False News and Protection

False reports in the simplest sense are incorrect information designed to deceive and play with the feelings of a certain audience.

“Fake News (false news) is a fabricated and published information with the aim of misleading and disoriginating others by the belief of lies or in doubt of verifiable facts”. London-based Ethical Journalism Network

In traditional definitions, the news characterizes importance, currentity, and proximity. And when it comes to the value of the news, it is always thought of as a result of his appearance, his benefit, and his interest. All of these under different conditions and circumstances are also replaced by the news as such on the basis of criteria and is maintained as stable.

But do all these criteria apply at all times? The answer to that question is simple, No.

The money media, however, are businesses, and as such they implement agendas and interests of certain groups. Thus, the media many times become their assistant by misinterpreting the public. So, under these circumstances, all that can be done is criticize media content and fight false news.

Numerous scholars and various media institutions worldwide have prepared some concrete steps to guard against false news that can come to us at any time or in various forms. But first let's see how false news comes to us?

As noted above, false news exists almost because of the very existence of journalism or distribution of information. Today, the term 'Fake News' has received attention only because of social networks that can distribute information, truths, and falsehoods in a very short time around the world. We remember the recent US presidential elections: it is thought that President Donald Trump's victory was achieved just by the false news that was shared by social networks.

The brand News contest comes in expression in times of election campaigns, when various political groups use the spaces that social networks offer to distribute information that could harm a different party. Apparently, this form is coming to an end because social networks like it is Facebook has begun filtering information distributed by this social network. Although the damage resulting from this form of information distribution may be considered significant thus far.

In countries where the internet is used very much, and even more where social networks have a huge scope, such as our country, disseminating incorrect information, is potentially huge. According to statistics, there are more than 1 million active users of the Fawcebook in Kosovo, while over half a million Kosovars use the other social network '%Instagram. These figures speak of a great opportunity to distribute information to a given audience.

How Can We Avoid False News?

While the internet itself is viewed as a free space to be used by people without obstruction, stopping distribution of information in any form can be considered an obstacle to freedom of expression. And since this form should not occur in democratic countries, the only way to avoid false news is to know how to protect ourselves from it. Following are some advice that even media scholars recommend on how to protect against Fache News.

Consider the source of the information: Look for the background or story story and place of the event;

Who is the author of the news: Make a quick search for the author, is he reliable?

See the date for publishing the news: If the news is old, it is not important for actual events;

Read the whole report: We often read only the headlines? But titles and subheadings can be deceptive, look at the whole event as reflected;

Check information sources: Consider the sources of support, how supported is the story of those sources;

Is the news with the satirical content: Nowadays, satirical sites have been added, careful not to fall prey to them;

Ask field connoisseurs: In the end, before you get some good news, but you're not sure about it, then ask the experts in the field you've read about.

These are just some of the suggestions given to protect against false news. As long as all useless or biased news is identified in various parts of the world, media education subjects are practiced. Even this subject is already being applied to countries in the region, such as Albania. Media education would help young people in elementary and high schools to become conscious and consume useful information and at the same time avoid falling prey to false news that may come in various forms.

In Kosovo, while discussing the importance of this subject and in general about the importance of media education, concrete steps are still lacking to introduce media education in schools. The Ministry of Science and Technology, this subject has not yet extended to all schools, and this has even proved to be electoral classes in only two schools in the capital. In order for all of us to be free to be informed correctly and correctly and not to fall prey to fraud from false news, this subject would greatly help in this respect, and therefore media education becomes necessary today.