[kictanet] Economic sabotage via FAKE NEWS

[Victor bwire]

Interesting views..
The media is not rogue...they are laws to deal with excesses by the
media.....
And when it's fake, it's not news

On Mon, 14 Jan 2019, 23:42 Patrick A. M. Maina via kictanet <
kictanet at lists.kictanet.or.ke wrote:

> [long post - but interesting topic]
>
> Hi Listers, There is a new target for weaponised information (i.e. fake
> news / propaganda): The Economy.
>
> It is increasingly apparent that "Fake news" can be (and is being) used to
> sabotage and/or derail an entire country or region's economic agenda by
> (local and/or foreign) parties intent on furthering their own interests at
> any cost to the targeted country or region, and the media seems to be an
> unwitting (or unconcerned?) participant.
>
> Some of us may have already noticed a critical flaw in the "free media"
> business model. It is viewership (not the quality of stories) that drives
> their revenue. Now one would expect viewership and quality to be strongly
> correlated but that thought does not factor human nature.
>
> Majority of people gravitate towards entertaining / controversial /
> shocking / shaming subjects. Very few people care for deep, broad or
> complex analysis of the real issues especially if the conclusions are not
> sensational.
>
> Even fewer search for multiple viewpoints before drawing their own
> conclusions. They would rather trust the author to have done sufficient
> balanced research and analysis (which is often far from reality e.g. due to
> time constraints associated with "breaking" or "exclusive" news models).
>
> So *controversy* (not information) is what sustains media houses in
> democratic countries globally. Consequently this has made them easy targets
> for targeted disinformation campaigns. As much as the media claims to have
> a code of conduct or editorial policies, we see all over the world evidence
> that media (and/or journalism) is not free of overt/covert bias. In Kenya
> we have the open secret of "envelope" or "eWallet" journalism for example...
>
> Is "Free press" an illusion? How can a media house be free when its
> shareholders demand endless growth in profits - something that can only be
> achieved by "giving people what they want" (not what they need)?
>
> Which media house will publish a story that potentially upsets a major
> advertiser? Can they refuse millions from deep pocketed international
> lobbyists to spread propaganda (provided there are legal loopholes to evade
> treason, libel or other forms of accountability)?
>
> Critical thinkers will agree that nowadays the media (worldwide) are
> informing less and manipulating more...and it almost looks deliberate (no
> wonder the uptick in conspiracy theories globally!).
>
> The hidden (but harmful) impact of this is increased *mass ignorance*
> within populations at the very least, with other potentially worse
> implications (e.g. spread of unfounded fears or hate targeted at certain
> groups).
>
> Fake news is particularly insidious and destructive when the economy or
> development agenda is targeted for sabotage. To the average person, it
> looks like harmless gossip or sensational chatter from "concerned (usually
> faceless) groups" but if you consider the consequences in monetary terms,
> e.g. if truly beneficial projects be abandoned, delayed or scaled down for
> invalid or unjustifiable reasons, then there is a massive cost that the
> taxpayer will ultimately have to foot. What looks like fierce competition
> between geopolitical power players in pursuit of *their* interests can end
> up completely derailing an otherwise promising economic agenda of the
> targeted country/region.
>
> Should local media be held accountable for the consequences of
> facilitating economic sabotage  that is commensurate with any harmful
> impact of the fake/distorted/half-truth stories being told?
>
> I value press freedom but I think all freedoms are balanced with some kind
> of equitable accountability (such that A's freedoms don't harm B's rights).
> It is not the media that feels the pain of irresponsible reporting, its the
> MSME business people whose opportunities for growth get limited, or
> hardworking employees whose taxes (or costs of living) go up as government
> scrambles to raise funds in a booby trapped economy. Meanwhile the
> controversy / fake news fuelled media shareholders laugh all the way to the
> bank.
>
> The bigger picture for all of us, no matter our role in society, is to try
> contribute (within our abilities) towards peace, progress, democratic
> ideals, better standards of living and economic prosperity. I think it is
> irresponsible for one party to exercise its rights just for the sake of it,
> without regard to impact on other people's rights (e. g. to have a stable,
> predictable and growing economy).
>
> What do you think? Is the western model of "press freedom" failing? Share
> your thoughts.
>
> Brgds
> Patrick A. M. Maina
> (Independent Public Policy Analyst)
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