Information is a battlefield: 4 questions you can ask to judge the reliability of news reports and social posts about the US-Iran war

In the face of little information, or misinformation, about the war in Iran, media literacy can prove a valuable tool to assess what’s happening on the ground.

By: Andrea Hickerson, University of Mississippi, The Conversation

Outlets: The Conversation

Published: March 19, 2026

Words: 1,210

Last Updated: 1 day, 18 hours ago

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By Andrea Hickerson, University of Mississippi

Historically, when the U.S. has undertaken military action against foreign governments, journalists have relied heavily on government sources and rallied “’round the flag,” often uncritically sharing official narratives about U.S involvement. This has been evident during periods of U.S. military engagements in Vietnam, Iraq and Afghanistan.

Recently, however, the Pentagon has restricted access for legacy news organizations. And on March 14, 2026, Brendan Carr, …

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