Changes

In the more recent past, but before the advent of the widespread propagation of false information through the internet, the most visible instances of "fake news" were probably the "supermarket tabloids" that could be found at checkout counters of supermarkets.  These were often full of blatant nonsense, and (nearly) everyone knew that, and bought them only for their entertainment value.  Perhaps the most blatant of these was ''Weekly World News'', which seemed obsessed with some half-human half-bat creature named "bat boy", and with extraterrestrials.  They sometimes devoted entire issues to extraterrestrials, and, in one instance, had three articles relating that each of the Presidential candidates in the 1992 Presidential election ([[George H. W. Bush]], [[Bill Clinton]], and [[Ross Perot]]) had been taken for a personal ride in a flying saucer to see Washington, D.C. from the air.

In the more recent past, but before the advent of the widespread propagation of false information through the internet, the most visible instances of "fake news" were probably the "supermarket tabloids" that could be found at checkout counters of supermarkets.  These were often full of blatant nonsense, and (nearly) everyone knew that, and bought them only for their entertainment value.  Perhaps the most blatant of these was ''Weekly World News'', which seemed obsessed with some half-human half-bat creature named "bat boy", and with extraterrestrials.  They sometimes devoted entire issues to extraterrestrials, and, in one instance, had three articles relating that each of the Presidential candidates in the 1992 Presidential election ([[George H. W. Bush]], [[Bill Clinton]], and [[Ross Perot]]) had been taken for a personal ride in a flying saucer to see Washington, D.C. from the air.

These fake articles continue, often with an extreme political slant.  Recent issues of the ''National Enquirer'' (perhaps the most blatant fake newspaper since the demise of Weekly World News) had completely false articles about Special Forces raids, carpet bombing, drone strikes, and naval assaults by American forces in the Middle East.  The ''Globe'' has run headlines alleging that Hillary Clinton is a Russian spy and has a "new treason indictment", which is not supported by the corresponding article.  Another headline, unsupported by any evidence in the article, stated that Hillary Clinton and Huma Abedin were stopped trying to escape from the country.  And there were numerous headlines during the 2016 Presidential campaign stating that they were in possession of evidence that would put Ms. Clinton in prison.

These fake articles continue, often with an extreme political slant.  Recent issues of the ''National Enquirer'' (perhaps the most blatant fake newspaper since the demise of Weekly World News) had completely false articles about Special Forces raids, carpet bombing, drone strikes, and naval assaults by American forces in the Middle East.  The ''Globe'' has run headlines alleging that Hillary Clinton is a Russian spy and has a "new treason indictment", which is not supported by the corresponding article.  Another headline, unsupported by any evidence in the article, stated that Hillary Clinton and Huma Abedin were stopped trying to escape from the country.  And there were numerous headlines during the 2016 Presidential campaign stating that they were in possession of evidence that would put Ms. Clinton in prison.