Transcript
NARRATION: How can you determine whether a story like this one is accurate?
ARCHIVAL (NBC, 10-15-15):
SAVANNAH GUTHRIE: On Twitter, she’s been dubbed the Worst Aunt Ever. New York tabloids even crowned her The Auntie Christ.
NARRATION: Did you ever hear about the woman who sued her cousin’s son after an exuberant hug led to a broken wrist?
ARCHIVAL (CBS, THIS MORNING, 10-14-15):
GAYLE KING: That’s right, $127,000 over a hug.
TEXT ON SCREEN:
SOCIAL MEDIA COMMENT: Since it’s illegal to publicly flog her, we can all do our best to shame her to death.
NARRATION: When you hear something this sensational, it’s usually a good idea to stop and ask yourself: Is there more to the story?
JENNIFER CONNELL: The whole world is coming out saying I’m this horrible, evil person.
NARRATION: On the internet, things aren’t always what they seem. So, don’t just read the original post. Get off the page, and open a new tab to do a new search about the source or claim. Check if it is credible. And look for trusted sources or in-depth news stories – like this one, with Jennifer Connell and her cousin’s son that set the record straight.
ARCHIVAL (NBC, TODAY SHOW, 10-15-15):
SAVANNAH GUTHRIE: The condemnation against Jennifer Connell came fast and furious. But was it fair?
NARRATION: It turns out that Connell required three surgeries. Filing a lawsuit was the only way she could get her cousin’s homeowner’s insurance to pay her medical bills. There was no ill will in the family.
ARCHIVAL (NBC, TODAY SHOW, 10-15-15):
SEAN: I felt like everybody was saying stuff that they didn’t know.
NARRATION: But the damage was done. Connell has struggled to reclaim her reputation.
JENNIFER CONNELL: People reached out and then canceled interviews. It was very difficult to find another job.
NARRATION: She’s had to take steps to obscure her identity, but online, her name will forever be linked to the original story. Remember: get off the page and use the internet to check the internet.
(END)
Can You Spot Misinformation?
Think you can beat the experts in spotting misinformation? Watch this short video and find out.
Jennifer Connell was called the “Worst Aunt Ever” on Twitter after she sued her cousin’s son over a broken wrist. But a version of events that spread quickly online (and earned her the nickname Auntie-Christ from a New York City tabloid) wasn’t entirely true.
False headlines. Exaggerated claims. Fishy-looking photos. If you’re not careful, the internet can serve up a tangle of misinformation. The short video above is part of a new Retro Report series that shows how to sort fact from fiction, sidestep online scams and stop the spread of misinformation.
This video shows how to use a technique called lateral reading to find the context behind eye-popping headlines and check the origin of sensational stories.
When you come across an article that might be too good (or too funny) to be true, experts suggest opening up new web browser tabs and conducting a search of the topic. Look for reliable websites and news stories that feature interviews with original sources.
In the case of Jennifer Connell and her lawsuit against her cousin’s son, reliable sources eventually set the record straight. After her injury, Connell required three surgeries, and suing was the only way she could get her cousin’s homeowner’s insurance to pay her medical bills. “This was simply a formality with an insurance claim,” she told Retro Report. There was no ill will in the family.
This video was made in partnership with Stanford History Education Group, Teaching Systems Lab and The Center for Information, Technology, and Public Life.
This project was funded by the National Science Foundation Convergence Accelerator program.
- Producer/Narrator: Joseph Hogan
- Editor: Heru Muharrar
- Additional Editing: Cullen Golden
Grades
6-12
1 Lesson Plan
