Specifically, how do we tell what is “real” and what is not? 

The Federal Trade Commission is putting hundreds of advertisers on notice that they should avoid deceiving consumers with advertisements that make product claims that cannot be backed up or substantiated.

One of the earliest instances of media hoaxing in America occurred in 1835 when the New York Sun published articles claiming the esteemed astronomer Sir John Herschel had made groundbreaking discoveries on the Moon.

Is the 24-hour news cycle a vehicle for making minor stories seem important? In my opinion, the answer is a resounding “yes.”