One notable fake news scandal is the "Pizzagate" conspiracy theory that emerged during the 2016 U.S. presidential election. This hoax falsely claimed that a Washington, D.C. pizzeria, Comet Ping Pong, was involved in a child sex trafficking ring linked to high-profile politicians, including Hillary Clinton. The story gained traction primarily through social media and was propagated by various online conspiracy theorists who were motivated by political agendas and the sensational nature of the claims. As a result of the fake news, the pizzeria's owner and employees faced harassment and threats, and a gunman even entered the restaurant, firing a weapon in an attempt to "investigate" the allegations. The individuals who spread this false story were largely unaccountable, as many were operating from anonymous social media accounts. This incident highlights my concern about the power of misinformation to incite violence and harm innocent people, emphasizing the need for responsible journalism and fact-checking in an era dominated by digital communication. (Source: NPR)
3. Whether it’s a false quote attributed to a celebrity or politician, or an event that never occurred, fake news stories spread misinformation and have the ability to inflict serious harm on people or society.
Assignment: Find a “fake news” scandal from the present or the past online. Read about the original news story, and analyze how the story violated one of the five core values of journalism. An appropriate response will be 4-6 sentences. You may use the internet to find answers to the questions below, but please provide the website name where you found the information at the end of your paragraph. This paragraph should demonstrate your best writing skills, and include correct spelling, punctuation, capitalization, and grammar.
Questions to help you analyze one value of journalism in your paragraph:
What is the story about?
Who originally reported the story/started the rumor? What do you think their motivation was to spread this fake news?
Who was harmed because of the fake news?
Was the person responsible for the fake news ever held responsible for their actions? If so, what happened to them?
What are your biggest concerns/fears about fake news as it relates to your life?
*Note: If you are having trouble finding a fake news scandal, you may research the following:
Sandy Hook School Shooting Conspiracy Theory
#Pizzagate Scandal
Ebola in Atlanta Hoax in 2014
Litter Boxes in School Hoax
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