but these topics have always been important to society.

The First Amendment to the United States Constitution states that no government shall make a law abridging the freedom of speech or of the press. A free press is essential to a democratic society because it provides a platform for the discussion of ideas and the exchange of information. Thanks to the Internet, the marketplace of ideas—a concept which asserts that an uncontrolled cacophony of ideas will ultimately highlight the truth and mute disinformation—has become a world-wide reality.

But has it muted disinformation? Has it highlighted the truth?

Use Check It: A Web-Wise Toolkit—brought to you by a SUNY-trained journalist/librarian—to help you navigate the online free marketplace of ideas without falling prey to fake news and disinformation.

Questions? Ask the librarian at cmartoni@albany.edu.

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