Media Unmade - Chapter 24: Fake News

Welcome to the latest Unmade podcast. Today’s edition features another extract from the audio edition of my book, Media Unmade, which is published by Hardie Grant and available online and in book stores.In today’s chapter, I examine the period when the negative impact on democracy of social media platforms becomes impossible to ignore. The Cambridge Analytics scandal demonstrates Facebook’s carelessness with user data, while Brexit and the election of Donald Trump prove to be propelled by disinformation shared on the platform.Within the media industry, Facebook’s encouragement of publishers to pivot to on-platform video proves to be based on untrue metrics, while the questionable credibility of influencers is brought into focus.Then comes a new low. A mob - driven on by Donald Trump on Twitter, QAnon conspiracy theorists, and a partisan Fox News, launches a coup attempt in Washington, trying to overturn the result of the US election.If you enjoy hearing the podcast, please do give it a five star rating on whichever podcasting app you use. That helps other people find it, and gives me some much needed validation.Audio production on Media Unmade comes courtesy of Abe’s Audio, the people to talk to about voiceovers and sound design for corporate videos, digital content, commercials and podcasts.As ever, I welcome your thoughts to [email protected]…Tim BurrowesUnmade This is a public episode. If you would like to discuss this with other subscribers or get access to bonus episodes, visit unmade.substack.com