It is currently the major talking point in media and politics, but the debate over fake news is confused by misunderstanding about the phenomenon, its origins and why it poses a threat, not just to journalism but to the framework of democratic pluralism.
To begin with it helps to know what we are talking about, so a definition of fake news might be useful. Donald Trump yells his own definition at press conferences – it’s any journalism or reporting that he disagrees with.
“That’s fake news,” he shouts at any unfortunate reporter or representative of a news organisation that contradicts him or his entourage.
When the President of the United States makes baseless claims and labels accurate reporting as “fake” and when his staff expound theories of “alternative facts,” the challenge to journalism and its values could not be more menacing.
- : http://ethicaljournalismnetwork.org/fake-news-bad-journalism-digital-age
- : Aidan White
- : Ethical Journalism Network