We are living in the world with easy access to information.
We have much media – both new and traditional – at our disposal which can help us to be informed about the things around us.
However, with this media comes the risk of fake news, which influences what we know as “information”.
How can we can keep getting real news without discrepancies?
Building trust
Trust attracts viewers and builds credibility.
There should be a culture of integrity within media companies so that all its employees, including journalists, are true to their job and support or produce transparent and true content.
Trust can be achieved if it comes top down, where company leaders emphasise the culture of integrity and set an example for others.
Structuring media careers
There are times when journalists are under pressure and do not feel valued by their employer.
In designing job roles for journalists, it is important for media companies to balance between offering incentives and assessing accomplishment. This balance promotes the culture of integrity, where each employee is responsible.
It is also important for media companies to publish and encourage the publication of accurate information as much as possible, for both commercial and non-commercial content. This will help maintain reputation and encourage employees to develop the culture of integrity.
Accountability policies
Individual online accountability is another way media companies can avoid fake news.
This can be done through implementing policies related to real names, where people would have to show their sources when sharing or producing media content.
It is likely people who spread fake information are anonymous or hiding behind fake accounts.
Therefore, it will be helpful to make people accountable for their public activities.
Encouraging media literacy
Media literacy can help educate young people on identifying fake news and being responsible for their activities online.
Media literacy is a result of sustainable partnerships between media companies, educational institutions, and nonprofit organisations.
Media companies can provide funding for these kinds of partnerships at the grassroots level, and this makes it easier to produce and consume “real” news and prevent false information from spreading.
Media plays an important role in disseminating and consuming information. This makes our lives easier in terms of being informed.
However, the media also comes with the issue of false information, which is a challenge for media companies. This challenge can be solved through introducing a culture of trust and integrity in companies and at jobs, writing policies that encourage accountability, and media literacy programs among young people.
Further reading:
- How media organizations can get real and confront fake news
- Fake news on social media: Whose responsibility is it?
- How to combat fake news and disinformation
Photo by Mikhail Rakityanskiy on Unsplash.