Fake News: Meaning- Concept and Consequence
Added on 2023-01-23
14 Pages4237 Words27 Views
Running head: FAKE NEWS: MEANING- CONCEPT AND CONSEQUENCE
Fake News: Meaning- Concept and Consequence
Name of the University:
Name of the Student:
Author Note:
Fake News: Meaning- Concept and Consequence
Name of the University:
Name of the Student:
Author Note:
1Fake News: Meaning- Concept and Consequence
Fake news or Pseudo news are information or disinformation or hoaxes deliberately
spread out with the intention to mislead and misguide the public. These are spread via both
traditional and broadcast media. Social media also takes a huge role in spreading the
misinformation. Fake news are made, published and spread with the motive to hoax the
readers or to damage the reputation of an agency or organisation or a person or an entity, or o
gain politically or financially (McNair. 2017). The emergence and dominance of social media
has increased the spread of fake news and has given rise to the concepts of “Yellow
Journalism” and “Check book Journalism”.
Yellow Journalism is a form of journalism that spreads misinformation or distort the
real news in order to get public attention. They usually come up with shocking headlines to
gain the public attention and increase their selling and exaggerate the existing news creating
false notion regarding something. They spread what informally is called, rumours but in a
formal, believable way. The yellow journalism was much famous during the 1900s in New
York. The front page of the newspapers were the important ones, which included various
scandals regarding the sports, political or visual world. They used bold and coloured
illustrations and the reported information or stories were published anonymously or unnamed
sources (Cunha et al. 2018). The term came at the time when the technological invention was
in rise and the technology made newspaper got cheaper and it got its name from the
American gilded age. The essential characteristics of these newspapers were,
The news were printed in huge block letters to get the attention and to scare he people
and most of the times they were not even important.
The newspapers were usually consisted with many pictures.
They included many comical contents and portrayed the political icons in cartoon
characters. Though this is has now become much common but at that point of time,
they were the emerging concepts.
Fake news or Pseudo news are information or disinformation or hoaxes deliberately
spread out with the intention to mislead and misguide the public. These are spread via both
traditional and broadcast media. Social media also takes a huge role in spreading the
misinformation. Fake news are made, published and spread with the motive to hoax the
readers or to damage the reputation of an agency or organisation or a person or an entity, or o
gain politically or financially (McNair. 2017). The emergence and dominance of social media
has increased the spread of fake news and has given rise to the concepts of “Yellow
Journalism” and “Check book Journalism”.
Yellow Journalism is a form of journalism that spreads misinformation or distort the
real news in order to get public attention. They usually come up with shocking headlines to
gain the public attention and increase their selling and exaggerate the existing news creating
false notion regarding something. They spread what informally is called, rumours but in a
formal, believable way. The yellow journalism was much famous during the 1900s in New
York. The front page of the newspapers were the important ones, which included various
scandals regarding the sports, political or visual world. They used bold and coloured
illustrations and the reported information or stories were published anonymously or unnamed
sources (Cunha et al. 2018). The term came at the time when the technological invention was
in rise and the technology made newspaper got cheaper and it got its name from the
American gilded age. The essential characteristics of these newspapers were,
The news were printed in huge block letters to get the attention and to scare he people
and most of the times they were not even important.
The newspapers were usually consisted with many pictures.
They included many comical contents and portrayed the political icons in cartoon
characters. Though this is has now become much common but at that point of time,
they were the emerging concepts.
2Fake News: Meaning- Concept and Consequence
Most important aspect of the yellow journalism that they were always against the
system, taking the side of the ‘underdog’.
They even used fake interviews and pseud-science to fool and deceive people.
The yellow journalism came at the time of war, in the midst of a chaotic and confused society
where, it was easy for them to spread out such news since there were little scope for the
people to check the validity and reliability of the news. Therefore, they had gained much
popularity and acceptance initially.
Check book journalism, on the other hand is a form of journalism, where the reporters
or journalists were paid to spread to fake information among the society. It is one of the most
controversial practice in the US and it is one of the most unethical form of practice. Most of
the mainstream newspapers have a policy that forbids such practices. However, the tabloid
newspapers or media are seen to be in a regular practice of the same, and it is very much
common a practice in the countries like America and Europe, where the political leaders are
in continuous practice of this. The main intention of such activity is to either harm a social
organisation or agency or celebrities. However, they are often paid to create a false notion of
the organisation and to boost u their market position. This is much true for new organisations
and the celebrities. Especially, the celebrities are often seen to have created a hype regarding
their personal lifer in order to publicise themselves or promote their films. It is very effective
as is perceived over time. Many high-profile celebrities and politicians have seen to be
paying the publishing houses in order to promote their products or movies and gain profit.
Demographic and Social Factors:
The two important factors that influence the spread of Fake News are the Social and
Demographic factors. The demographic factors include the age, gender and orientation of the
population. Significant findings have pointed out that the conservative people are more
Most important aspect of the yellow journalism that they were always against the
system, taking the side of the ‘underdog’.
They even used fake interviews and pseud-science to fool and deceive people.
The yellow journalism came at the time of war, in the midst of a chaotic and confused society
where, it was easy for them to spread out such news since there were little scope for the
people to check the validity and reliability of the news. Therefore, they had gained much
popularity and acceptance initially.
Check book journalism, on the other hand is a form of journalism, where the reporters
or journalists were paid to spread to fake information among the society. It is one of the most
controversial practice in the US and it is one of the most unethical form of practice. Most of
the mainstream newspapers have a policy that forbids such practices. However, the tabloid
newspapers or media are seen to be in a regular practice of the same, and it is very much
common a practice in the countries like America and Europe, where the political leaders are
in continuous practice of this. The main intention of such activity is to either harm a social
organisation or agency or celebrities. However, they are often paid to create a false notion of
the organisation and to boost u their market position. This is much true for new organisations
and the celebrities. Especially, the celebrities are often seen to have created a hype regarding
their personal lifer in order to publicise themselves or promote their films. It is very effective
as is perceived over time. Many high-profile celebrities and politicians have seen to be
paying the publishing houses in order to promote their products or movies and gain profit.
Demographic and Social Factors:
The two important factors that influence the spread of Fake News are the Social and
Demographic factors. The demographic factors include the age, gender and orientation of the
population. Significant findings have pointed out that the conservative people are more
3Fake News: Meaning- Concept and Consequence
tended to believe the fake news than the liberal people (Verma. Fleischmann and Koltai.
2018). The conservative people are not open to a lot of options and conversations and put
more trust in the knowledge gained from the visual media and print media than the
knowledge gained from the people. Therefore, it is easier for these media modes to influence
them.
Secondly, it is seen that the people with higher degree of educational attainment are
less prone to put their belief in the fake news. People with higher degree of education are
more emancipated and they have knowledge and understandings of a various concepts that
enable them not to get influenced by the fake news. The people low educational status, lack
proper knowledge and understanding, and therefore are more prone to put trust in the fake
news (Tandoc et al. 2018. pp.137-153) . Moreover, the people with sound education, have the
zest to search for the truth of the knowledge gathered through the various modes of media,
however, people with less knowledge and educational attainments, lack this kind of
orientation and get easily victimised by the fake news.
Another finding shows that the old or elderly people are more prone to believe and
spread fake news. The old people of theses days, spend more time on the internet and social
media than the youth or the teen agers. Therefore, they are more prone to believe the fake
news that are circulated and are more prone to spread them as well. A good amount of elderly
people is seen to have spent their time by watching the TV or reading the newspaper.
Therefore, since a lot of their times are spent like that, it is seen that they get more influenced
by the knowledge gained through these.
Further, it is seen that the political orientation and usage of social media also
contributes as the major reasons for believing and spreading the fake news. While political
leaning influences trust in mainstream media and scientific journals. These findings shed new
tended to believe the fake news than the liberal people (Verma. Fleischmann and Koltai.
2018). The conservative people are not open to a lot of options and conversations and put
more trust in the knowledge gained from the visual media and print media than the
knowledge gained from the people. Therefore, it is easier for these media modes to influence
them.
Secondly, it is seen that the people with higher degree of educational attainment are
less prone to put their belief in the fake news. People with higher degree of education are
more emancipated and they have knowledge and understandings of a various concepts that
enable them not to get influenced by the fake news. The people low educational status, lack
proper knowledge and understanding, and therefore are more prone to put trust in the fake
news (Tandoc et al. 2018. pp.137-153) . Moreover, the people with sound education, have the
zest to search for the truth of the knowledge gathered through the various modes of media,
however, people with less knowledge and educational attainments, lack this kind of
orientation and get easily victimised by the fake news.
Another finding shows that the old or elderly people are more prone to believe and
spread fake news. The old people of theses days, spend more time on the internet and social
media than the youth or the teen agers. Therefore, they are more prone to believe the fake
news that are circulated and are more prone to spread them as well. A good amount of elderly
people is seen to have spent their time by watching the TV or reading the newspaper.
Therefore, since a lot of their times are spent like that, it is seen that they get more influenced
by the knowledge gained through these.
Further, it is seen that the political orientation and usage of social media also
contributes as the major reasons for believing and spreading the fake news. While political
leaning influences trust in mainstream media and scientific journals. These findings shed new
End of preview
Want to access all the pages? Upload your documents or become a member.
Related Documents
Impacts of “Fake News” on Societylg...
|12
|4143
|78
Fake News in the Age of Social Media Assignmentlg...
|5
|666
|313
Social and Cultural Issues of Interactive Digital Medialg...
|14
|4387
|29
Future Societies/ Global Citizenshiplg...
|20
|4489
|90
The Issue of Fake News: Causes, Impacts, and Solutionslg...
|5
|1511
|156
Fake News Assignment Election Campaignslg...
|7
|1969
|107