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2016 The Background Of Fake News: Through What Theory Can We Understand The 2016 Us Presidential Election

Author

Listed:
  • Ștefan VLÄ‚DUÈšESCU

    (CCSCMOP, University of Craiova, Romania)

  • Dan Valeriu VOINEA

    (CCSCMOP, University of Craiova, Romania)

Abstract

The study starts from the finding that starting with 2016 in the journalistic, strategic and academic, state and independent media, there are intense, wide and contradictory debates regarding the fake news phenomenon. The present investigation constitutes a composite research: a) it marks the voluntary and / or involuntary contribution of Donald Trump to putting in the agenda of technical, political and theoretical the concerns of fake news and declaring our age as "the age of fake news", b) it asks questions about the possibility of technical and theoretical control of fake news, c) we find that the big theories regarding public opinion and media influence are inapplicable to this social phenomenon and d) ask questions about a potential, future theory that can describe and explain optimally the fake news phenomenon. The working method is complex, combining meta-analytical, comparative procedures and the history of concepts. From the review of the most significant theories of media effects (one step flow, two steps flow, spiral of silence and agenda-setting with its "forms" - framing and priming) it appears that most of them have been elaborated by following close observation of some electoral campaigns: except for the spiral of silence it was always about the American presidential campaigns. The bottom line is that these theories cannot give a satisfactory explanation of the fake news phenomenon and the success of Donald Trump's US presidential campaign .As such, it appears necessary in the future to configure a comprehensive theory that a) describes and explains the blow given by Donald Trump and b) evaluates and norms the behaviour of generating fake news. Finally, for a future research the idea that the irradiating core of fake news is a factoid and / or a factlet must be taken into account.

Suggested Citation

  • Ștefan VLÄ‚DUÈšESCU & Dan Valeriu VOINEA, 2019. "2016 The Background Of Fake News: Through What Theory Can We Understand The 2016 Us Presidential Election," Social Sciences and Education Research Review, Department of Communication, Journalism and Education Sciences, University of Craiova, vol. 6(2), pages 257-279, November.
    • Handle: RePEc:edt:jsserr:v:6:y:2019:i:2:p:257-279
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    References listed on IDEAS

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    1. Bianca Teodorescu, 2016. "Public Relations Campaign in the Internet Era," Annals of the University of Craiova for Journalism, Communication and Management, Department of Communication, Journalism and Education Sciences, University of Craiova, vol. 2(1), pages 101-108, October.
    2. Jonathan Albright, 2017. "Welcome to the Era of Fake News," Media and Communication, Cogitatio Press, vol. 5(2), pages 87-89.
    3. Nicoleta Corbu & Mădălina Boţan, 2013. "Priming And Framing Effects In The Media Coverage Of The 2009 Romanian Presidential Elections," Revista Romana de Sociologie, Revista Romana de Sociologie - actualizata si mentinuta de Editura Lumen/ Romanian Journal of Sociology, vol. 5, pages 499-513.
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    Cited by:

    1. Georgiana Camelia Stănescu, 2020. "Disinformation During The Cornavirus Pandemic. An Analysis Of The Types Of Fake News In Four States," Social Sciences and Education Research Review, Department of Communication, Journalism and Education Sciences, University of Craiova, vol. 7(1), pages 349-361, July.

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    More about this item

    Keywords

    fake news; factoid; 2016 US Presidential election; Donald Trump;
    All these keywords.

    JEL classification:

    • Z0 - Other Special Topics - - General

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