Fake news on the rise, here’s how news talent can solve the issue
When it comes to the mass communication industry, many challenges are currently being faced. In particular, one challenge in the communication world is how news stories are being spun and embellished to captivate viewers. Fake news or exaggerated news continues to be on the rise in today’s society with no stop in sight. I worked in the news industry for three years, and I could see firsthand how the company would spin stories in a different way to gain viewers. In this blog, I will break down how mass communication theory can help fight the rise of fake news.
Two theories that deal with the news media would be the agenda-setting theory and the two-step flow theory. The agenda-setting states that news media has the ability to influence topics to the public. When it comes to anchors and reporters, the two-step flow theory applies to them since news viewers form opinions based on the news talent and what they cover. The two theories listed can either help stop the spread of fake news or, unfortunately, have it continue. One way for each of the theories can help prevent fake news is for staff to speak up, knowing the issue or topic is not factual.
While working at my last job, I dealt with not speaking up when it came to topics that weren’t factually true, but the station wanted to cover it anyway. If I knew about the agenda-setting theory beforehand, I can bring evidence that one story should not be covered over others. Using communication theories such as agenda-setting can be applied while planning the weekly news staff meeting. During the meeting, it will let reporters and anchors know that they can influence the entire market for their station with one little lie. Sometimes at my former news company, we would have to redact information from previously stated broadcast because we knew that information was fake news since we did not check up on the information. News industries need to take time to research topics instead of pushing out the information to be the first in the market since incorrect details will cause fake news.
If news talent from producers to anchors understands the two-step flow theory, it will help them realize the power they possess. If an anchor or reporter told a viewer that a particular story the station was covering was not true and only doing it for the ratings, they influenced that individual. Every news station has viewers who can proclaim that they watched certain stations since they were kids and know all about the station. Those “super fans” of the news station have been influenced by the news talent’s opinions for stories over the years. The longer you have a staff member work at a particular station, the easier it will be to influence viewers’ opinions. Becoming aware of communication theories in the news industry will help put a stop to fake news. Any worker in the news industry should speak out if a topic they know is fake because if they don’t, the communication theories prove that the misinformation will spread quickly.
