Brielle Meyer

A podcast by Brielle Meyer

Misinformation and the threat it poses to society is something journalists have struggled with as long as the institution of journalism has existed. However, in this age of technological advancement that is often referred to as “the age of information.” Many journalists find themselves facing an abundance of misinformation, and are often blamed for it. In this podcast I walk through the research I have conducted while asking myself the question: What should journalists do, if anything, to combat misinformation?

I interviewed Winston Mwale from Malawi and Paul Mena from Ecuador to get perspectives from working journalists on some of these issues. Mwale founded and is the editor in chief of Africa Brief, a “solutions-based” news source. Mwale explained the purpose of solutions-based news is to focus not just on the issues we see all around us, but on the solutions people are finding for them. Mwale also freelances as a fact-checker for Africa Check and is currently teaching journalism courses at Pentecostal Life University in Malawi. Mena has worked as a journalist in Ecuador and in the United States, he has written and collaborated on multiple journals which analyzed misinformation especially on social media. Mena is currently teaching journalism in the United States at UC Santa Barbara.

Misinformation is defined by freepressunlimited.org as “information that is false, but not intended to cause harm.” Misinformation poses many issues in society, the most obvious being spreading false information. It also poses threats to journalism as it harms the public’s trust in the media, overshadows true news and creates an excuse for powerful actors to use to dismiss legitimate criticism as we’ve seen legitimate criticisms chalked up to just “fake news.” In his article “Combatting Fake News: Alternatives to Limiting Social Media Misinformation and Rehabilitating Quality Journalism” Dallas Flick takes a look at the issue of misinformation and how it’s affecting journalism in what he calls “the age of information.” Flick refers to journalism as the fourth estate of government, implying journalists hold as important a role in the running of our country as our members of congress. He also refers to the age of information as the fifth estate, implying that the buzz of online chatter/information spreading is also playing a huge role. Flick clearly defines that these two added estates can go hand in hand, online chatter can encourage journalists to follow a story. In the same way, a journalist’s story can begin online chatter. The problem, as Flick says, is when the “fifth estate” bypasses the “fourth estate” and spreads misinformation, thereby undermining the institution of journalism.

As stated above, the age of (mis)information has created distrust between the public and the media. Erin C. Carrol states in her article “Obstruction of Journalism” that violence against journalists has gone up 1,400% since 2020. Carrol says “Identifying oneself as press used to be a near-grant of immunity. It meant safer passage through all manner of dangerous terrain. But today, being recognizable as a journalist may be more likely to make one a target.” As the term “fake news” has gained popularity mistrust in the media has grown worse and violence has escalated. During the January sixth insurrection the words “Murder the media” were scratched into a door of the Capitol, media’s camera equipment was smashed and stolen, and of the stolen equipment a noose was fashioned using camera cables. Despite the mistrust, dangers and hate that journalists are currently facing during the age of (mis)information many still persevere. Paul Mena shared that at one point in Ecuador the government was even passing laws against journalism, which made his job more difficult.

Winston Mwale had great thoughts on what journalists can and should do in the face of misinformation. One that he mentioned was that when faced with misinformation journalists should go back to the fundamentals or basics of the job. He detailed what that meant, fact-checking, speaking to all parties involved, all in all just making sure you’ve covered all your bases to get the truth. In a time where misinformation runs rampant very quickly it might also be tempting to simply report on what is trending while it’s still trending, Mwale stated “we are not in a race” and explained that it is much more important to take the time to get the story right. But are some kinds of misinformation simply too outlandish to even engage? Journalists studied in Caryn Coatney’s “Don’t feed the trolls?” would say no. In this study, journalists who were being harassed by neo-Nazi Holocaust deniers formed an alliance of sorts and became “anti-Nazi activists and troll hunters.” By confronting their trolls and calling them out they brought awareness to the issue and made a difference. When I heard Nigerian investigative journalist Ruona J. Meyer speak she said, “No matter how hard it gets on social media, a journalist has to be there,” and “You have to be as active as your trolls.”

And so, at the end of my research I found solace in the answers I uncovered. Mr. Mena gave a great definition of journalism and what its role for society is, and Mr. Mwale’s sentiments that as journalists we must go back to the basics ring true. In the age of information as things are changing so rapidly journalism doesn’t necessarily have to change, just maybe adapt to its new requirements. Journalists can’t ignore the age of information, as Ruona K. Meyer stated. Journalists need to be active and engaged on online platforms as the public is. But as journalism adapts to these new platforms it should not forget its roots in uncovering real, true news. Always fact checking and verifying sources.