The International Problem of Deceptive Alternative Media
Recognizing Untrustworthy News Sources
“Fake news is a big thing in the field of Social Media Journalism. Fake news can be as simple has spreading misinformation. or as dangerous as smearing hateful propaganda.”
~ Fabrizio Moreira
If you have spent much time on social media lately, you have probably seen people share links to alternative media sources. The term alternative media refers to media sources that are outside what is widely referred to as the mainstream media, such as most print newspapers and television news sources. There is a growing problem of deceptive alternative media that is spreading disinformation on their websites and through social media. While this has been getting a lot of attention in the United States, it is actually a global problem.
The internet has completely changed how news is produced and consumed in the United States and around the world. Anyone with an internet connection can create content from the comfort of their own homes, whether through a blog, YouTube videos, or digital content.
Not all media that is not produced by large, mainstream companies is harmful. There is a lot of useful information out there on a broad range of topics, from how to change the oil in your car to politics. Depending on the source and type of content, alternative media can be described as independent, non-corporate, activist, subversive, anarchist, grassroots, or radical.
As with any media, it is up to the consumer to evaluate these media sources and the reliability of the information found there. Unfortunately, many people are only too happy to share something that fits with their own personal beliefs or political ideology, without ever questioning whether the information is true or fabricated.
When Alternative Media Becomes Dangerous
Alternative media is not bound by the same standards of journalistic integrity as larger print organizations, such as The Washington Post or the New York Times or well-known and respected sources, such as NPR. While many smaller online publications and content creators do work hard to produce thoughtful, reliable, well-researched, and accurate content, this is not a given for alternative media sources. It isn’t even a given for larger corporate organizations. For example, Fox is often criticized as working for the Republican party and acting as state run television under the last administration.
Some are dedicated almost entirely to conspiracy theories and extremist views. When the former president got angry at Fox for telling the truth about the election results, he turned on them and began tweeting links to far right alternative media sources. Many of these sources were claiming fraud in the election, although there was absolutely no evidence of it. Others brazenly and falsely claimed that he “won” the election.
This abandonment of truth is dangerous for the country. We now have people insisting that the election was fraudulent when that is simply not the case. False information spread through far right alternative media sources has led many Republicans to believe the disinformation campaign about the election.
This idea started with the former president’s insistence that there was widespread voter fraud with mail in ballots. He started making this claim well in advance of Election Day. Throughout it all, he has produced absolutely no evidence of fraud. Despite lawsuits filed in Pennsylvania, Michigan, Wisconsin, Georgia, and Arizona, no evidence was presented in any of these lawsuits to show any type of fraud with mail in ballots or those cast on Election Day.
Although this is a fact and the election has been shown again and again to be legitimate, a shocking number of Republicans doubt the integrity of our election. This is dangerous for our democracy. We need to accept the results of our elections, even when our candidate does not win. A petty man is seeking to harm our democracy by interfering with the certification process and spreading lies about the outcome of the election.
Evaluating Alternative Media Sources
As with any media source, it is important to evaluate the information that is presented to determine if it is true. Consider the information in the article you are reading or the video that your brother sent you. Does the story ring true? Does the author or content creator provide any evidence to support the claims made in the piece? When possible, look for primary source information to either support or discredit what you are reading.
When you see something shared from an alternative media source, take a moment to check the accuracy of the information. One thing you can do is to check one or two of your trusted media sources to see if anyone credible and respected is covering the story. You can also fact check the information using any of the reliable fact checking websites. If a conspiracy theory or bit of disinformation has been discredited, you will be able to find fact checking information.
Take a look at the homepage of the website or the list of videos on their YouTube channel. This can give you a basic overview of the content they are creating. What do you see there? If it is post after post of conspiracy theories, discredited information, or just old-fashioned lies, you may want to reconsider trusting them or sharing anything that you may read there.
Make no mistake, there are people interested in tearing down our democracy for their own gain. One way this is being done is by spreading disinformation through alternative media sources and social media posts. Don’t help them. Stand up for the truth and call out lies when you see them. If we stand by and allow our democracy to be damaged by unscrupulous people, we will wake up one day stripped of our freedoms, starting with our right to vote.
