Although fake news stories have been a hot topic since the 2016 presidential election, propaganda and other forms of fake news have been used for decades both within the United States and abroad. The Marathon County Public Library will take look at “The Past and Present of Fake News” on September 12 from 6:30 p.m. to 8 p.m. at its Wausau Headquarters, 300 N. First St., Wausau.

Mark Tolstedt, professor of media studies at UW-Stevens Point, will cover some of the history of fake news, including its use in elections long before 2016 and how propaganda was spread during wars and other conflicts. Tolstedt will also discuss the many forms fake news has taken, from newspaper stories to social media, and will touch on some of the ways we can spot it in today’s diverse media environment. A question-and-answer session will also follow the presentation.

This event is free and open to the public with no registration required. For more information, call 715-261-7230 or visit https://mcpl.us/events?event_id=3967.