Fake news and storytelling: two sides of the same coin or two equal coins?

Abstract

Fake news and storytelling have been approached as completely different constructs. The former is intentionally and demonstrably false or misleading information, whereas storytelling produces a narrative with veracity and authenticity that are not easily verifiable. However, both can deceive readers and are inserted within a social and historical context that contributes to regulating discourse production, circulation, and reception. This essay advocates the idea that, in essence, fake news and storytelling narratives are two equal coins, similar in the processes of making and reproducing information and, mainly, in their goal of obtaining and maintaining economic, social, or political capital.