Making Sense of Fake News

Daily Record/USA Today Network reporter William Westhoven will address the growing topic of "fake news" at Bernardsville Public Library on Thursday, May 11 at 7:00 pm. He will present an overview of what actually defines fake news; how the Internet has blurred the lines between traditional journalism, prime-time punditry and outright propaganda; and how to separate fact from fiction by identifying common components of each. This program will be presented in a strictly apolitical environment and will include polite (apolitical) discussion.

A nearly lifelong Parsippany resident and graduate of Morris Catholic High School in Denville, Bill Westhoven has been a journalist since 1989 and has served the Daily Record as a reporter, editor and columnist since 1994. He is currently a municipal reporter covering all towns and topics in Morris County.
Mr. Westhoven's journalism career has covered everything from reporter and videographer to production-pagination-copy editor, business editor, real estate editor, automotive editor, careers editor, This Week editor (Parsippany, Denville-Rockaway, Randolph-Roxbury), and special sections editor.

He is the winner of 18 state and national journalism awards, including seven-first-place awards for Critical Writing (as a theater and music reviewer, automotive writer-reviewer and longtime author of the Morris Stage column). He is also the author of four books including the novels "One-Hit Willie" and "The Puddingstone Well," and the nonfiction "Eric Clapton: Career of a Rock Legend" (Barclay House; 1995) and "Superstorm Sandy: Diary in the Dark."

There is no charge to attend the program, but advance sign-up is requested. Register online at www.bernardsvillelibrary.org and follow the link from Adult Programs, or call the library at 908-766-0118 to sign up.