Free Press and Fake News

Fake news is on the increase, whether it is the digitally enhanced photograph which literally doesn't show the true picture, government and corporate PR machines which package and deliver stories favourable to their own interests, or any number of 'advertorial' or 'infotainment features published in both the electronic and print media.

Western democracies in particular pride themselves on having a 'free' press - but what value does a free press have if it increasingly allows itself to promote fakery and false news on behalf of vested interests?

Andy Duckworth

San Quentin News Serves Captive Audience

We added an unusual addition to our California newspaper listings this morning - the San Quentin News.  Produced by the inmates of San Quentin State Prison, this behind bars tabloid seeks to inform and entertain the prison's 5,214 potential readership while giving the paper's journalistic staff the chance to acquire some useful skills under the mentorship of Stanford University Professor Tobias Wolff.  The newspaper was the subject of an interesting piece in Saturday's San Fransico Chronicle.

Who cares about Foreign Affairs?

In an increasingly globalised world, do we know enough about each other? Do we know what makes other countries tick? More to the point do we care?

It may come as a shock to some to know that in the USA and other countries, the coverage of international events by the media is declining. An article by Tara Sonenshine posted on the Media Channel  quotes research showing that coverage of international events by American journalism is declining more than any other subject. For example one study reported, 64% of participating newspaper editors csaying that their papers had reduced the space for international news.

Should we be concerned about this decline?

What do you think?