Fake news
Notes
1) Watch the panel discussions (I included my notes) and write three key points that you would like to emphasise.
2) Look up literature which supports your key points and assertions.
3) Include at least three references (APA style recommended)
4) word count: 500 – 1000 words
Fake news discussion – part 1
What is ‘fake news’ ?
Fake news is being mobilised against things that the government would prefer not to be true. Fake news is a catch cry for news that is in fact true but people don’t want it to be
‘Fake news’ is also news that isn’t real which then leaves us a gap between reality and perception.
Fake news is the goal to convince people that they will never know what is true and what is not true, when you’re in that situation you have to start to believe other things like your gut or ideologies instead of facts.
Fake news discussion – part 2
Fake news in the media
The role of media influencing the way people think and behave
In the world war people were dropping pamphlets to make the argument they were coming to invade and that the war was going to be over which would make people scared and drop there guns and run off. This led to an investigation of propaganda which is that the media is a needle that shoots it into the blood stream of the populist.
The media doesn’t necessarily tell you what to think but more so what to think about.
People make decisions when they are uncertain by sourcing the media and using google. The media plays with the uncertainty of people, you get violence, scandal, heavily and emotionally loaded information which creates the sense that we live in a very dangerous world when in fact we are currently living in the most safest the world has ever been and violence is at an all time low but you would never know this because of the way the media hypes it up.
The media is a product. The media are going to produce stories that people want to read, they only put out what is in demand so if negative stories like scandal and wars is what people are interested in so the media will provide them with those articles.
What kind of media do I read?
I read things that have captivating headlines and news scandal in celebrities or influencers that I follow.
Fake news discussion – part 3
Cognitive science of beliefs
If we are in a world where there is uncertainty and we have to make decisions about things, we have to rely on other things to help us make well informed decisions like the confirmation bias in general we will believe things that is consistent with our world view as opposed to things that are not. Availability, really quick, cheap and dirty ways that we have of thinking of things.
Availability heuristic of this is information that gets repeated over and over again when you encounter it again it feels familiar so it must be true.
Optimism bias – ‘your homework isn’t going to take as long’
When your reading the news headline that is captivating stop for a second and digest it slowly or go and consult another source, we can reason and evaluate evidence.
Looking at socialising effects and where do peoples political beliefs come from and usually its role models – like our parents. If you come from a family who discount politicians or scientists or say vaccinations then you will more than likely stand with those same views.
Fake news discussion – part 4
How to fight fake news
What do we do about it?
Working not just with individuals but within the community. We project our own beliefs onto people that we like as well in order to see if they believe and think the same way that we do as well.
Individual level – stop and think about the information you’re reading, people have argues there has to be more of a structured change in how we share information, there has been a lot of pressure on social media giants like fb and twitter, try and tweak the way information is being shared amongst people.
Assignment
‘Fake news’ is a common phrase used predominantly within the media to describe information that is deliberately deceitful or false. Although perplexing in its existence, its intention is to make readers question what is true, or merely a perception (Tandoc, Lim & Ling, 2018). The panel’s discussion on ‘fake news’ was exceptionally thought-provoking towards this body of research. Understanding the role of the media, who tend to sensationalize stories for entertainment, is central to comprehending the phenomenon of ‘fake news’. Through intentional manipulation of information to be negative to increase interest, it is reasonable to assume public opinion is therefore influenced to be negative as a result. Thus, discussion addressing ‘fake news’ is required, especially concerning its impact on public opinion.
References:
Tandoc Jr, E. C., Lim, Z. W., & Ling, R. (2018). Defining “fake news” A typology of scholarly definitions. Digital journalism, 6(2), 137-153.