=cjr>{{Cite news|url=http://www.cjr.org/analysis/how_fake_news_sites_frequently_trick_big-time_journalists.php|title=How fake news sites frequently trick big-time journalists|newspaper=Columbia Journalism Review|access-date=2016-11-20}}</ref><ref name=kxlh>{{Cite news|url=http://www.kxlh.com/story/33744836/heres-how-to-outsmart-fake-news-in-your-facebook-feed|title=Here's how to outsmart fake news in your Facebook feed|access-date=2016-11-20}}</ref><ref name=politifact>{{Cite news|url=http://www.politifact.com/truth-o-meter/statements/2016/nov/17/blog-posting/no-someone-wasnt-paid-3500-protest-donald-trump-it/|title=No, someone wasn't paid $3,500 to protest Donald Trump|newspaper=@politifact|access-date=2016-11-18}}</ref><ref name=wapo18november2016>{{Cite news|url=https://www.washingtonpost.com/news/the-intersect/wp/2016/11/17/facebook-fake-news-writer-i-think-donald-trump-is-in-the-white-house-because-of-me/?tid=sm_tw|title=Facebook fake-news writer: ‘I think Donald Trump is in the White House because of me’|last=Dewey|first=Caitlin|date=2016-11-17|newspaper=The Washington Post|language=en-US|issn=0190-8286|access-date=2016-11-18}}</ref><ref name="atc" />
|-
|-
|Bloomberg'''.ma'''
|Bloomberg'''.ma'''
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|DrudgeReport.com'''.co'''
|DrudgeReport.com'''.co'''
|Owned by Jestin Coler (mimics the name of the [[Drudge Report]]).
|Owned by Jestin Coler (mimics the name of the [[Drudge Report]]).
|<ref name="atc" />
|<ref name="dd" /><ref name="atc" />
|-
|MSNBC.com'''.co'''
|
|<ref name="dd" />
|-
|MSNBC'''.website'''
|
|<ref name="dd" />
|-
|-
|usatoday.com'''.co'''
|usatoday.com'''.co'''
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<nowiki>*</nowiki>[[Bryshere Y. Gray]] is [[Jay Z|Jay-Z]]'s son.
<nowiki>*</nowiki>[[Bryshere Y. Gray]] is [[Jay Z|Jay-Z]]'s son.
|<ref>{{Cite news|url=https://www.washingtonpost.com/news/the-intersect/wp/2015/11/06/what-was-fake-on-the-internet-this-week-amazing-cows-the-kkk-and-a-secret-sister-gift-exchange/?utm_term=.66b54d2701ea|title=What was fake on the Internet this week: amazing cows, the KKK and a ‘Secret Sister’ gift exchange|last=Dewey|first=Caitlin|date=2015-11-06|newspaper=The Washington Post|language=en-US|issn=0190-8286|access-date=2017-01-02}}</ref><ref>{{Cite news|url=https://www.washingtonpost.com/news/the-intersect/wp/2015/08/28/what-was-fake-on-the-internet-this-week-selfie-lice-joey-fatone-and-james-earl-jones-rips/?utm_term=.b0c9d16a7cd0|title=What was fake on the Internet this week: Selfie lice, Joey Fatone and James Earl Jones RIPs|last=Dewey|first=Caitlin|date=2015-08-28|newspaper=The Washington Post|language=en-US|issn=0190-8286|access-date=2017-01-02}}</ref><ref>{{Cite news|url=https://www.washingtonpost.com/news/the-intersect/wp/2015/09/25/what-was-fake-on-the-internet-this-week-casey-anthonys-death-and-chipotles-911-ad/?utm_term=.8a4b1ee82486|title=What was fake on the Internet this week: Casey Anthony’s death and Chipotle’s 9/11 ad|last=Dewey|first=Caitlin|date=2015-09-25|newspaper=The Washington Post|language=en-US|issn=0190-8286|access-date=2017-01-02}}</ref>
|<ref>{{Cite news|url=https://www.washingtonpost.com/news/the-intersect/wp/2015/11/06/what-was-fake-on-the-internet-this-week-amazing-cows-the-kkk-and-a-secret-sister-gift-exchange/?utm_term=.66b54d2701ea|title=What was fake on the Internet this week: amazing cows, the KKK and a ‘Secret Sister’ gift exchange|last=Dewey|first=Caitlin|date=2015-11-06|newspaper=The Washington Post|language=en-US|issn=0190-8286|access-date=2017-01-02}}</ref><ref>{{Cite news|url=https://www.washingtonpost.com/news/the-intersect/wp/2015/08/28/what-was-fake-on-the-internet-this-week-selfie-lice-joey-fatone-and-james-earl-jones-rips/?utm_term=.b0c9d16a7cd0|title=What was fake on the Internet this week: Selfie lice, Joey Fatone and James Earl Jones RIPs|last=Dewey|first=Caitlin|date=2015-08-28|newspaper=The Washington Post|language=en-US|issn=0190-8286|access-date=2017-01-02}}</ref><ref>{{Cite news|url=https://www.washingtonpost.com/news/the-intersect/wp/2015/09/25/what-was-fake-on-the-internet-this-week-casey-anthonys-death-and-chipotles-911-ad/?utm_term=.8a4b1ee82486|title=What was fake on the Internet this week: Casey Anthony’s death and Chipotle’s 9/11 ad|last=Dewey|first=Caitlin|date=2015-09-25|newspaper=The Washington Post|language=en-US|issn=0190-8286|access-date=2017-01-02}}</ref>
|-
|Cream BMP
|
|<ref name="dd" />
|-
|-
|Empire News
|Empire News
|Many of this website's fake news hoaxes were widely shared on social media, with stories based off social or political controversies, or were simply appalling to readers.
|Many of this website's fake news hoaxes were widely shared on social media, with stories based off social or political controversies, or were simply appalling to readers.
|<ref name=cjr/><ref name=snopes/>
|<ref name="dd" /><ref name=cjr/><ref name=snopes/>
|-
|-
|Empire Sports
|Empire Sports
|
|
|<ref name="Rensin">{{Cite web|url=https://newrepublic.com/article/118013/satire-news-websites-are-cashing-gullible-outraged-readers|title=These Satire News Sites Are Taking Advantage of You|last=Rensin|first=Emmett|date=2014-06-06|website=New Republic|access-date=2016-11-26}}</ref>
|<ref name="Rensin">{{Cite web|url=https://newrepublic.com/article/118013/satire-news-websites-are-cashing-gullible-outraged-readers|title=These Satire News Sites Are Taking Advantage of You|last=Rensin|first=Emmett|date=2014-06-06|website=New Republic|access-date=2016-11-26}}</ref>
|-
|{{sort|Enduring Vision, The|The Enduring Vision}}
|
|<ref name="dd">Andrew Couts, [http://www.dailydot.com/layer8/fake-news-sites-list-facebook/ Here are all the 'fake news' sites to watch out for on Facebook], ''Daily Dot'' ( November 16, 2016).</ref>
|-
|-
|Firebrand Left
|Firebrand Left
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|Fake news from this website often involve popular restaurants and brands to disgust readers with its gross-out stories. One story by the site falsely reported that Dong Nguyen, the creator of [[Flappy Bird]], killed himself. Another story made up an incident where a person working at a [[McDonald's]] restaurant put his [[mixtapes]] in [[Happy Meal]]s.
|Fake news from this website often involve popular restaurants and brands to disgust readers with its gross-out stories. One story by the site falsely reported that Dong Nguyen, the creator of [[Flappy Bird]], killed himself. Another story made up an incident where a person working at a [[McDonald's]] restaurant put his [[mixtapes]] in [[Happy Meal]]s.
|<ref name="snopes" /><ref name="Rensin"/><ref>{{cite news|last1=Campbell|first1=Jon|title=Flappy Bird Game Creator Dead? Dong Nguyen Suicide Death Rumors Confirmed as Malicious Hoax|url=http://www.christianpost.com/news/flappy-bird-game-creator-dead-dong-nguyen-suicide-death-rumors-confirmed-as-malicious-hoax-114467/|accessdate=13 December 2016|work=www.christianpost.com|date=12 February 2014}}</ref><ref>{{cite news|last1=Wile|first1=Rob|title=A Story About Mixtapes in Happy Meals Shows Viral Fake News Sites Still Run the Internet|url=http://fusion.net/story/163556/a-story-about-mixtapes-in-happy-meals-shows-viral-fake-news-sites-still-run-the-internet/|accessdate=13 December 2016|work=Fusion|date=8 July 2015}}</ref>
|<ref name="snopes" /><ref name="Rensin"/><ref>{{cite news|last1=Campbell|first1=Jon|title=Flappy Bird Game Creator Dead? Dong Nguyen Suicide Death Rumors Confirmed as Malicious Hoax|url=http://www.christianpost.com/news/flappy-bird-game-creator-dead-dong-nguyen-suicide-death-rumors-confirmed-as-malicious-hoax-114467/|accessdate=13 December 2016|work=www.christianpost.com|date=12 February 2014}}</ref><ref>{{cite news|last1=Wile|first1=Rob|title=A Story About Mixtapes in Happy Meals Shows Viral Fake News Sites Still Run the Internet|url=http://fusion.net/story/163556/a-story-about-mixtapes-in-happy-meals-shows-viral-fake-news-sites-still-run-the-internet/|accessdate=13 December 2016|work=Fusion|date=8 July 2015}}</ref>
|-
|Indecision Forever
|A fake news site owned by [[Comedy Central]].
|<ref name="dd" />
|-
|-
|{{sort|Last Line of Defense, The|The Last Line of Defense}}
|{{sort|Last Line of Defense, The|The Last Line of Defense}}
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|[[NationalReport.net|''National Report'']]
|[[NationalReport.net|''National Report'']]
|Founder Jestin Coler told ''Columbia Journalism Review'' "When it comes to the fake stuff, you really want it to be red meat. [...] It doesn’t have to be offensive. It doesn’t have to be outrageous. It doesn’t have to be anything other than just giving them what they already wanted to hear."
|Founder Jestin Coler told ''Columbia Journalism Review'' "When it comes to the fake stuff, you really want it to be red meat. [...] It doesn’t have to be offensive. It doesn’t have to be outrageous. It doesn’t have to be anything other than just giving them what they already wanted to hear."
|<ref name=cjr/><ref name=atc>{{cite web|work=All Things Considered|publisher=NPR|title=We Tracked Down A Fake-News Creator In The Suburbs. Here's What We Learned|last=Sydell|first=Laura|date=23 November 2016|url=http://www.npr.org/sections/alltechconsidered/2016/11/23/503146770/npr-finds-the-head-of-a-covert-fake-news-operation-in-the-suburbs}}</ref><ref name=snopes>{{Cite web|url=http://www.snopes.com/2016/01/14/fake-news-sites/|title=Snopes' Field Guide to Fake News Sites and Hoax Purveyors|last=LaCapria|first=Kim|website=snopes|access-date=2016-11-24}}</ref>
|<ref name="dd" /><ref name=cjr/><ref name=atc>{{cite web|work=All Things Considered|publisher=NPR|title=We Tracked Down A Fake-News Creator In The Suburbs. Here's What We Learned|last=Sydell|first=Laura|date=23 November 2016|url=http://www.npr.org/sections/alltechconsidered/2016/11/23/503146770/npr-finds-the-head-of-a-covert-fake-news-operation-in-the-suburbs}}</ref><ref name=snopes>{{Cite web|url=http://www.snopes.com/2016/01/14/fake-news-sites/|title=Snopes' Field Guide to Fake News Sites and Hoax Purveyors|last=LaCapria|first=Kim|website=snopes|access-date=2016-11-24}}</ref>
|-
|Newslo
|
|<ref name="dd" /><ref name=usnews/>
|-
|News Mutiny
|
|<ref name="dd" />
|-
|-
|React 365
|React 365
|This user-created fake news generator, supposedly for "pranking your friends", had at least two stories that went viral.
|This user-created fake news generator, supposedly for "pranking your friends", had at least two stories that went viral.
|<ref name=snopes/>
|<ref name=snopes/>
|-
|Rile News
|
|<ref name="dd" />
|-
|-
|Stuppid
|Stuppid
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|News Hound
|News Hound
|
|
|<ref name="Rensin"/>
|<ref name="dd" /><ref name="Rensin"/>
|-
|-
|United Media Publishing
|United Media Publishing
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|70 News
|70 News
|a [[Wordpress]]-hosted site that published a false news story, stating that [[Donald Trump]] had won the popular vote in the 2016 United States presidential election; the fake story rose to the top in searches for "final election results" on [[Google News]]
|a [[Wordpress]]-hosted site that published a false news story, stating that [[Donald Trump]] had won the popular vote in the 2016 United States presidential election; the fake story rose to the top in searches for "final election results" on [[Google News]]
|<ref name=wapo14november2016>{{cite web|work=Washington Post|url=https://www.washingtonpost.com/news/the-fix/wp/2016/11/14/googles-top-news-link-for-final-election-results-goes-to-a-fake-news-site-with-false-numbers/|last=Bump|first=Philip|title=Google’s top news link for ‘final election results’ goes to a fake news site with false numbers|date=14 November 2016}}</ref><ref>{{cite web|work=Politifact|last=Jacobson|first=Louis|title=No, Donald Trump is not beating Hillary Clinton in the popular vote|date=14 November 2016|url=http://www.politifact.com/truth-o-meter/statements/2016/nov/14/blog-posting/no-donald-trump-not-beating-hillary-clinton-popula/}}</ref>
|<ref name="dd" /><ref name=wapo14november2016>{{cite web|work=Washington Post|url=https://www.washingtonpost.com/news/the-fix/wp/2016/11/14/googles-top-news-link-for-final-election-results-goes-to-a-fake-news-site-with-false-numbers/|last=Bump|first=Philip|title=Google’s top news link for ‘final election results’ goes to a fake news site with false numbers|date=14 November 2016}}</ref><ref>{{cite web|work=Politifact|last=Jacobson|first=Louis|title=No, Donald Trump is not beating Hillary Clinton in the popular vote|date=14 November 2016|url=http://www.politifact.com/truth-o-meter/statements/2016/nov/14/blog-posting/no-donald-trump-not-beating-hillary-clinton-popula/}}</ref>
|-
|-
|Activist Post
|Activist Post
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|American News
|American News
|Published a false story claiming actor [[Denzel Washington]] endorsed Donald Trump for president. The fictional headline led to thousands of people sharing it on Facebook, a prominent example of fake news spreading on the social network prior to the 2016 presidential election.
|Published a false story claiming actor [[Denzel Washington]] endorsed Donald Trump for president. The fictional headline led to thousands of people sharing it on Facebook, a prominent example of fake news spreading on the social network prior to the 2016 presidential election.
|<ref name=usnews>{{Cite web|url=http://www.usnews.com/news/national-news/articles/2016-11-14/avoid-these-fake-news-sites-at-all-costs|title=Avoid These Fake News Sites at All Costs|last=Dicker|first=Rachel|date=November 14, 2016|website=usnews.com|publisher=U.S. News & World Report|access-date=November 27, 2016}}</ref><ref name=dailybeast>{{cite web|work=Daily Beast|last=Collins|first=Ben|date=16 November 2016|title=48 Hours in Facebook’s Unreality|url=http://www.thedailybeast.com/articles/2016/11/16/48-hours-in-facebook-s-unreality.html}}</ref><ref>{{cite web|work=Washington Post|date=14 November 2016|last=Bump|first=Philip|url=https://www.washingtonpost.com/news/the-fix/wp/2016/11/14/denzel-washington-endorsed-trump-according-to-americanews-breitbartt-usanewshome-and-facebook/|title=Denzel Washington endorsed Trump, according to AmericaNews, Breitbartt, USANewsHome — and Facebook}}</ref>
|<ref name="dd" /><ref name=usnews>{{Cite web|url=http://www.usnews.com/news/national-news/articles/2016-11-14/avoid-these-fake-news-sites-at-all-costs|title=Avoid These Fake News Sites at All Costs|last=Dicker|first=Rachel|date=November 14, 2016|website=usnews.com|publisher=U.S. News & World Report|access-date=November 27, 2016}}</ref><ref name=dailybeast>{{cite web|work=Daily Beast|last=Collins|first=Ben|date=16 November 2016|title=48 Hours in Facebook’s Unreality|url=http://www.thedailybeast.com/articles/2016/11/16/48-hours-in-facebook-s-unreality.html}}</ref><ref>{{cite web|work=Washington Post|date=14 November 2016|last=Bump|first=Philip|url=https://www.washingtonpost.com/news/the-fix/wp/2016/11/14/denzel-washington-endorsed-trump-according-to-americanews-breitbartt-usanewshome-and-facebook/|title=Denzel Washington endorsed Trump, according to AmericaNews, Breitbartt, USANewsHome — and Facebook}}</ref>
|-
|-
|Before It's News
|Before It's News
|Cited by US President [[Donald Trump]] at his 2016 campaign rallies. Before Its News and Infowars were described as "unabashedly unhinged 'news' sites" in 2014 by the ''[[Washington Post]]'' following its promotion of conspiracy theories relation to [[Malaysia Airlines Flight 17]].
|Cited by US President [[Donald Trump]] at his 2016 campaign rallies. Before Its News and Infowars were described as "unabashedly unhinged 'news' sites" in 2014 by the ''[[Washington Post]]'' following its promotion of conspiracy theories relation to [[Malaysia Airlines Flight 17]].
|<ref name=usnews/><ref>Schwartz, Rafi (August 15, 2016). [http://fusion.net/story/336695/donald-trum-beforeitsnews-conspiracy-source/ "Inside the extremely crazy conspiracy website that Donald Trump has been citing"]. ''Fusion''.</ref><ref>Dewey, Caitlin (July 18, 2014). [https://www.washingtonpost.com/news/the-intersect/wp/2014/07/18/a-comprehensive-guide-to-the-webs-many-mh17-conspiracy-theories/?utm_term=.3a4d3f696879 "A comprehensive guide to the web’s many MH17 conspiracy theories"]. ''[[Washington Post]]''. {{subscription}}</ref>
|<ref name=usnews/><ref>Schwartz, Rafi (August 15, 2016). [http://fusion.net/story/336695/donald-trum-beforeitsnews-conspiracy-source/ "Inside the extremely crazy conspiracy website that Donald Trump has been citing"]. ''Fusion''.</ref><ref>Dewey, Caitlin (July 18, 2014). [https://www.washingtonpost.com/news/the-intersect/wp/2014/07/18/a-comprehensive-guide-to-the-webs-many-mh17-conspiracy-theories/?utm_term=.3a4d3f696879 "A comprehensive guide to the web’s many MH17 conspiracy theories"]. ''[[Washington Post]]''. {{subscription}}</ref>
|-
|Civic Tribune
|
|<ref name="dd" />
|-
|-
|Daily Buzz Live
|Daily Buzz Live
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|DC Gazette
|DC Gazette
|
|
|<ref name=usnews/>
|<ref name="dd" /><ref name=usnews/>
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|Disclose TV
|Disclose TV
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|Media Mass
|Media Mass
|
|
|<ref name="Rensin"/>
|<ref name="dd" /><ref name="Rensin"/>
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|News Examiner
|News Examiner
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|Starting in 2015, this fake news website is also designed to look like a local television outlet. A lot of hoaxes were successfully spread on social media.
|Starting in 2015, this fake news website is also designed to look like a local television outlet. A lot of hoaxes were successfully spread on social media.
|<ref name=snopes/><ref>{{Cite news|url=https://www.washingtonpost.com/news/the-intersect/wp/2015/12/04/what-was-fake-on-the-internet-this-week-bear-rapes-false-flags-and-gold-testicles/?utm_term=.df0964803d32|title=What was fake on the Internet this week: bear rapes, ‘false flags’ and gold testicles|last=Dewey|first=Caitlin|date=2015-12-04|newspaper=The Washington Post|language=en-US|issn=0190-8286|access-date=2017-01-02}}</ref>
|<ref name=snopes/><ref>{{Cite news|url=https://www.washingtonpost.com/news/the-intersect/wp/2015/12/04/what-was-fake-on-the-internet-this-week-bear-rapes-false-flags-and-gold-testicles/?utm_term=.df0964803d32|title=What was fake on the Internet this week: bear rapes, ‘false flags’ and gold testicles|last=Dewey|first=Caitlin|date=2015-12-04|newspaper=The Washington Post|language=en-US|issn=0190-8286|access-date=2017-01-02}}</ref>
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|Real News Right Now
|
|<ref name="dd" />
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|{{sort|Reporterz. The|The Reporterz}}
|{{sort|Reporterz. The|The Reporterz}}

Revision as of 09:05, 15 February 2017

For satirical news, see List of satirical news websites.

This is a list of fake news sites. These sites intentionally publish hoaxes and disinformation for purposes other than news satire.

Some of these sites use a URL that ends in .co or otherwise resembles more established news outlets.[1][2]

Definition

Fake news websites deliberately publish hoaxes and disinformation to drive web traffic inflamed by social media.[3][4][5] These sites are distinguished from news satire (which is humorous) as they mislead and profit from readers' gullibility.[4] While most fake news sites are portrayed to be spinoffs of other news sites, some of these websites are examples of website spoofing, structured to make visitors believe they are visiting trusted sources like ABC News or MSNBC.[6] The New York Times pointed out that within a strict definition, "fake news" on the Internet referred to a fictitious article which was fabricated with the deliberate motivation to defraud readers, generally with the goal of profiting through clickbait.[7] PolitiFact described fake news as fabricated content designed to fool readers and subsequently made viral through the Internet to crowds that increase its dissemination.[8]

The New York Times noted in a December 2016 article that fake news had previously maintained a presence on the Internet and within tabloid journalism in the years prior to the 2016 U.S. election.[7] Prior to the election between Hillary Clinton and Donald Trump, fake news had not impacted the election process and subsequent events to such a high degree.[7] Subsequent to the 2016 election, the issue of fake news turned into a political weapon, with supporters of left-wing politics saying those on the opposite side of the spectrum spread falsehoods, and supporters of right-wing politics arguing such accusations were merely a way to censor conservative views.[7] Due to these back-and-forth complaints, the definition of fake news as used for such polemics became more vague.[7]

List of fake news sites

Name Notes Sources
ABCnews.com.co Owned by Jestin Coler. Mimics the URL, design and logo of ABC News. [9][10][11][12][13][14]
Bloomberg.ma Designed to imitate Bloomberg.com. Was used to issue a false report announcing that Twitter had received a USD $31 billion takeover offer, the false report resulted in an 8% stock price spike of Twitter. Site now defunct. [15][16]
cnn-trending.com Imitated a CNN site, complete with the CNN logo. Pushed the Hawking Code scam [17][18]
DrudgeReport.com.co Owned by Jestin Coler (mimics the name of the Drudge Report). [9][14]
MSNBC.com.co [9]
MSNBC.website [9]
usatoday.com.co Owned by Jestin Coler. [14]
washingtonpost.com.co Originally registered by Jestin Coler [14][19]
Celebtricity Has claimed:

*That President Obama declared a state of emergency in Chicago after more than 300 people were shot in one night.

*That an employee at a Wendy's put vaginal discharge on a burger as revenge against a partner.

*Bryshere Y. Gray is Jay-Z's son.

[20][21][22]
Cream BMP [9]
Empire News Many of this website's fake news hoaxes were widely shared on social media, with stories based off social or political controversies, or were simply appalling to readers. [9][10][23]
Empire Sports [24]
The Enduring Vision [9]
Firebrand Left Owned by Jestin Coler. [14]
Global Associated News [24]
Huzlers Fake news from this website often involve popular restaurants and brands to disgust readers with its gross-out stories. One story by the site falsely reported that Dong Nguyen, the creator of Flappy Bird, killed himself. Another story made up an incident where a person working at a McDonald's restaurant put his mixtapes in Happy Meals. [23][24][25][26]
Indecision Forever A fake news site owned by Comedy Central. [9]
The Last Line of Defense This website has a history of publishing fake news articles, especially of the political genre. Notable hoaxes include Donald Trump revoking the press credentials of six major news outlets, Michelle Obama getting ditched by the Secret Service, and Hillary Clinton describing Beyonce's music using racial slurs. [27][28][29]
LinkBeef Fake news website that has published claims about the pilot of Malaysia Airlines Flight 370 reappearing, a billionaire wanting to recruit 1,000 women to bear his children, and an Adam Sandler death hoax. [30][31][32]
KMT 11 News Falsely reports celebrity appearances and filming locations in random local towns. [33][34][35]
National Report Founder Jestin Coler told Columbia Journalism Review "When it comes to the fake stuff, you really want it to be red meat. [...] It doesn’t have to be offensive. It doesn’t have to be outrageous. It doesn’t have to be anything other than just giving them what they already wanted to hear." [9][10][14][23]
Newslo [9][36]
News Mutiny [9]
React 365 This user-created fake news generator, supposedly for "pranking your friends", had at least two stories that went viral. [23]
Rile News [9]
Stuppid This fake news purveyor specializes in articles with stories that are morally offensive. [23]
The Boston Tribune Starting in February 2016, this website's outright hoaxes quickly became popular with its readers. [23]
The News Nerd [24]
Conservative Frontline Owned by Jestin Coler. [14]
Denver Guardian Owned by Jestin Coler. [14]
International Report Owned by Jestin Coler. [14]
Naha Daily This fake news website is now defunct, and was active in a span of five months with popular fake news articles, including a fake quote by Michael Kors. [23]
News Hound [9][24]
United Media Publishing Owned by Jestin Coler. [14]
InfoWars Managed by Alex Jones. Has previously claimed that millions of people have voted illegally in the 2016 presidential election, that the Sandy Hook Elementary School shooting was a hoax, and that the Democratic Party was hosting a child sex slave ring out of a pizza restaurant.

[36] [37] [38] [39] [40] [41] [42] [43] [44][45]

Natural News Formerly NewsTarget, a website for the sale of various dietary supplements, promotion of alternative medicine, controversial nutrition and health claims, and various conspiracy theories, such as "chemtrails", chemophobic claims (including the purported dangers of fluoride in drinking water, anti-perspirants, laundry detergent, monosodium glutamate, aspartame), and purported health problems caused by allegedly "toxic" ingredients in vaccines, including the now-discredited link to autism. [36][46][46][47][48][49]
Prntly A politically conservative news site described by Snopes as "a disreputable outlet that has a penchant for publishing both fake news and spurious pro-Trump articles." [50][51]
Red Flag News [36]
70 News a Wordpress-hosted site that published a false news story, stating that Donald Trump had won the popular vote in the 2016 United States presidential election; the fake story rose to the top in searches for "final election results" on Google News [9][52][53]
Activist Post [36]
American News Published a false story claiming actor Denzel Washington endorsed Donald Trump for president. The fictional headline led to thousands of people sharing it on Facebook, a prominent example of fake news spreading on the social network prior to the 2016 presidential election. [9][36][54][55]
Before It's News Cited by US President Donald Trump at his 2016 campaign rallies. Before Its News and Infowars were described as "unabashedly unhinged 'news' sites" in 2014 by the Washington Post following its promotion of conspiracy theories relation to Malaysia Airlines Flight 17. [36][56][57]
Civic Tribune [9]
Daily Buzz Live [36]
DC Gazette [9][36]
Disclose TV [36]
Empire Herald Starting in January 2016, this fake news site had spread many of its hoaxes online in just a few weeks. [23]
Gummy Post Fake news website that has published claims about President Obama issuing a full pardon for convicted rapper C-Murder, Musician Kodak Black getting shot outside a nightclub in Florida, and a Hulk Hogan death hoax. [58][59][60]
Liberty Writers News Established in 2015 by Paris Wade and Ben Goldman, who told the Washington Post their stories focus on "violence and chaos and aggressive wording" to attract readers. The stories reflect the positions of supporters of Donald Trump. [61][62][62]
Media Mass [9][24]
News Examiner Started in 2015 by Paul Horner, the lead writer of the National Report. This website has been known to mix real news along with its fake news. [23]
News Breaks Here [63]
The News Buzz Daily This fake news website mostly consists of celebrity gossip and death hoaxes, but a few of its other stories became popular on social media. [23]
NewsWatch33 Starting in April 2015 under the name NewsWatch28 and later becoming NewsWatch33, the website disguises itself as a local television outlet. It has also been known to mix real news along with its fake news in an attempt to circumvent Facebook’s crackdown on them. [23]
Now 8 News Starting in 2015, this fake news website is also designed to look like a local television outlet. A lot of hoaxes were successfully spread on social media. [23][64]
Real News Right Now [9]
The Reporterz Starting in early 2016, this fake news website penned several different hoaxes, including one about a murder over a Twitter trend. [23]
World Truth TV [36]
yournewswire.com [65][66][67]

See also

References

  1. ^ "Watch out for this fake news website masquerading as The New York Times". businessinsider.com. Retrieved 12 December 2016.
  2. ^ "Would you believe the pope endorsed Trump? Five tips for spotting fake news". NBC News. Retrieved 12 December 2016.
  3. ^ Weisburd, Andrew; Watts, Clint (6 August 2016), "Trolls for Trump - How Russia Dominates Your Twitter Feed to Promote Lies (And, Trump, Too)", The Daily Beast, retrieved 24 November 2016
  4. ^ a b LaCapria, Kim (2 November 2016), "Snopes' Field Guide to Fake News Sites and Hoax Purveyors - Snopes.com's updated guide to the internet's clickbaiting, news-faking, social media exploiting dark side.", Snopes.com, retrieved 19 November 2016
  5. ^ Lewis Sanders IV (11 October 2016), "'Divide Europe': European lawmakers warn of Russian propaganda", Deutsche Welle, retrieved 24 November 2016
  6. ^ Ben Gilbert (15 November 2016), "Fed up with fake news, Facebook users are solving the problem with a simple list", Business Insider, retrieved 16 November 2016, Some of these sites are intended to look like real publications (there are false versions of major outlets like ABC and MSNBC) but share only fake news; others are straight-up propaganda created by foreign nations (Russia and Macedonia, among others).
  7. ^ a b c d e Tavernise, Sabrina (7 December 2016), "As Fake News Spreads Lies, More Readers Shrug at the Truth", The New York Times, p. A1, retrieved 9 December 2016, Narrowly defined, 'fake news' means a made-up story with an intention to deceive, often geared toward getting clicks.
  8. ^ Kertscher, Tom (13 December 2016), "PolitiFact's Lie of the Year 2016: Fake news", Milwaukee Journal Sentinel, retrieved 14 December 2016
  9. ^ a b c d e f g h i j k l m n o p q r s Andrew Couts, Here are all the 'fake news' sites to watch out for on Facebook, Daily Dot ( November 16, 2016).
  10. ^ a b c "How fake news sites frequently trick big-time journalists". Columbia Journalism Review. Retrieved 2016-11-20.
  11. ^ "Here's how to outsmart fake news in your Facebook feed". Retrieved 2016-11-20.
  12. ^ "No, someone wasn't paid $3,500 to protest Donald Trump". @politifact. Retrieved 2016-11-18.
  13. ^ Dewey, Caitlin (2016-11-17). "Facebook fake-news writer: 'I think Donald Trump is in the White House because of me'". The Washington Post. ISSN 0190-8286. Retrieved 2016-11-18.
  14. ^ a b c d e f g h i j Sydell, Laura (23 November 2016). "We Tracked Down A Fake-News Creator In The Suburbs. Here's What We Learned". All Things Considered. NPR.
  15. ^ Merced, Michael J. De La; Goldstein, Matthew (2015-07-14). "Twitter Shares Jump After Faked Bloomberg Report". The New York Times. ISSN 0362-4331. Retrieved 2016-12-27.
  16. ^ FORTUNE. "Fake Bloomberg News Report Drives Twitter Stock Up 8%". Fortune. Retrieved 2016-12-27.
  17. ^ "Fake News Site Uses Stephen Hawking To Sell Get-Rich-Quick Scheme". BuzzFeedNews. January 7, 2017. Retrieved January 22, 2017.
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  19. ^ "NATIONAL ARBITRATION FORUM". www.adrforum.com. Retrieved 2016-11-28.
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  21. ^ Dewey, Caitlin (2015-08-28). "What was fake on the Internet this week: Selfie lice, Joey Fatone and James Earl Jones RIPs". The Washington Post. ISSN 0190-8286. Retrieved 2017-01-02.
  22. ^ Dewey, Caitlin (2015-09-25). "What was fake on the Internet this week: Casey Anthony's death and Chipotle's 9/11 ad". The Washington Post. ISSN 0190-8286. Retrieved 2017-01-02.
  23. ^ a b c d e f g h i j k l m LaCapria, Kim. "Snopes' Field Guide to Fake News Sites and Hoax Purveyors". snopes. Retrieved 2016-11-24.
  24. ^ a b c d e f Rensin, Emmett (2014-06-06). "These Satire News Sites Are Taking Advantage of You". New Republic. Retrieved 2016-11-26.
  25. ^ Campbell, Jon (12 February 2014). "Flappy Bird Game Creator Dead? Dong Nguyen Suicide Death Rumors Confirmed as Malicious Hoax". www.christianpost.com. Retrieved 13 December 2016.
  26. ^ Wile, Rob (8 July 2015). "A Story About Mixtapes in Happy Meals Shows Viral Fake News Sites Still Run the Internet". Fusion. Retrieved 13 December 2016.
  27. ^ "White House Press Corpse". Snopes. Retrieved January 16, 2017.
  28. ^ "Reject and Serve". Snopes. Retrieved January 16, 2017.
  29. ^ "Diss Is Unreal". Snopes. Retrieved January 16, 2017.
  30. ^ "Pilot Sight". Snopes. Retrieved January 13, 2017.
  31. ^ "Billionaire Baby". Snopes. Retrieved January 13, 2017.
  32. ^ "Unhappy Gilmore". Snopes. Retrieved January 13, 2017.
  33. ^ Paulson, Dave (30 June 2016). "Sorry, Forrest Gump 2 NOT filming in Brentwood". The Tennessean. Retrieved 13 December 2016.
  34. ^ "No, a new 'Harry Potter' movie will not be filmed in Arizona". KTAR.com. 20 June 2016. Retrieved 13 December 2016.
  35. ^ Cataldo, Laurie (14 June 2016). "'The Notebook 2' Not Filming in Atlantic City...or Anywhere Else". 94.3 The Point. Retrieved 13 December 2016.
  36. ^ a b c d e f g h i j k Dicker, Rachel (November 14, 2016). "Avoid These Fake News Sites at All Costs". usnews.com. U.S. News & World Report. Retrieved November 27, 2016.
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  38. ^ Mak, Tim (4 December 2016). "'Pizzagate' Gunman Liked Alex Jones". thedailybeast.com. Retrieved 12 December 2016.
  39. ^ Blake, Andrew (9 December 2016). "Alex Jones, Infowars founder, appeals to Trump for aid over fears of 'fake news' crackdown". The Washington Times. Retrieved 16 December 2016.
  40. ^ "Radio Conspiracy Theorist Claims Ear Of Trump, Pushes 'Pizzagate' Fictions". NPR. Retrieved 12 December 2016.
  41. ^ Tracy, Abigail. "The InfoWars Presidency Arrives in Washington". Vanity Fair. Retrieved 12 December 2016.
  42. ^ "Why Won't Donald Trump Denounce Sandy Hook Deniers?". newyorker.com. 22 November 2016. Retrieved 12 December 2016.
  43. ^ Page, Clarence. "Does the First Amendment protect fake news?". Chicago Tribune. Retrieved 12 December 2016.
  44. ^ http://www.csmonitor.com/USA/Politics/2016/1215/Why-fake-news-holds-such-allure
  45. ^ Goldman, Adam (2016-12-07). "The Comet Ping Pong Gunman Answers Our Reporter's Questions". The New York Times. ISSN 0362-4331. Retrieved 2017-01-28.
  46. ^ a b Novella, Steven (2010-12-14). "H1N1 Vaccine and Miscarriages – More Fear Mongering". Neurologica (blog). New England Skeptical Society.
  47. ^ Pearce, Matt (2013-02-07). "Conspiracy theorists harassing, impersonating Aurora victims". Los Angeles Times. Retrieved 2013-10-25.
  48. ^ Novella, Steven (2010-01-25). "Mike Adams Takes On 'Skeptics'". Neurologica (blog). New England Skeptical Society.
  49. ^ Orac [David Gorski] (2011-10-27). "Mike Adams vs. the flu vaccine". Respectful Insolence. ScienceBlogs. Retrieved 2014-03-11.
  50. ^ Evon, Dan. "False: A tweet ostensibly posted by vice presidential candidate Tim Kaine allegedly acknowledges that he has an open marriage". Snopes. Retrieved 28 August 2016.
  51. ^ "The pro-Trump fake news website that's finding an audience — with Trump's help". Washington Post. Retrieved 2017-01-02.
  52. ^ Bump, Philip (14 November 2016). "Google's top news link for 'final election results' goes to a fake news site with false numbers". Washington Post.
  53. ^ Jacobson, Louis (14 November 2016). "No, Donald Trump is not beating Hillary Clinton in the popular vote". Politifact.
  54. ^ Collins, Ben (16 November 2016). "48 Hours in Facebook's Unreality". Daily Beast.
  55. ^ Bump, Philip (14 November 2016). "Denzel Washington endorsed Trump, according to AmericaNews, Breitbartt, USANewsHome — and Facebook". Washington Post.
  56. ^ Schwartz, Rafi (August 15, 2016). "Inside the extremely crazy conspiracy website that Donald Trump has been citing". Fusion.
  57. ^ Dewey, Caitlin (July 18, 2014). "A comprehensive guide to the web’s many MH17 conspiracy theories". Washington Post. (subscription required)
  58. ^ "Pardon for the Course". Snopes. Retrieved January 13, 2017.
  59. ^ "Kodak Moment". Snopes. Retrieved January 13, 2017.
  60. ^ "Hulk Hogan Death Hoax". Snopes. Retrieved January 13, 2017.
  61. ^ "5 important stories that aren't fake news". PBS NewsHour. Retrieved 2016-11-27.
  62. ^ a b McCoy, Terrence (20 November 2016). "For the 'new yellow journalists,' opportunity comes in clicks and bucks". Washington Post. Retrieved 21 November 2016.
  63. ^ Mcintire, Andrew Higgins, Mike; Dance, Gabriel J. x (2016-11-25). "Inside a Fake News Sausage Factory: 'This Is All About Income'". The New York Times. ISSN 0362-4331. Retrieved 2016-11-26.{{cite news}}: CS1 maint: multiple names: authors list (link)
  64. ^ Dewey, Caitlin (2015-12-04). "What was fake on the Internet this week: bear rapes, 'false flags' and gold testicles". The Washington Post. ISSN 0190-8286. Retrieved 2017-01-02.
  65. ^ [1]
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