Photo and Data Manipulation

To promote specific political or social views, some media outlets manipulate photographs or statistical data. In the upcoming questions, you'll learn how to swiftly and efficiently verify if a media source has attempted to manipulate imagery to attract readers or achieve a particular aim. Then, try to discern how the data might have been misinterpreted or manipulatively presented.

“SCANDAL! Croatian politician photographed in front of the THIRD REICH's emblem during a visit to Germany!” This headline is accompanied by a photo showing the aforementioned emblem. How would you best verify if the emblem in the photograph truly belongs to the Third Reich?"

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By performing a reverse image search online.

By searching for keywords that describe elements of the emblem.

I would consult books on heraldry.

"BLATANT PROVOCATION IN NOVI SAD: Albanian flag unfurled on the bridge where NATO killed young Oleg Nasov (29), the first casualty of the aggression!" reads a headline from a media outlet a few years ago. However, the photo illustrating this news was not taken in Novi Sad. What in the photograph might arouse suspicion that it's not really depicting Novi Sad?

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All attendees are men.

Flags in the photo.

The size of the gathering.

"The crosses on the monastic complex in Kyiv have turned black after a service of the schismatic Orthodox Church of Ukraine," some Serbian media outlets report. In this monastery, services were previously conducted by Russian clergy, but today Ukrainian priests perform them. However, it turns out that this information about the blackened crosses is manipulative. How would you verify if the crosses turned black only after the service of the Orthodox Church of Ukraine?

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I would review the latest photos from the Kyiv Pechersk Lavra.

I would try to find footage of the service after which the crosses allegedly turned black.

I would attempt to find old photos of the crosses when the services were conducted by Russian clergy.

“Over 70% of Germans have expressed opposition to military support for Ukraine," wrote a media outlet, referencing the chart provided below. Did the media correctly interpret the Germans’ views?

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Yes

Verify the accuracy of the following claim: "According to a survey, 71% of respondents believe that smoking should not be banned in enclosed spaces.''

Correct

Incorrect

One media outlet published a sponsored article claiming that the Alpha car has twice the maximum speed of the Beta car, and several times the maximum speed of the Gamma car. This was also illustrated in a chart. What's questionable about this chart?

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Inconsistency between the colours of individual columns.

It's redundant to show the speed of the Gamma car.

Mismatch between numerical values and column heights.

"RESEARCH RESULTS REVEALED: This is the actual percentage of Serbs supporting vaccination," claims one website, presenting the following survey results:

In favour – 35%

Against – 48%

Undecided – 27%

Why are these results problematic?

The total percentages exceed 100%

The percentage of people in favour of vaccination is likely higher

There's a disproportionately high number of undecided respondents

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