In A Question of Ethics Beware Fake news in Chapter 9, the most important lesson is that

Public relations practitioners disseminate client information in earned, owned, and paid media. Ethically, responsibility lies in the creation of accurate information with honesty and good intent. However, as with the case of native advertising, the roles public relations, advertising, and marketing are merged. Native advertising also blurs the line between editorial and paid content. With this tactic, the content sponsor pays the publisher to distribute information in a platform that resembles the publication’s content in format and substance. Lesson 1 explores the concept of native advertising, discusses the identification of native advertising in all its forms, and provides understanding of the role native advertising plays for different entities. Lesson 1 discusses the TARES test as a tool for ethical decision making and offers a native advertising case study.

Lesson 2 focuses on the various types of “fake” in “fake news.” Providing examples of past fake news occurrences, this lesson looks at the fake news and considers the public relations professionals’ response to the false information. Lesson 2 discusses the difference between misleading content, false connection, imposter sources, manipulated content, and full fabrication. A case study investigates the dissemination of fake news and asks participants to consider courses of action, consequences, and moral reasoning. In addressing the consideration of fake news for public relations professionals, Lesson 2 asks students to apply The Page Principles and the PRSA Code of Ethics. It also offers tips for public relations practitioners to avoid and manage fake news.

News stories reported that “Trump’s grandfather was a pimp and tax evader; his father was a member of the KKK.” They also reported of “Nancy Pelosi diverting Social Security money for the impeachment inquiry.” However, neither of the stories are true.

Yet, they provided the basis for the top two, fake news stories on Facebook in 2019. According to an Avaaz report, the top 100 fake news stories in 2019 were viewed more than 150 million times. In turn, this false information could have reached every registered voter at least once (Gilbert, 2019).

Fake news impacts both media trust and credibility. Fake news is defined as content that is intentionally misleading, sensationalized, or deliberately false (Fullerton, McKinnon, and Kendrick, 2020).

The convergence of media and the ease of sharing on social networks allows for quick dissemination of both truthful and false information. For public relations professionals, both the way we shape clients’ messages and how we respond to mediated messages contribute to the public conversation.

Not only is fake news in itself troubling, but the public also contributes to its dissemination.

Silverman (2016) reports that the “Top 20 Fake News” stories of 2016 received more engagement than the “Top 20 Legitimate News” stories that year.

In fact, individuals often share fake news story via their social media outlets. Wyatt (2006) suggests that an understanding of media literacy can serve as a trust builder. For strategic communicators, media literacy is important for both analyzing media content and for creating PR messages, advertising copy, audio and video content, and multimedia applications.

In the fake news environment, PR practitioners can help the public distinguish between truthful and misleading content. The Page Principle “Conduct public relations like the whole organization depends on it” places emphasis on the managerial function of public relations. Practitioners must work to express stakeholder views, values, experience, expectations and aspirations.

As content creators, practitioners are responsible for information disseminated in earned, owned, and paid media. With fake news, the original source of the message is difficult to determine.  Sponsored posts, personal blogs, lack of bylines, promoted content, self-publication and the use of native advertising allows for content to mimic traditional news.

Sensationalized headlines and click-bait often lead to stories that earn advertising revenue. Ethically, PR practitioners should consider the content they are distributing and its transparency. The Page Principle “Tell the Truth” calls for the creation of accurate information with honesty and good intent.

There also are important ethical implications for practitioners to consider when their client is the target of a fake news story. First, the level of truth/falseness must be considered. Next, practitioners must develop a strategic response to combat the misinformation.

As practitioners, we must “Prove It with Action.” This Page Principle tells us the organization is judged based on 90 percent of what it does and on 10 percent of what it says. In a fake news environment, practitioners should “Remain Calm, Patient, and Good Humored.” Client response to a fake news crisis, provides the groundwork for reasoned attention to information from stakeholders and for shaping the public conversation with accurate information.

Gilbert (6 Nov. 2019). The 10 most-viewed fake-news stories on Facebook in 2019 were just revealed in a new report. Business Insider. Retrieved from https://www.businessinsider.com/most-viewed-fake-news-stories-shared-on-facebook-2019-2019-11

Fullerton, J. A., McKinnon, L. M. & Kendrick, A. (2020). Media literacy among public relations students: An analysis of future PR professionals in the post-truth era. Journal of Public Relations Education, 6(2), 1-25.

The Page Principles. The Arthur W. Page Center: For Integrity in Public Communication. Retrieved from https://www.bellisario.psu.edu/page-center/about/arthur-w-page/the-page-principles

Silverman,C. (2016, Nov. 16). This analysis shows how viral fake election news stories outperformed real news on Facebook. Buzz Feed News. Retrieved from https://www.buzzfeednews.com/article/craigsilverman/viral-fake-election-news-outperformed-real-news-on-facebook.

Wyatt, W. N. (2006). Media literacy as a trust builder: How media education can foster critical and sympathetic news audiences. Paper presented at the association for journalism and mass communication, San Francisco, CA.

Module 12, Lesson 1 References

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Module 12, Lesson 2 References

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