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Good evening.
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I'm Anthony Mason.
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Hello.
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I'm Wolf Blitzer in Washington.
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Spinning Just report on the state s welcome to World News from Al Jazira News.
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You are fake news, sir.
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Information is an important part of our society.
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People depend on it to guide them to a complex world.
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The invention of moveable type in 15th century Europe revolutionized the communication of ideas.
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This invention made it possible to print and publish information to masses of people.
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This'll free flow of information eventually led to a free press in many parts of the world.
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But because information is so powerful, many world leaders have tried to stop it.
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French leader Napoleon Bonaparte once said he feared for newspapers more than 1000 bayonets.
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The Chinese emperor who oversaw the building of the Great Wall famously used his power to stop published information.
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Chin Shih Huang bordered the burning of thousands of books on subjects he wanted to keep from the people.
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He even had hundreds of scholars executed for refusing to give up their book collections.
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Even powerful leaders in modern times have succeeded in blocking material they do not want the people to see, as in Russia and China.
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But when true information is allowed to reach the people, good results can follow.
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Information has fueled successful revolutions in many nations.
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Government atrocities have been identified, and world leaders have been forced to be held accountable for their actions.
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Advances in media technology have made words and images more powerful and widespread than ever.
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Smartphones and social media have become quick and easy tools to receive and share news and information.
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These tools have even made it possible for anyone with a device to gather and publish news.
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This media environment makes it important for us to be able to recognize reliable information.
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True information gives us the facts to guide our decisions and actions, in addition to informing news can also divert.
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This means it can focus Our attention on something we're interested in is a kind of escape.
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An example would be news about subjects we seek out for.
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Enjoyment such as entertainment, celebrities or sports News can also serve as a way to connect us as human beings.
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This could include stories about tragedies or uplifting events that affect us emotionally.
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Such stories can lead people to join a cause or donate money to help those in need.
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No matter what kind of news we experience, we have to be able to tell whether it is authentic or not.
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In the coming lessons, we will show you the steps how you can do this.