Media Manipulation in the 21st Century. Fact-Checking and ‘Not-Tags’ in the Current Conjuncture

Research Paper (postgraduate) , 2021 , 9 Pages , Grade: A

Communications - Media Economics, Media Management

While reviewing the literature pertaining to the infamous fake news, many would out of necessity make a distinction between the domineering work concerned with the kind of campaigning and the apparent computational propaganda online, compounded by the current offshoots for its consumers, plus, some few findings, usually journalistic found on the web and in social media. Nonetheless, while much focus has been on the influence of Russia on the campaigning in the United States, and the absence or presence thereof during elections in France, Germany, Sweden, Dutch and elsewhere, the fact remains that the influence of campaigning within political spaces online, together with the question of manipulation or persuasion is irrefutable.

Indeed, journalism is currently engulfed in a state of substantial flux, with novel digital platforms unleashing innovative journalistic practices, which allow new communication forms and vast global reach. However, hoaxes and disinformation, commonly referred to as ‘fake news’ are on a high acceleration, subsequently influencing the way people interpret daily developments and their way of life as a whole.

Driven by foreign elements, citizen journalism, along with the proliferation of cable news and talk radio, myriad information systems have now become more contentious and polarized, not to mention that there has been a swift decline on public trust as regards traditional journalism. Correspondingly, this conception may be seen as the cradle for the term ‘post-truth,’ which was defined in 2016 as relating to or referring to the circumstances within which objective facts are usually less influential when it comes to shaping public opinion compared to appeals to personal belief and emotion(s).

In particular, the 2016 Brexit vote in the UK, and the tumultuous US presidential election depicted the way the digital era has influenced news along with cultural narratives. Indeed, the notion of post-truth, especially fact-checking, risks turning into more than just a catchphrase, taking into account that the epistemic, political, social and cultural issues at hand behind the current controversy on post-truth are so diverse, differentiated and disheveled. In fact, though fact-checkers core intent is to get closer to the truth, their biases may shroud the real truth they are looking for; a phenomenon that was evinced in the 2016 U.S. Presidential campaigns and election.

Inhaltsverzeichnis (Table of Contents)

• The Reveal of the Real: Fact-Checking and ‘Not-Tags' in the Current Conjuncture
• Introduction
• Fake News and the Current Conjuncture
• The Rise of Fact-Checking
• Fact-Checking in a Post-Truth World
• The Impact of Fact-Checking
• Computational Propaganda and Social Media Manipulation
• The Manipulation of Voters
• Conclusion

Zielsetzung und Themenschwerpunkte (Objectives and Key Themes)

This text explores the rise of “fake news” and its impact on contemporary society, specifically focusing on the role of fact-checking in mitigating disinformation. It examines the challenges posed by computational propaganda and social media manipulation, particularly in the context of political campaigns and elections.

• The evolution of fake news and its implications for journalism and public trust
• The emergence of fact-checking as a response to the spread of misinformation
• The limitations and challenges of fact-checking in a complex and polarized information landscape
• The role of social media in facilitating computational propaganda and voter manipulation
• The impact of fake news and manipulation on democratic processes and public discourse

Zusammenfassung der Kapitel (Chapter Summaries)

• Introduction: This introductory chapter sets the stage for the discussion by outlining the current state of fake news and its impact on society. It highlights the influence of foreign elements, the rise of citizen journalism, and the declining public trust in traditional media outlets.
• Fake News and the Current Conjuncture: This chapter delves into the concept of “post-truth” and its relevance in the digital age. It discusses the impact of the Brexit vote and the 2016 US presidential election on how news is consumed and interpreted. It also explores the difficulties of establishing clear definitions and boundaries around “fake news” and the potential biases of fact-checkers.
• The Rise of Fact-Checking: This chapter examines the origins and evolution of fact-checking as a journalistic practice. It explores the motivations behind its emergence, including the decline of traditional journalism, technological advancements, and societal crises. It also discusses the role of non-journalistic fact-checkers as data advocates and activists.
• Fact-Checking in a Post-Truth World: This chapter addresses the challenges and complexities of fact-checking in a post-truth environment. It discusses the disputed epistemology of fact-checking, the ambiguous nature of “truth” in a digital age, and the potential for fact-checking organizations to be misunderstood or misrepresented.
• The Impact of Fact-Checking: This chapter investigates the effectiveness of fact-checking in mitigating misinformation. It analyzes the findings of various studies, highlighting the potential limitations of fact-checking in influencing opinions and voting decisions.
• Computational Propaganda and Social Media Manipulation: This chapter examines the use of social media platforms for propaganda and manipulation by both state and non-state actors. It outlines the techniques employed in computational propaganda, including the creation of fake websites, the dissemination of false information by bots, and the manipulation of online social networks.
• The Manipulation of Voters: This chapter focuses on the tactics used to manipulate voters in political campaigns. It discusses the use of false information to discredit candidates, target voters with personalized content, and influence their political judgments.

Schlüsselwörter (Keywords)

This text explores the key concepts of fake news, misinformation, fact-checking, computational propaganda, social media manipulation, voter manipulation, political polarization, public trust, and the impact of these phenomena on democratic processes and public discourse.

• College: University of Nairobi
• Course: Business Management
• Grade: A
• Author: Mutinda Jackson (Author)
• Publication Year: 2021
• Pages: 9
• Catalog Number: V1275277
• ISBN (PDF): 9783346765413
• Language: English
• Tags: media, manipulation, century, fact-checking, current, conjuncture