Fake news is characterized as "false, often sensational, information disseminated under the guise of news reporting" by the Collins English Dictionary, which emphasizes the two crucial aspects of falsehood and sensationalism. This form of news frequently includes fabricated information designed to mislead the public, presented in a manner that appears authentic. The term "sensational" refers to the exaggerated or alarming nature of content, which is intended to grab attention and evoke strong emotional responses. Fake news can manipulate readers into believing and transmitting inaccurate information by disguising it as legitimate. By leveraging sensationalism to increase its reach and impact, this deceptive approach exploits people's trust in the news media, distorting public opinion and undermining rational decision-making.
Cohen M., (2017) presented the fake news as a diverse range of content including misleading and harmful news, as well as politically charged propaganda. This description emphasizes the breadth of fake news and its objectives and suggests that it may encompass propaganda aimed at swaying public opinion as well as content intended to cause harm and mislead.
Lazer et al (2018) noted that fake news is intentionally crafted to mimic legitimate news but ignores journalistic standards. Despite adopting the style, language, and format of real news, fake news lacks verification and ethical guidelines of genuine journalism. This enables fake news to mislead readers by appearing credible, thus spreading misinformation and manipulating public opinion without the scrutiny and accountability of established news sources.
Gelfert A., (2013) defines fake news as the deliberate presentation of false or misleading claims as news, specifically designed to deceive. According to him, these claims were intentionally crafted to mislead the audience by appearing as credible news, thus creating false beliefs among readers.
In the digital age, fake news has grown to be a major worry, and social media platforms are essential to its quick spread. Instantaneous information sharing without extensive verification is possible on social media, in contrast to traditional print media that go through a more stringent editorial procedure. Fake news may travel great distances very fast, frequently within minutes of being created, thanks to its immediacy and simplicity of dissemination. Fake news spreads much farther thanks to social media's viral nature and algorithms that give priority to interesting and dramatic material. As a result, misleading information propagates quickly and disseminates widely before it can be sufficiently refuted.
By contrast, print media, with its slower dissemination process and higher standards of journalistic integrity, generally does not facilitate the rapid spread of fake news to the same extent. Newspapers and magazines typically involve multiple layers of fact-checking and editorial oversight, thereby reducing the likelihood of publishing false information. Furthermore, the physical nature of print media limits its immediate reach compared with the global accessibility of social media platforms. However, while print media are not immune to the spread of misinformation, its impact is often more localized and less immediate. Consequently, the public's exposure to fake news via print is relatively contained, allowing for a more controlled and measured response to misinformation. The stark differences in the dissemination processes of social media and print media underscore the challenges of combating fake news in the digital era, where speed and sensationalism often trump accuracy and accountability.
In summary, fake news is a pervasive issue that involves the deliberate creation and dissemination of false or misleading information, often designed to look like legitimate news. It can range from sensational and harmful stories to politically motivated propaganda. Unlike genuine journalism, fake news lacks the rigorous verification processes and ethical standards, making it a powerful tool for spreading misinformation and manipulating public opinion. The definitions and insights from various scholars emphasize the intentional deception behind fake news and its potential to create false beliefs and societal harm.