Comparisons
Comparisons
Many misunderstandings start because things of a different nature look alike: a retelling resembles the source, a drawing resembles a photo, an AI-generated picture resembles a real photograph. The tables below list the signs that help tell them apart.
A retelling is not necessarily a lie, but each new teller adjusts the story a little to suit themselves.
How this section works: we compare types of material and general signs, not specific publications. The signs describe tendencies, not hard-and-fast rules.
Original source — retelling — opinion
| Criterion | Original source | Retelling | Opinion |
|---|---|---|---|
| What it is | The original document: a report, an announcement, a record of an observation | The source put into someone else's words | The author's assessment, their attitude to the event |
| How to recognise it | It has an author, a date and details that can be checked | It refers to someone else or says “reportedly” | Phrases like “I think”, “obviously”, “this is outrageous” |
| Main risk | Technical language that is easy to misread | Caveats get lost and the emphasis shifts | It is presented as fact, though it is only a point of view |
| What to do | Read the whole thing, not just the conclusion | Find the original and compare | Separate claims from judgements |
Photo — drawing — video still — AI image
| Sign | Photograph | Artist's drawing | Video still | AI image |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Details | Random clutter, natural noise | Deliberately clean lines and colours | Motion blur, compression | Overly smooth surfaces, repeating patterns |
| Lettering | Legible, matches the place | Often absent | Partly legible | Often meaningless letters |
| Light and shadows | Consistent with the light source | Chosen for effect | Consistent, but the frame is grainy | Sometimes contradict each other |
| How to check | Reverse image search and file properties | Find the artist's or publisher's credit | Find the full original video | Look for the original source and confirmation |
Read next
- Guides
Step-by-step guides: how to check a viral story, find the original source, read news about a study and help your family. The article catalogue is here too.
- Tools
Techniques to use when checking: reverse image search, date-limited search, web page archives, file properties, maps and street-level imagery.
- Security
Risks for the careful reader: emotional headlines, fake accounts, forged screenshots and cloned voices.
- Glossary
A glossary of terms: original source, context, clickbait, deepfake, metadata, verification and other concepts in plain words.
- Questions
Answers about the guide, about checking photos and texts, and about talking to parents and children about rumours.
Sources
- Reference materials on media literacy and information checking (general principles)
- Editorial materials of the Vovkinsite guide
The method is described in general terms as of the preparation date. Search engines, archives and forgery techniques change over time, so treat this advice as a way of reasoning rather than a final verdict on any particular post.