General Discussion
In reply to the discussion: Should DU have an alert or policy for posts with suspected fake news sources? [View all]synergie
(1,901 posts)they're not fake news, and they merely reflect the political viewpoint that the sites use, not their credibility.
Neither of those sites are "fake news" they do have a left bias. They cite their sources, so you can go verify information and evaluate it further.
For example, a site that was often used here, which had a left bias, USUncut, didn't do that, some of the things they asserted was not verifiable, and in some cases was outright false. It also wasn't a news site, it was a blog for some organization with its own agenda.
I think it's important to recognize the difference between a news site and sites that offer commentary from whatever position on valid news. Media Matters and Crooks and Liars is left political commentary, they don't break news, they do offer direct links to their sources.
I think something being "left" and being taken seriously for that reason alone is a mistake, it's how ratfucking happens (manipulation by the other side by appearing to be speaking from the opposing point of view).
If people are going to say something is "fake news" they should be able to back up that charge, and if it's fake news, that should not be difficult. What's happening now is that people are just using that term about things they don't like.