There is no single definition for the term, "fake news". Generally the term is refers to false or misleading information presented as news. Most often the purpose of "fake news" is to cause harm to the reputation of an individual or group of individuals, to gain, regain, or sustain power, or to simply make money. It's also used by people to "refute" any news or information they don't like, and thus shut down a conversation.
Although false news has always been spread throughout history, the term "fake news" was first used in the 1890s when sensational reports in newspapers were common.
Back in 1274 BCE Ramses II, a young Egyptian Pharaoh was planning to invade the city of Kadesh route in his quest to expand control of an important trading route. He was a victim of "fake news" when enemy spies disguised as local tribesman claimed enemy forces were still hundreds of miles away, when in reality they were planning a surprise attack.
Ramses II was saved not by his soldiers who lagged behind, but by the last-minute intervention of the Egyptian army. They had to retreat and ultimately agreed to a peace treaty. However, Ramses, proclaimed himself victor, promoted his "fake news" by having accounts of his great victory carved on monuments and temples throughout Egypt. He spread his "fake news" further in a poem titled, the Poem of Pentaur.
Johannes Gutenberg, a German goldsmith invented the movable type printing press in the mid 1400s. which was the beginning of mass communication. The rise of literacy and the widespread circulation of information and ideas meant people at all levels of society had access to information that once only in the hands of the political and religious authorities. This was a massive and permanent shift in human development
The Power of the History
In the mid 550s CE, Ottoman's court historian, Procopius branded Ottoman Emperor Justinian and his wife, Empress Theodora as half-demons responsible for the deaths of more than a trillion people. Procopius was not a fan of the Emperor and Empress, but as historian held all the power.
The Power of Gender
In 1610, 9-year old Louis XIII became King of France after the assassination of his father. His mother Marie became Regent of France and ruled until Louis was of age. Besotted with power she refused to step down and claimed that her son was too simple-minded and weak to rule. The new king banished his mother to a castle in the middle of nowhere, but Marie spent her time trying to regain power by publishing pamphlets declaring herself the better ruler. Louis published pamphlets of his own calling Marie irrational and and a bad mother, and won vero win over the nobles, most of whom were men.
The Power of the Press
In the United States "fake news' played a prominent role in gaining independence from the British. The Founding Fathers used newspapers to keep public opinion on their side. In 1782 Benjamin Franklin published a fake newspaper supplement styled to look like the Boston Independent Chronicle and sent it to friends in the colonies and England in hopes of building support at home with and turning the British public against the war.
Founders continued to use "fake news" after the war. "Fake news" played a prominent role in the second presidential campaign with both Thomas Jefferson and John Adams relying heavily on "fake news" and the press to promote their campaigns.
In the 1880s and 1890s rival publishers, William Randolph Hearst and Joseph Pulitzer, sough to dominate the newspaper industry. Understanding that repetition is the key to getting people to believe "fake news" they tailored their coverage to appeal to the different markets in different parts of the county. People paid to read stories about war, money and sex, topics that triggered their emotions which caused them to overlook both the facts and their own instincts that things didn't quite add up.
By the 1900s the public had grown tired of being manipulated by "fake news" and by the 1920s newspapers were hiring fact-checkers to review content for accuracy, which meant reporters had to provide the sources for their information.
By the 1860s for the first time people were able to send messages around the world instantly thanks to Samuel Morse and his invention the telegraph machine. It was an accomplishment so impossible to imagine that some people thought it was "fake news."
Pictured above is the the first telegraph message - Morse Code with
translation - sent from Washington DC to Baltimore. May 24,1844
The Big Lie
One of the most successful campaigns of "fake news" in history was run by the Nazi Regime in Germany. The focus of the campaign was to rid Germany of anyone who was not part of what Hitler deemed the master race. These people included - Jews, individuals with disabilities, members of LGBTQ communities, Communists, Roma, people from Poland and other Eastern European countries, and others who were not "straight, white able-bodied German Christians." Hitler couldn't manage this alone. He needed to convince people these groups were the "enemy of the people" to do either join in by turning in the Untermenschen (subhumans) or to look away. Triggering people's fears (emotions) and safety concerns in this way led to the hatred and violence that ultimately led to World War II.
In 1933, Joseph Goebbels was appointed as Nazi Enlightenment and Propaganda Minister by Hitler to spread "fake news" about Jews, painting them as corrupt and criminals, and those with disabilities a drain on the economy and therefore "unworthy of life." A key part of the ministry's effort was to take over media and publish newspapers, posters, and flyers to spread Nazi propaganda.
Walter Langer of the US Office of Strategic Services at that time described Hitler's psychological profile:
Hitler's primary rules were:
--- Langer, Walter C. “A Psychological Analysis of Adolph Hitler: His Life and Legend.”
Office of Strategic Services.
Otis, Cindy L., True or False: A CIA Analyst's Guide to Fighting Fake News. New York: 2020.
Data gathered from social media and other sources shapes the ads that dominate our news feeds. Data is gathered based on what we like, comment on and share; the posts we hide and delete; the videos we watch; the ads we click on; the quizzes we take, and for the sole purpose of money and profit.
Social media and messaging to try to sway voters in presidential elections particularly in the US and Kenya This is very bad news for anyone worried about truth and democracy. While in the US, fake news helped to propel into power a man lacking the credentials to be president, but in countries like Kenya, fake news can kill.
Infographic Text: Investigate the credibility of the source - Read beyond the headlines - Check the author's credentials - Is there a list of sources? - Is the article current and relevant or old and dated? Does the information seem like a joke or satire or is it real? - Check personal biases to see if it affects your judgment. - Do your own fact-checking or consult a librarian.
