FAKE NEWS - A ROADMAP
FAKE NEWS - A ROADMAP
Contributor(s): Jente Althuis (Editor), Leonie Haiden (Editor)
Subject(s): Politics / Political Sciences, Politics, History, Social Sciences, Media studies, Geography, Regional studies, Communication studies, Sociology, Government/Political systems, Policy, planning, forecast and speculation
Published by: NATO Strategic Communications Centre of Excellence
Keywords: media; communication; truth; post-truth; North Korea; Daesh; politics; government; dishonesty; policy; history;
Summary/Abstract: In the summer of 2017 a group of students on the Strategic Communications Masters at King’s College London decided to bring some clarity to the discussion of Fake News. Their concern was that what separated truth from untruth had for too long been obscured—made ever less intelligible by certain people intent on distorting responsible debate, while others simply fail to do their research. The term Fake News has become the default catchphrase for truth-seekers wishing to label inaccurate reporting, truth-obscurers spreading malevolent assertions, or the unprepared who simply want to close down uncomfortable discussion. The shorthand expression ‘Fake News’ may fit neatly into tweeted messages, but willing amplifiers have spread it across all media, traditional and social, without necessarily giving it a meaningful definition. Fake News: A Roadmap is published by King’s Centre for Strategic Communications (KCSC) and the NATO Strategic Communications Centre of Excellence, in Riga, Latvia. Both organisations are committed to encouraging young talent and innovative thinking. In keeping with NATO’s remit, this book is published and made available free of charge to any reader around the world. Fake News: A Roadmap is edited by Jente Althuis and Leonie Haiden. Its authors are Iona Allan, Jente Althuis, Alexander Averin, Giulia Conci, Sarah Dooley, Erin Duffy, Douglas Gray, Leonie Haiden, Mitchell Ilbury, Natalia Kantovich, Chelsea McManus, Celeste Michaud, Emma Moore, Kierat Ranautta-Sambhi, and Siri Strand. We wish to thank for their advice and support: KCSC – Dr Neville Bolt, Professor David Betz, Dr Nicholas Michelsen, Professor Nicholas O’Shaughnessy, John Williams, Dr Francesca Granelli, Andrea Berger, Victoria Preston, Sophia Krauel. NATO StratCom COE - Jānis Sārts, Linda Curika, Benjamin Heap.
- Print-ISBN-13: 978-9934-564-23-9
- Page Count: 127
- Publication Year: 2018
- Language: English
TELL ME LIES, TELL ME SWEET LITTLE LIES
TELL ME LIES, TELL ME SWEET LITTLE LIES
(TELL ME LIES, TELL ME SWEET LITTLE LIES)
- Author(s):Leonie Haiden
- Language:English
- Subject(s):Politics, Media studies, Communication studies, Evaluation research
- Page Range:7-13
- No. of Pages:7
- Keywords:communication; media; populism; truth; post-truth; politics; fake news;
- Summary/Abstract:Many political analysts maintain that the ‘era of post-truth’ began in 2016; the year we allegedly left the world of rational argument and objective facts and entered a world of ‘bullshit’ and lies. The election of President Donald Trump and the success of the Brexit campaign are often cited as evidence. However, such an interpretation of contemporary politics is not without limitations. Not only has lying always been part of the political repertoire, but the notion of a post-truth era also creates too harsh a break with the past, failing to address the central questions of how to distinguish between different (legitimate) truths and fake-news strategies, and how both of these impact the political and media discourses of today. Why does the dissemination of false information appear to be such an attractive strategy in our current information environment?
NEVER MIND THE BUZZWORDS: DEFINING FAKE NEWSAND POST-TRUTH
NEVER MIND THE BUZZWORDS: DEFINING FAKE NEWSAND POST-TRUTH
(NEVER MIND THE BUZZWORDS: DEFINING FAKE NEWSAND POST-TRUTH)
- Author(s):Chelsea McManus, Celeste Michaud
- Language:English
- Subject(s):Politics, History, Media studies, Communication studies, Middle Ages, Modern Age, Recent History (1900 till today)
- Page Range:14-20
- No. of Pages:7
- Keywords:communication; media; buzzwords; fake news; truth; post-truth; populism; politics;
- Summary/Abstract:The previous Route has shown that the relationship between post-truth, populism, and fake news is often described in overly simplistic terms. Simply proclaiming that we are now living in an era of fake news and post-truth politics does not actually help us to understand these phenomena. This Route will trace the development of these concepts, tease out what is unique about the way they are currently being used, and identify what is at stake in the different definitions.
THE TRUTH ABOUT TRUTH?
THE TRUTH ABOUT TRUTH?
(THE TRUTH ABOUT TRUTH?)
- Author(s):Erin Duffy, Kierat Ranautta-Sambhi
- Language:English
- Subject(s):Politics, Media studies, Communication studies, Theory of Communication
- Page Range:21-27
- No. of Pages:7
- Keywords:communication; media; politics; truth; post-truth; proof; evidence; fake news; instant news;
- Summary/Abstract:Appeals to relativist notions of truth have revealed that the way we judge truth has become a political as much as a philosophical debate. Thus, it is even more important that we carefully consider terms such as ‘truth’, ‘proof’, or ‘evidence’, particularly in the era of instant news, where the court of public opinion is constantly challenged to judge the truthfulness of information.
WHEN DISHONESTY IS THE BEST POLICY. REALLY?
WHEN DISHONESTY IS THE BEST POLICY. REALLY?
(WHEN DISHONESTY IS THE BEST POLICY. REALLY?)
- Author(s):Mitchell Ilbury
- Language:English
- Subject(s):Politics, History, Media studies, Communication studies, Recent History (1900 till today), 19th Century
- Page Range:28-33
- No. of Pages:6
- Keywords:communication; media; fake news; truth; post-truth; politics; policy; dishonesty;
- Summary/Abstract:‘How can you tell when a politician is lying?’ the joke goes, ‘because his lips are moving.’ We may roll our eyes when we hear it, partly because it is not that funny, but also because we are well aware of the fact that leaders lie. Sometimes, however, leaders should lie, as it can be an important tool of statecraft. Honesty can compromise military planning, and in the international system, diplomatic relations between states may require a well-placed lie to gain strategic advantage, or prevent another actor from doing so. In such circumstances, not only is it justifiable, but leaders may even have an obligation to lie. While the potential for abuse means lying should remain a controversial and scrutinised aspect of leadership, it is important to acknowledge that it sometimes functions as a necessary feature of government.
CHANGE AND 21ST CENTURY MEDIA
CHANGE AND 21ST CENTURY MEDIA
(CHANGE AND 21ST CENTURY MEDIA)
- Author(s):Sarah Dooley, Emma Moore, Alexander Averin
- Language:English
- Subject(s):Politics, Media studies, Communication studies, Theory of Communication, Social Theory
- Page Range:34-40
- No. of Pages:7
- Keywords:communication; media; 21st century; truth; post-truth; politics; fake news; Marshall McLuhan; internet;
- Summary/Abstract:The Cluetrain Manifesto, written in 1999, around the advent of the Internet, celebrates the emergence of a flattened and divided media space. Each individual user is equal amongst the millions of other users but at the same time divided as the Internet enables coalescing amongst like-minded people. The sixth of Cluetrain’s 95 Theses states: ‘The Internet is enabling conversations among human beings that were simply not possible in the era of mass media.’161 The Internet is, however, not the only result of technological development. As has been slowly becoming clear over the past two decades, this new technology might not be merely ‘enabling conversations’. In order to understand the position of fake news in our current media environment, one needs to take a bird’s eye view, not only in space, but also in time.
WHATEVER HAPPENED TO TRUST?
WHATEVER HAPPENED TO TRUST?
(WHATEVER HAPPENED TO TRUST?)
- Author(s):Leonie Haiden
- Language:English
- Subject(s):Politics, Media studies, Communication studies, Evaluation research
- Page Range:41-46
- No. of Pages:6
- Keywords:media; communication; fake news; truth; post-truth; trust; politics;
- Summary/Abstract:Along with changes to the media landscape, low levels of trust in news media and government are often cited as creating a fertile environment for fake news and disinformation. According to polls and commentators, institutional trust reached a historical low in 2017. Edelman’s ‘Trust Barometer’ reports that governments and media are our least trusted institutions, with the number of respondents indicating their trust at 41% and 43% respectively. These and other similar findings by pollsters, such as the Pew Research Center, have been widely reported. Referring to his survey, Edelman declared in The Economist that ‘(t)rust—or, too often, the lack of it—is one of the central issues of our time’. Such an approach to trust makes several assumptions: First, that trust levels have indeed reached a point of ‘crisis’ that can be measured. Second, that trust and distrust stand in a binary relationship. And finally, that a pervasive lack of trust in society is one of the reasons we have ‘a broken media industry’. We will interrogate these assumptions, showing that while trust is indeed crucial to understanding today’s political developments, and fake news in particular, the way it is usually discussed is too simplistic and not conducive to finding adequate responses to fake news.
DAESH AND ITS SINGLE TRUTH
DAESH AND ITS SINGLE TRUTH
(DAESH AND ITS SINGLE TRUTH)
- Author(s):Kierat Ranautta-Sambhi
- Language:English
- Subject(s):Media studies, Communication studies, Evaluation research
- Page Range:48-52
- No. of Pages:5
- Keywords:communication; media; truth; Daesh; fundamentalist group;
- Summary/Abstract:As a militant, fundamentalist group, we expect Daesh’s approach to truth to be unequivocally absolutist. However, many believe that the group has been able to communicate effectively because it is not constrained by truth. So what role does truth play in Daesh strategic communications?
NORTH KOREA AND ITS DIFFERENT, SINGLE TRUTH
NORTH KOREA AND ITS DIFFERENT, SINGLE TRUTH
(NORTH KOREA AND ITS DIFFERENT, SINGLE TRUTH)
- Author(s):Douglas Gray
- Language:English
- Subject(s):Politics, Media studies, Geography, Regional studies, Communication studies, Government/Political systems
- Page Range:53-58
- No. of Pages:6
- Keywords:communication; media; North Korea; truth; politics; government;
- Summary/Abstract:Not unlike the example of Daesh, and perhaps counter to popular perception, truth also holds a crucial place in the communication strategy of Kim Jong-un’s regime in North Korea. Deash distributed bread to appear as a capable governing body in Syria. Similarly, the Kim regime craves domestic legitimacy and credibility through its nuclear missile programme.
RUSSIA AND ITS MANY TRUTHS
RUSSIA AND ITS MANY TRUTHS
(RUSSIA AND ITS MANY TRUTHS)
- Author(s):Alexander Averin
- Language:English
- Subject(s):Politics, Media studies, Geography, Regional studies, Communication studies, Government/Political systems
- Page Range:59-67
- No. of Pages:9
- Keywords:Russia; media; communication; truth; fake news; politics;
- Summary/Abstract:In March 2015, the European Council set up the East Strategic Communications Task Force aimed at addressing Russia’s ongoing disinformation campaigns. Seeking to expose the breadth of the pro-Kremlin disinformation efforts in Europe and beyond, the EU’s initiative unites over 400 experts, journalists, officials, NGOs, and think tanks in more than 30 countries. Contributors monitor fabricated stories and regularly submit their analysis to the EU’s special ‘Disinformation Review’. The demand for such projects has been rising steadily following Russia’s interference in Ukraine in 2014, which placed the notion of ‘information warfare’ at the heart of the public debate. Three years later, the international academic, media, and military communities continue to grapple with challenges posed by Russian attempts to influence public opinion abroad. From a European point of view, the Kremlin’s tactic has been to confuse rather than convince, to divide opinions rather than provide an alternative viewpoint. Russia’s goal, as seen from the West, is to deprive audiences of the ability to distinguish between truth and lie by creating as many competing narratives as possible in the global media space.
COUNTERING FAKE NEWS
COUNTERING FAKE NEWS
(COUNTERING FAKE NEWS)
- Author(s):Siri Strand, Jente Althuis
- Language:English
- Subject(s):Politics, Media studies, Communication studies, Government/Political systems, Policy, planning, forecast and speculation, ICT Information and Communications Technologies
- Page Range:68-77
- No. of Pages:10
- Keywords:media; communication; fake news; countering; democratic society; politics; tools; social media;
- Summary/Abstract:The increased presence of fake news is seen to pose a challenge to our democratic society. Consequently, we are seeking to identify, understand, and overhaul the vulnerabilities of the media environment in order to limit the phenomenon and consequences of fake news. This Route evaluates the tools, existing knowledge, and ongoing research useful for countering fake news. It provides an overview of existing initiatives by governmental organisations, media outlets, and civil society, and discusses the challenges and dilemmas each actor faces. Furthermore, it assesses the knowns and unknowns of the impact of fake news and those of countering initiatives. Based on this assessment, it identifies the primary gaps in our knowledge regarding how to respond to fake news, as well as the potential of technological innovation and future research directions to close these gaps. In conclusion, it finds that our largest challenge might not merely be the establishment of efficient counter-mechanisms to fake news, but rather how to implement these without undermining institutions and processes that are vital to our democratic system.
ENDNOTES
ENDNOTES
(ENDNOTES)
- Author(s):Author Not Specified
- Language:English
- Subject(s):Politics, History, Media studies, Geography, Regional studies, Communication studies, Government/Political systems, Theory of Communication
- Page Range:78-99
- No. of Pages:22
- Keywords:media; communication; politics; fake news; endnotes;
BIBLIOGRAPHY
BIBLIOGRAPHY
(BIBLIOGRAPHY)
- Author(s):Author Not Specified
- Language:English
- Subject(s):Politics, History, Media studies, Bibliography, Geography, Regional studies, Communication studies, Government/Political systems
- Page Range:100-127
- No. of Pages:28
- Keywords:media; communication; politics; fake news; bibliography;
