How do you identify a spammer - perhaps masquerading as a news publisher -posting hoaxes often to make money from advertising?

WAN-Ifra South Asia's Viji Murali says much of fake news is financially motivated: "These spammers are making money by masquerading as legitimate news publishers and posting hoaxes that get readers to visit their sites, which are often mostly ads," he says.

To hone publishers' skills in identifying fake news, limiting its spread, and help readers make more informed decisions, the group has organised a workshop, 'Combatting misinformation and fake news', in Gurgaon from September 17-18.

Attendees will also learn some of the techniques and digital tools to identify the origins of fake images and videos and their origins, and discover viral content containing misinformation. They will learn how to write 'fact check' items including the recommended structure and elements, and how to search various platforms effectively to use fact-checks.

More details from https://events.wan-ifra.org/events/combatting-misinformation-and-fake-news/programme

Murali says the workshop can also be organised as in-house programme.