While Donald Trump has used much of his presidency to bring what he calls "Fake News" into the spotlight, false reporting is not a new phenomenon.

Maybe the most iconic example of "Fake News" is Orson Well’s Halloween radio special War of the Worlds.

Broadcast on October 30th, 1938, the radio program was presented as an evening of music but is quickly interrupted by a series of simulated urgent news bulletins that began with news of an unusual object falling on a farm in Grover's Mill, New Jersey.

War of the Worlds became famous for allegedly causing mass panic, or at least disconcerting many listeners, who failed to decipher that the radio broadcast, which sounded very real, was actually fake news.

Listen below to what begins as a scheduled radio show but is quickly interrupted by an "urgent news bulletin":

"Fake news, or online content that is generated in a way that looks like a news story is not something brand new," explains Dr. Charles Hayes, Professor of Journalism at Thompson Rivers University.

"The important thing is that people can decipher between factual news in their online browsing and items that might be targeted content, in other words, PR or advertising or just outright untruth that is attempting to throw a monkey wrench into the debate about something."

An Ipsos poll, conducted on behalf of the Radio Television Digital News Association reveled that 65% of Canadians have, at some point, believed a news story that they subsequently discovered was false. Canadians between the ages of 18-34 and those without a university degree were also more likely to have believed a fake news story.

The fake news phenomenon shows no sign of slowing down, making it more important than ever to have the tools to identify fact from fiction:

1. Scan for bias

News should be an unbiased analysis of current events supported by facts. Provocative language within a story may be a sign the author or outlet is trying to persuade a reader. If you find yourself thinking "WTF"? Or feeling overly emotional, search out another source for the story and compare because the author may be using bias reporting.

2. Consider the source

Factual reporting uses first-hand account and uses proven facts with references to credible sources. A lack of quotes or available references to fact check is a sign that the story may not be entirely true. Don't be afraid to Google the author as well. Do they write for recognizable news sources? Also, if there Facebook or Twitter is full of inflammatory opinions you should proceed with caution. 

3. Is the source recognizable?

The CBC, Globe and Mail, The Province, the Washington Post, or the New York Times are all professional, established news sites have a certain look. They have a consistent font and established domains such as .com or .org. For example, abcnews.com is a legitimate news source, but abcnews.com.co is not, despite its similar appearance. If the website looks shoddy, the news likely is as well.

4. Confirm, confirm, confirm

Whether you're watching Global, The National or CTV, the news cycle is similar across outlets because after all, the news of the day is the news of the day. If the article you're reading is the only one reporting the story, they either have a groundbreaking scoop, or they simply made it up.

5. Find a trusted outlet, and be loyal

No matter what Donald Trump tells you, long established press organizations only exist because they are trusted and trust is only gained by reporting the truth. Click here for a list of reliable sources. 

Facebook has taken steps to curb the flood of fake news on the site, earlier this year the social media platform rolled out a tool that identifies links to sites known to produce misinformation.

The best method will always be staying critical. If it seems unbelievable, it often is.