week 14 - Panel debate on what can, or should, be done about fake news

Frontline Club hosts discussion about the phenomenon that has exposed sharp differences between mainstream media and social media.

The terms “post-truth”, “fake news” and “misinformation” have opened a heated debate about the problematic relationship between mainstream news organisations and social media platforms, such as Twitter and Facebook.

Journalists working for traditional media outlets now view it as part of their task to debunk the erroneous reports which circulate online.

They are responding in part to demands from readers who are calling for new standards of accuracy and impartiality.But have they the resources to accomplish the task? Have cuts within the industry contributed to the arrival of the “fake news” phenomenon? And will those cuts make it more difficult to devote the necessary time to expose the falsehoods?

 In short, how can journalism maintain its integrity at a time when unverified information circulates on social media under the guise of fact?

Tait is the technology and digital culture writer at the New Statesman with a particular interest in cyber-psychology and the way social media has revolutionised our world. Murgia is European technology correspondent for the Financial Times.