We've used the word 'fake news' so many times that it's lost its significance in the real world. It is the deliberate misrepresentation of fact and the distortion of propaganda masquerading as true news. It may manifest itself in various forms, such as hoaxes, slander, and misinformation being disseminated as accurate information for technical, political, or civil purposes. It differs from editorials or journals in that they are organized in a systematic manner. Fake news intentionally attempts to appear as true news when it is not. It can aggravate ordinary citizens, officials, and governments and has the potential to confuse schools, institutions, and hospitals. Fake news may spread hatred towards religion, politics, individuals, or government agencies, resulting in disturbances. We can't even predict the emergence of fake news, but in the 15th century, a Catholic priest in France spread false information about Jews living in France who were kidnapping and killing children. This resulted in the murder of 15 Jews in a single day, and the false information spread to other parts of the city, killing more Jews. Furthermore, fake news can also cause conflict between countries. For example, when the Malaysian airline MH-17 was shot down in Ukraine by Russian rocket launchers, the Russian government blamed the Ukrainian government for the attacks, despite the fact that the attacks were carried out by Russian separatists which led to tense situations between countries. As long as humans have incorrect information in the press, fake news is nothing new. Fake news has become a threat to journalism and the media because it forces them to confront any situation that is not right and is a hoax. It may expend considerable effort to delete such news that lacks a source or whose editor has not been checked. Nowadays, the entire world is fed up with false news, which acts as a nuclear bomb, exploding with such force that it destroys anything nearby or miles away, and people may be injured as a result. We must confront and resolve any situation, but this is not always possible without the assistance of others. Hence, we must stand together to tackle fake news and completely eradicate it from the world.
As misinformation spreads far and wide, journalists and organizations have taken numerous actions on this matter. Journalists must possess appropriate skills and a high level of professionalism is needed to curb the spreading of false news. This was stressed by resource persons on the role of journalists in the Association of Southeast Asian Nations (ASEAN), in the context of information disorder and digital literacy, during the Workshop on Addressing Fake News on March 21, 2019. Moreover, Kavi Chongkittavorn, a veteran Thai journalist, also advised journalists to avoid 'adding color' and 'dramatizing' the news and instead concentrate on improving their skills, especially fact-checking. Dr. Masato Kajimoto, assistant professor at the University of Hong Kong's Journalism and Media Studies Centre, reinforced the Thai media practitioner's comments, emphasizing the importance of journalists thinking about how they report stories. Verification, freedom, accountability, and openness are all elements of professional journalism. Kajimoto also emphasized the importance of verification, emphasizing the need for all to be able to do fact-checking. Governments held public hearings, updated existing laws, proposed legislation, especially on cybersecurity and fake news, and instituted severe punishments, such as one to 12 years in prison and fines ranging from USD62,000 to USD123,000. In the meantime, non-legal interventions include the creation of task forces or organizations to track online discourses, the development of fact-checking websites, and the implementation of media literacy programs. In the Philippines, for example, the government has many programs through the Presidential Communications and Operations Office (PCOO) that educate people on how to recognize and fight the dissemination of false news and disinformation. Among these services are Real Numbers, a campaign that provides the real score and presents reliable numbers of the Duterte administration's anti-illegal drugs drive; the Provincial Communications Officers Network, a platform that connects the national government to local government units; and Dismiss Misinformation, a campaign that combats the dissemination of false news and disinformation.
Debunking such statements necessitates extensive analysis, fact-checking, and media forensics. These are only a few of the many places where misinformation can have an impact. For that reason, a plan for intervention should be considered. There are three important How's to remember: How to recognize misinformation, how to handle fake news and misinformation, and how to report fake news and misinformation. Recognizing misinformation in any social media platform has a clear bias and an attempt to elicit anger or other strong emotions from the reader. Such content could come from an unfamiliar news outlet, and the news itself could be entirely illogical. For example, if a news story alerts readers of an approaching 'category six' hurricane poised to devastate huge areas of the country, it should be met with raised eyebrows rather than alarm; there is no such thing as a category six hurricane. Once you've identified a suspicious piece of information, look into the publisher and author. Is one of these people well-known? Are they regarded as reliable sources? If not, do they cite their sources â and if so, are they credible? Fake author names and bogus references are often used in fake news. If the site has a history of making dubious statements, or if specifics in the author bio don't seem reliable (or if a bio is missing), you can proceed with caution. For more information on the publication, visit the site's 'About Us tab. You may find any suspicious information. To assess the veracity of their statements, cross-reference these facts with credible news outlets. Remember that handling fake news and misinformation is not just disagreeing with content â it is distorted information intended to exploit others. If you are certain that the content fits this description, proceed with caution when sharing it with others. Sharing it so that you can comment on it isn't helpful; although it allows you to voice your complaints, it also spreads the information. Rather than spreading false information, your aim should be to disregard and prevent it. You should take action if you come across fake news or misinformation while searching your social media feeds. You can 'hide' a trending post if it contains incorrect information. Block individual users who appear in your stream on a regular basis and share misinformation or disinformation. Unfollow any pages you've already 'liked' or subscribed to that are spewing out false news. Pruning your feeds in this way will help you avoid manipulative posts and profiles. On social media, the choices for customizing your news feed vary depending on the platform. The three most well-known social media platforms are Facebook, Instagram, and Twitter. It is important that you spend time learning the ins and outs of your news feeds and how you customize your media intake, making the effort will significantly boost your online experience and reduce the impact of fake news on you. There are steps you can take to report misinformation on social media. While not all social media platforms have specifically established rules for fake news, you can research the procedure on how to report it which varies by the platform if the misinformation is abusive or harmful.
References:
- Bondoc, B. (2019, March 22). Quality journalism is key to fighting fake news. Retrieved April 30, 2021, from https:www.pna.gov.pharticles1065304
- Isseroff, A. (2005). Blood libel. Retrieved April 30, 2021, from https:zionism-israel.comdicblood_libel.htm
- MailOnline, M. (2014, July 20). Malaysia Airlines MH17 'shot Down' over Ukraine CARRYING 295 people. Retrieved April 30, 2021, from https:www.dailymail.co.uknewsarticle-2696161BREAKING-NEWS-Malaysian-passenger-plane-carrying-295-people-crashes-Ukraine-near-Russian-border.html