Bad news about fake news can actually be good news

'What is true cannot be fake; what is fake cannot be true." If we apply this saying to the recent battle against fake news around the globe, then those who work in the media industry must have mixed feelings in their hearts.

Ever since social networks have become a mainstream trend, online media has mushroomed. People's habits of reading newspapers and absorbing news and information gradually changed - from reading paid newspapers to free newspapers, and visiting newspaper websites to viewing news updates shared on social media. At first, people might think this change is only an inevitable stage of social progress, with nothing to be moaned about.

Nevertheless, when the public is giving up the traditional way to acquire news and information but receiving a huge amount of free unverified information, we have to ask: "Will this information distort our rational thinking?" or "Will we make wrong decisions based on some misleading information?"

Switching from receiving news and information by reading newspapers to scrolling websites actually reflects a change in the audience's attitude toward pursuing knowledge. Paid newspaper readers must be proactive and take news and information seriously, or they will not be willing to pay for newspapers. But on social networks news is always mixed with scrambled information and arguments, in which the audience is passive; they are just fed news so they tend not to dwell on the authenticity of the news and information received. Hence, social networks are always the hotbeds of fake news which contribute to the flood of false news.

"Things will develop in the opposite direction when they become extreme"; the United States presidential election astonished everyone and made them realize that the overflow of fake news not only affects the information one receives, but also the destiny of a country. Following the establishment of a special government organization to fight against fake news in the Czech Republic, Germany also has plans to draw up legislation against fake news for fear that this year's election results would be controlled. The Culture, Media and Sport Committee of the United Kingdom has officially launched an investigation on "fake news" to prevent the public from receiving false promotional content. In Asia, Singapore and Taiwan are also looking into ways to cope with fake news.

There has been concern that the fight against fake news might infringe on the freedom of press and speech. Yet, if we turn a blind eye to the issue and allow fake news to grow, society as a whole would pay a heavy price. Fake news in Hong Kong is still sporadic but the public has already begun to realize the scourge it represents. After all, we often shape our understanding of things around us, as well as our judgment of right and wrong, through news and information. If fake news and false information are everywhere, we can no longer make a rational analysis.

Social networking platforms including Facebook and Google have recently said they will strictly block the spread of fake news. It still takes time to see the results but I believe the best measure is tackling the problem at its root.

The optimistic view is that every part of the world has become alert to the harm fake news could bring to society, thus the public is likely to reexamine the role and importance of traditional media. Perhaps this is the reason why both the circulation and readership of some traditional newspapers have begun to pick up recently. Ranked No 4 in circulation in the US, the Washington Post saw a 75 percent increase in the number of subscribers last year. It is true that it is still too early for now to tell whether the print media has revived. However, in face of international turmoil and a social environment filled with troubles, practices of traditional media featuring rigorous verification and objective reporting have an irreplaceable function. Hopefully everyone could cherish and acknowledge that.

The author is the chairman of the Newspaper Society of Hong Kong.

(HK Edition 05/10/2017 page9)