Orson Welles, deliverer of “fake news” Welles (pictured in 1939) intentionally made his 1938 radio broadcast adaptation of H.G. Wells's The War of the Worlds sound like live news. He succeeded too well, and many listeners believed a Martian invasion was underway. (more) fake news Ask the Chatbot a Question More Actions Share Share Share to social media Facebook X URL https://www.britannica.com/topic/fake-news Feedback Corrections? Updates? Omissions? Let us know if you have suggestions to improve this article (requires login). Feedback Type Select a type (Required) Factual Correction Spelling/Grammar Correction Link Correction Additional Information Other Your Feedback Submit Feedback Thank you for your feedback Our editors will review what you’ve submitted and determine whether to revise the article.

　　External Websites Ask the Chatbot a Question Written by Michael McDonough Michael McDonough was a media team intern at Encyclopaedia Britannica. He is expected to graduate in 2023 from Northwestern University. Michael McDonough Fact-checked by The Editors of Encyclopaedia Britannica Encyclopaedia Britannica's editors oversee subject areas in which they have extensive knowledge, whether from years of experience gained by working on that content or via study for an advanced degree.... The Editors of Encyclopaedia Britannica Last Updated: Aug 18, 2025 • Article History Table of Contents Table of Contents Ask the Chatbot { "@context": "https://schema.org", "@type": "FAQPage", "mainEntity": [ { "@type" : "Question", "name" : " What is fake news? ", "acceptedAnswer" : { "@type" : "Answer", "text" : "Fake news is false or deceptive stories presented as legitimate news content. It includes fabricated facts, made-up quotes, and fake sources. It can be misinformation (unintentional) or disinformation (deliberate)." } } , { "@type" : "Question", "name" : " How has fake news been used historically? ", "acceptedAnswer" : { "@type" : "Answer", "text" : "Fake news has been used throughout history, from Octavianu2019s propaganda against Mark Antony to the 1835 Great Moon Hoax and the radio broadcast of Orson Wellesu2019s 1938 adaptation of The War of the Worlds." } } , { "@type" : "Question", "name" : " What purposes does fake news serve? ", "acceptedAnswer" : { "@type" : "Answer", "text" : "Fake news can be used for political agendas, economic incentives through ad revenue, or propaganda to sway public opinion. It can also be intended for entertainment, as seen with satire sites such as The Onion." } } ] } Top Questions What is fake news? Fake news is false or deceptive stories presented as legitimate news content. It includes fabricated facts, made-up quotes, and fake sources. It can be misinformation (unintentional) or disinformation (deliberate).

　　How has fake news been used historically? Fake news has been used throughout history, from Octavian’s propaganda against Mark Antony to the 1835 Great Moon Hoax and the radio broadcast of Orson Welles’s 1938 adaptation of The War of the Worlds.

　　What purposes does fake news serve? Fake news can be used for political agendas, economic incentives through ad revenue, or propaganda to sway public opinion. It can also be intended for entertainment, as seen with satire sites such as The Onion.

　　fake news, false or deceptive stories presented as legitimate news content. Although exact definitions vary because of its various forms and purposes, fake news has existed for thousands of years, and its influence has been magnified by technological developments throughout history. While the phrase is often associated with the U.S. presidential election of 2016, examples of fake news can be traced to ancient Rome, the American Civil War, and a 1938 radio broadcast. At its core, fake news is any false information being spread with the presentation of real news. The profile of such stories can include a combination of ...(100 of 1232 words)

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