Characteristics of Fake News and Misinformation in Greece: The Rise of New Crowdsourcing-Based Journalistic Fact-Checking Models

Abstract

Fake news and misinformation are a menace to the public sphere, democracy, and society with sometimes irreversible consequences. Journalists in the new era seem not to be able or willing to play their traditional role of gatekeeper and social media have made the problem even more intense. The need for truth is unnegotiable in modern democracies. Nevertheless, non-true stories and misinformation dominate media outlets with severe consequences and negative impacts on societies all over the world. Fact-checking platforms based on crowdsourcing strategies or automated digital websites might be the answer to a problem that is escalating. Initially, in order to tackle such a severe problem, researchers and experts have to monitor its characteristics. Very few research attempts have been conducted in Greece on fake news, its characteristics, origin, and impact. This dissertation scopes to map the characteristics of fake news and misinformation in an EU country such as Greece, based on the findings of “Ellinika Hoaxes” a fact-checking platform that uses in combination professional fact-checkers and crowdsourcing strategies in collaboration with Facebook. The findings shape new perspectives on the nature of misinformation and fake news in Greece and focus on new communication and fact-checking models.

Bringing journalism back to its roots: examining fact-checking practices, methods, and challenges in the Mediterranean context

“…These findings, however, should be expanded in the future with the perspectives of other platforms operating in these countries. Further research should include fact-checking interventions in Greece, where few studies have been conducted (Lamprou et al, 2021), and compare initiatives operating in the Polarized Pluralist Model with those from democratic corporatist and liberal systems. Following the approach of the present study, additional in-depth interviews with decision-makers would be valuable to obtain a richer insight into the distinctive practices and strategies developed by fact-checkers in different countries and regions.…”

Challenges, Adaptability, and Resilience of Campus Journalists Amidst the COVID-19 Pandemic

“…The Disruption of on-site reporting reflects the broader challenge journalism faces in the digital age, as traditional reporting methods grapple with the advantages and constraints of technology. Journalism's essence is found in its capacity to convey authenticity, a quality traditionally based on firsthand experiences and being present at the scene (Lamprou et al, 2021). The student journalists' responses highlight the pandemic's impact on the relationship between traditional journalistic practices and emerging digital norms.…”

Spreading Fake Content via Social Media among Tertiary Level Students in Rangpur, Bangladesh

“…It has been described as made-up information that resembles news media content in form but differs in organizational structure or intent. This definition overlaps with that of other information disorders like misinformation, which is made-up information that is false or misleading (Lamprou et al, 2021), and disinformation, which is made-up information that is intentionally spread to mislead people (Lamprou et al, 2021). The failure of social media to confirm the veracity of a news item is partly to blame for the spread of false information.…”