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MPR News Presents

History Forum: The history of fake news in the U.S.

The New York Times building
The New York Times building is seen on September 6, 2018 in New York.
Angela Weiss /AFP/Getty Images

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We conclude our MPR spring member drive with a program about the importance of independent journalism.

Loyola University-Chicago history professor Michelle Nickerson was one of the featured speakers at the Minnesota Historical Society's "History Forum."

She tells us about the centuries-long history of "fake news" in the United States.

Beginning with the partisan newspapers in the earliest days of the new country, she takes us through the sensationalized "yellow journalism" of the late 19th century on to the 20th century when journalists established their first code of ethics… and professor Nickerson concludes with the elusive search for "truth" and "facts" in today's cable news and social media landscape.

Michelle Nickerson spoke at the Minnesota History Center on January 12, 2019.