Fake News has been a topic of hot discussion in the past few months, particularly in the wake of the US presidential election. With the ever shifting dynamics of the internet, fake news has proliferated due to the ostensibly democratic platform the internet offers. Subsequently, many have claimed that the result of the presidential election was heavily influenced by false stories plaguing Hillary Clinton's campaign.
Putting news under scrutiny
Today, channel 4 announced that it will be running a weeks worth of programming dedicated to the topic of fake news.
In a press release, Channel 4 stated: "We will be examining the fakers peddling fiction as fact, professional blaggers stealing the headlines... in a world where the truth is compromised by popularity determined by clicks, likes and shares".
Programming will feature extensive reports, interviews and panel show discussing the subject of fake news. Further, Stephen Mangan will host a satirical programme titled "The Fake News Show" exploring some of the more absurd false stories circulating on social media. Other programmes scheduled include "Confessions of a Papparazzo" and "Britain's Greatest Hoaxer".
In a recent speech on the 11th January, Donald Trump dismissed claims made by a dossier of evidence composed by a former British spy as "fake news". One of the major concerns arising from Trump's dismissal of the dossier is that the term fake news appears to be being wielded to discredit journalistic commentary that the president-elect disagrees with.
BBC to assemble "reality check" team
Channel 4's announcement comes after the BBC news chief James Harding announced that the BBC would assemble a full-time "reality check" team to dismiss stories masquerading as truth and stories decried as false. Harding, in a statement posted on the BBC's website, said: "the BBC will be weighing in on the battle over truth, lies, distortion and exaggerations. We are working with Mark Zuckerberg at FaceBook to determine what is the best means of checking reality".