“Fake News”: The Impact of Fake News in the Real World – Gilbert

Jamie Bowen, Arizona State University, Walter Cronkite School of Journalism and Mass Communication

Although not new, our awareness and use of the term “fake news” has risen in prominence. In general, “fake news” is media that consists of deliberate misinformation, news whose main purpose is to distort “the truth for emotional persuasion, seeking to drive action.”  More recently it has become a catchall term used to discredit stories, and in the political arena to influence the political process and elections.  With social media, fake news can reach a large audience with little cost.  How can we tell what is fake news and what is real news? What is the impact of “fake news”?  How does “fake news” affect public opinion and civic engagement? How do we balance the benefits of free speech against the burden of propaganda? Join us for a lively FRANK Talk about “fake news,” free speech and journalism today.