Issue 9: Does Fake News Mislead the Public?

In the text, Taking Sides: Clashing Views in Mass Media and Society, we have scholars such as Julia R. Fox and Barry A. Hollander, who have formed their opinions on this issue. Julia R. Fox, has come up with the argument that the hype and humor found in fake news, make it difficult to recieve news that is substantive or factual. This also ties into the issue of young voters using fake news as a source for political coverage. Fox's argument refers mainly to The Daily Show with Jon Stewart. On page 177 in the text, it reads, "McKain goes so far as to consider whether those who only get their news from The Daily Show with Jon Stewart will "get" the jokes without benefit of learning factual information first from traditional news source." Then, we have Barry A. Hollander who argues that not all knowledge is the same. Also, entertainment-based programs contribute understanding to the issue at hand, which is common for younger viewers. Data from a national survey was used to see whether fake news did it's job of informing the viewers. This was also done, while focusing on recall and recognition, finding that the programs are more associated with recognition of information.

In my opinion, fake news does not necessarily mean it's "fake". Although hype and humor are a great part of it, it is possible to obtain factual and substantive information. By watching shows such as The Colbert Report and The Daily Show, it was easier to retain information. I'll admit that the amount of substantive information did not meet the amount of substantive information in traditional news. Mojority of the content is made up of hype and humor, but that's what attracts viewers, especially younger ones, such as myself.