Titel
Correcting False Information: Journalistic Coverage During the 2016 and 2020 US Elections
Autor*in
Abstract
This study examines journalistic coverage of false information through a qualitative textual analysis of news about four popular false information cases during the 2016 and 2020 US presidential elections: The false claims that (1) the Pope endorsed Donald Trump; (2) Hillary Clinton and her campaign manager ran a pedophilia ring in a pizza shop; (3) the 2020 election was fraudulent and stolen; and (4) liberal politicians and celebrities were Satan worshippers and pedophiles. The analysis identified three dimensions of correction of false information in news coverage. The first dimension examined emphasis on the correct rather than false information. This nuanced past research by considering different practices, such as elaborating on correct information and avoiding the inclusion of incorrect information. The second dimension referred to the tone used to correct false information. The adoption of an assertive tone demonstrated journalists’ use of their voice to authoritatively correct false information. The third dimension entailed the inclusion of sources, which were used to frame correct information consistently with a diversity of audiences’ worldviews. These findings offer a framework to assess journalistic reporting on false information and illuminate strategies to stem its spread.
Stichwort
News mediafalse
informationUnited Statescoveragequalitative
analysiscorrectiondebunking
Objekt-Typ
Sprache
Englisch [eng]
Persistent identifier
Erschienen in
Titel
Journalism Studies
Band
25
Ausgabe
2
ISSN
1461-670X
Erscheinungsdatum
2023
Seitenanfang
218
Seitenende
236
Publication
Informa UK Limited
Erscheinungsdatum
2023
Zugänglichkeit
Rechteangabe
© 2023 The Author(s)
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