Is Disinformation the Same as Misinformation? Nope—the difference is intent

A classic example of misinformation occurred during the Presidential Election of November 1948, when a Chicago newspaper printed election results with the errant headline “Dewey Defeats Truman.” The error, or misinformation was later corrected as an honest mistake since candidate Harry Truman was expected to lose. Disinformation, however, is another story.

Union of Concerned Scientists
Misinformation and disinformation are not the same.

Misinformation happens when false information is shared out of ignorance, or by error. Disinformation happens when false information is shared on purpose, for a reason.

We all make honest mistakes. A classic example of misinformation in US history occurred in November 1948, when a Chicago newspaper sent its papers off to print before presidential election results were fully counted. Harry Truman was expected to lose. And the paper’s staff, confident in the prediction and in a rush to print, approved the front-page headline “Dewey Defeats Truman.”

When the counting was finished, it became clear Harry Truman had won. While the newspaper had misinformed its readers, its staff hadn’t done so in a deliberate attempt to deceive. They quickly cleared up the mistake by reprinting the paper with the correct results. MORE