[Music] [Applause]
as an investigative journalist I found
as an investigative journalist I found myself with a few questions about the
myself with a few questions about the
myself with a few questions about the emergence of fake news as a phrase and
emergence of fake news as a phrase and
emergence of fake news as a phrase and as a fat number one what does fake news
as a fat number one what does fake news
as a fat number one what does fake news of what is not number two when did fake
of what is not number two when did fake
of what is not number two when did fake news begin and number three most
news begin and number three most
news begin and number three most interesting of all I’ve investigated the
interesting of all I’ve investigated the
interesting of all I’ve investigated the shadowy multi-billion dollar industry
shadowy multi-billion dollar industry
shadowy multi-billion dollar industry that seeks to manipulate all of us
that seeks to manipulate all of us
that seeks to manipulate all of us through news social media and online so
through news social media and online so
through news social media and online so I wondered who’s behind the massive
I wondered who’s behind the massive
I wondered who’s behind the massive effort to direct our attention onto fake
effort to direct our attention onto fake
effort to direct our attention onto fake news is fake news real first the
news is fake news real first the
news is fake news real first the definition of fake news depends on where
definition of fake news depends on where
definition of fake news depends on where you sit it’s not as if there’s an
you sit it’s not as if there’s an
you sit it’s not as if there’s an extreme dictionary Authority that gets
extreme dictionary Authority that gets
extreme dictionary Authority that gets to decide for everybody there’s some are
to decide for everybody there’s some are
to decide for everybody there’s some are trying more on that in a moment
trying more on that in a moment
trying more on that in a moment but when did fake news under anybody’s
but when did fake news under anybody’s
but when did fake news under anybody’s definition began well fake this has
definition began well fake this has
definition began well fake this has always been embedded in our culture it
always been embedded in our culture it
always been embedded in our culture it just wasn’t called that the supermarket
just wasn’t called that the supermarket
just wasn’t called that the supermarket rags gave popularized a blatantly fake
rags gave popularized a blatantly fake
rags gave popularized a blatantly fake news with front-page images of aliens
news with front-page images of aliens
news with front-page images of aliens impregnating unsuspecting usually large
impregnating unsuspecting usually large
impregnating unsuspecting usually large breasted earthling women most people
breasted earthling women most people
breasted earthling women most people probably believe little to nothing of
probably believe little to nothing of
probably believe little to nothing of what they read these publications a few
what they read these publications a few
what they read these publications a few people might have believed everything
people might have believed everything
people might have believed everything but there are countless examples of fake
but there are countless examples of fake
but there are countless examples of fake news surfacing in mainstream news
news surfacing in mainstream news
news surfacing in mainstream news example in 1996 a news media frenzy
example in 1996 a news media frenzy
example in 1996 a news media frenzy wrongly blamed a security guard named
wrongly blamed a security guard named
wrongly blamed a security guard named Richard Jewell for the Atlanta Olympic
Richard Jewell for the Atlanta Olympic
Richard Jewell for the Atlanta Olympic bombing we later learned that poor Jule
bombing we later learned that poor Jule
bombing we later learned that poor Jule had actually been a hero moving people
had actually been a hero moving people
had actually been a hero moving people away from a suspicious backpack before
away from a suspicious backpack before
away from a suspicious backpack before it exploded on 9/11 a network TV news
it exploded on 9/11 a network TV news
it exploded on 9/11 a network TV news reporter falsely reported that a
reporter falsely reported that a
reporter falsely reported that a terrorist plane had crashed in the
terrorist plane had crashed in the
terrorist plane had crashed in the presidential retreat Camp David never
presidential retreat Camp David never
presidential retreat Camp David never happened the internet revolutionized
happened the internet revolutionized
happened the internet revolutionized fake news whether we’re talking about a
fake news whether we’re talking about a
fake news whether we’re talking about a rumor or intentional disinformation or
rumor or intentional disinformation or
rumor or intentional disinformation or bias sloppy erroneous reporting what
bias sloppy erroneous reporting what
bias sloppy erroneous reporting what would have circulated amongst a relative
would have circulated amongst a relative
would have circulated amongst a relative few could now develop a global following
few could now develop a global following
few could now develop a global following overnight example in 2012 26 people were
overnight example in 2012 26 people were
overnight example in 2012 26 people were murdered at Sandy Hook elementary blogs
murdered at Sandy Hook elementary blogs
murdered at Sandy Hook elementary blogs and social media immediately began
and social media immediately began
and social media immediately began circulating rumors and images
circulating rumors and images
circulating rumors and images it’s sitting the whole thing was a hoax
it’s sitting the whole thing was a hoax
it’s sitting the whole thing was a hoax drummed up by the government and staged
drummed up by the government and staged
drummed up by the government and staged by actors in 2014
by actors in 2014
by actors in 2014 Rolling Stone magazine reported on a
Rolling Stone magazine reported on a
Rolling Stone magazine reported on a sensational case of a fraternity gang
sensational case of a fraternity gang
sensational case of a fraternity gang rape that turned out to be so
rape that turned out to be so
rape that turned out to be so unsubstantiated the Rolling Stone
unsubstantiated the Rolling Stone
unsubstantiated the Rolling Stone retracted the article and the reporter
retracted the article and the reporter
retracted the article and the reporter was found guilty of malice in a
was found guilty of malice in a
was found guilty of malice in a defamation lawsuit and whatever you
defamation lawsuit and whatever you
defamation lawsuit and whatever you think of the 2014 police shooting of
think of the 2014 police shooting of
think of the 2014 police shooting of Michael Brown even the Obama Justice
Michael Brown even the Obama Justice
Michael Brown even the Obama Justice Department eventually ruled that the
Department eventually ruled that the
Department eventually ruled that the entire hands up don’t shoot scenario
entire hands up don’t shoot scenario
entire hands up don’t shoot scenario which blanketed the news day in and day
which blanketed the news day in and day
which blanketed the news day in and day out was probably fabricated and as a
out was probably fabricated and as a
out was probably fabricated and as a police officer acted in legitimate
police officer acted in legitimate
police officer acted in legitimate self-defense but it wasn’t until 2016
self-defense but it wasn’t until 2016
self-defense but it wasn’t until 2016 that the actual phrase fake news was
that the actual phrase fake news was
that the actual phrase fake news was introduced to the American public on a
introduced to the American public on a
introduced to the American public on a national scale liberals were first to
national scale liberals were first to
national scale liberals were first to heavily promote use of the phrase
heavily promote use of the phrase
heavily promote use of the phrase referring to conservative disinformation
referring to conservative disinformation
referring to conservative disinformation and right-wing websites and there’s
and right-wing websites and there’s
and right-wing websites and there’s certainly plenty of that example as
certainly plenty of that example as
certainly plenty of that example as Donald Trump and Hillary Clinton battles
Donald Trump and Hillary Clinton battles
Donald Trump and Hillary Clinton battles about a website called the conservative
about a website called the conservative
about a website called the conservative Daily Post published a huge amount of
Daily Post published a huge amount of
Daily Post published a huge amount of Pro Trump anti-clinton propaganda the
Pro Trump anti-clinton propaganda the
Pro Trump anti-clinton propaganda the name and likeness of a former beauty
name and likeness of a former beauty
name and likeness of a former beauty queen named Laura hunter the Cabrillo
queen named Laura hunter the Cabrillo
queen named Laura hunter the Cabrillo Laura hunter says she didn’t write any
Laura hunter says she didn’t write any
Laura hunter says she didn’t write any of those articles
of those articles
of those articles she claims imposters turned her into a
she claims imposters turned her into a
she claims imposters turned her into a spokesman for a radical right-wing
spokesman for a radical right-wing
spokesman for a radical right-wing website that pedals fake news she sued
website that pedals fake news she sued
website that pedals fake news she sued them meantime Trump and conservatives
them meantime Trump and conservatives
them meantime Trump and conservatives counterpunch with their own notion of
counterpunch with their own notion of
counterpunch with their own notion of fake news meaning biased sloppy
fake news meaning biased sloppy
fake news meaning biased sloppy erroneous reporting as committed by the
erroneous reporting as committed by the
erroneous reporting as committed by the mainstream media and the left plenty of
mainstream media and the left plenty of
mainstream media and the left plenty of that to example on president Trump’s
that to example on president Trump’s
that to example on president Trump’s first day in office a Time magazine
first day in office a Time magazine
first day in office a Time magazine reporter falsely reported the Trump had
reporter falsely reported the Trump had
reporter falsely reported the Trump had removed the bus statue of Martin Luther
removed the bus statue of Martin Luther
removed the bus statue of Martin Luther King from the Oval Office the white
King from the Oval Office the white
King from the Oval Office the white house quickly tweeted out a photo
house quickly tweeted out a photo
house quickly tweeted out a photo showing statue is still very much there
showing statue is still very much there
showing statue is still very much there the reporter perhaps blinded by his own
the reporter perhaps blinded by his own
the reporter perhaps blinded by his own bias had followed the most basic tenets
bias had followed the most basic tenets
bias had followed the most basic tenets of beginning journalism check your facts
of beginning journalism check your facts
of beginning journalism check your facts so if fake news by other names has
so if fake news by other names has
so if fake news by other names has always been around why does it suddenly
always been around why does it suddenly
always been around why does it suddenly become the stuff of daily headlines
become the stuff of daily headlines
become the stuff of daily headlines during the 2016 campaign
during the 2016 campaign
during the 2016 campaign I did a little digging and I traced the
I did a little digging and I traced the
I did a little digging and I traced the effort to a nonprofit called first draft
effort to a nonprofit called first draft
effort to a nonprofit called first draft which appears to be about the first to
which appears to be about the first to
which appears to be about the first to use the phrase fake news of its modern
use the phrase fake news of its modern
use the phrase fake news of its modern context on September 13th 2016 first
context on September 13th 2016 first
context on September 13th 2016 first draft announced a partnership to tackle
draft announced a partnership to tackle
draft announced a partnership to tackle malicious hoax isn’t fake News reports
malicious hoax isn’t fake News reports
malicious hoax isn’t fake News reports the goal was supposedly to separate
the goal was supposedly to separate
the goal was supposedly to separate wheat from chaff to prevent on proven
wheat from chaff to prevent on proven
wheat from chaff to prevent on proven conspiracy talk from figuring
conspiracy talk from figuring
conspiracy talk from figuring prominently in internet searches to
prominently in internet searches to
prominently in internet searches to relegate today’s version of the alien
relegate today’s version of the alien
relegate today’s version of the alien baby story to a special Internet
baby story to a special Internet
baby story to a special Internet oblivion exactly one month later
oblivion exactly one month later
oblivion exactly one month later President Obama shine did he insisted in
President Obama shine did he insisted in
President Obama shine did he insisted in a speech that he too thought somebody
a speech that he too thought somebody
a speech that he too thought somebody needed to step in and curate information
needed to step in and curate information
needed to step in and curate information in this Wild Wild West media environment
in this Wild Wild West media environment
in this Wild Wild West media environment nobody in the public have been clamoring
nobody in the public have been clamoring
nobody in the public have been clamoring for any such thing yet suddenly the
for any such thing yet suddenly the
for any such thing yet suddenly the topic of fake news dominates headlines
topic of fake news dominates headlines
topic of fake news dominates headlines on a daily basis it’s as if the media
on a daily basis it’s as if the media
on a daily basis it’s as if the media have been given its marching orders fake
have been given its marching orders fake
have been given its marching orders fake news they insisted was an imminent
news they insisted was an imminent
news they insisted was an imminent threat to American democracy but as
threat to American democracy but as
threat to American democracy but as somebody who studied the industry that
somebody who studied the industry that
somebody who studied the industry that seeks to manipulate all of us on behalf
seeks to manipulate all of us on behalf
seeks to manipulate all of us on behalf of paid interests I know that few themes
of paid interests I know that few themes
of paid interests I know that few themes arise in our environment organically a
arise in our environment organically a
arise in our environment organically a noted propagandist told me it’s like a
noted propagandist told me it’s like a
noted propagandist told me it’s like a movie he said and it gave me chills at
movie he said and it gave me chills at
movie he said and it gave me chills at the time nearly every scene or image
the time nearly every scene or image
the time nearly every scene or image that crosses our path at daily life he
that crosses our path at daily life he
that crosses our path at daily life he said was put there for a reason
said was put there for a reason
said was put there for a reason often by someone who paid a lot of money
often by someone who paid a lot of money
often by someone who paid a lot of money to place it there what if the whole anti
to place it there what if the whole anti
to place it there what if the whole anti fake news campaign was an effort on
fake news campaign was an effort on
fake news campaign was an effort on somebody’s part to keep us from seeing
somebody’s part to keep us from seeing
somebody’s part to keep us from seeing or believing certain websites of stories
or believing certain websites of stories
or believing certain websites of stories by controversial izing them or labeling
by controversial izing them or labeling
by controversial izing them or labeling them as fake news but who would want to
them as fake news but who would want to
them as fake news but who would want to do such a thing
do such a thing
do such a thing with connecting the dots I find it often
with connecting the dots I find it often
with connecting the dots I find it often helps to follow the money I wanted to
helps to follow the money I wanted to
helps to follow the money I wanted to know who was funding the nonprofit first
know who was funding the nonprofit first
know who was funding the nonprofit first draft and his anti fake news effort I
draft and his anti fake news effort I
draft and his anti fake news effort I found the answer it was Google Google’s
found the answer it was Google Google’s
found the answer it was Google Google’s parent company alphabet was run by a man
parent company alphabet was run by a man
parent company alphabet was run by a man named Eric Schmidt
named Eric Schmidt
named Eric Schmidt Eric Schmidt as it happens had devoted
Eric Schmidt as it happens had devoted
Eric Schmidt as it happens had devoted himself to Hillary Clinton’s election
himself to Hillary Clinton’s election
himself to Hillary Clinton’s election campaign offered himself up as a
campaign offered himself up as a
campaign offered himself up as a campaign adviser and became a top
campaign adviser and became a top
campaign adviser and became a top multimillion-dollar donor to it
multimillion-dollar donor to it
multimillion-dollar donor to it his company funded first draft around
his company funded first draft around
his company funded first draft around the
the
the started the election cycle not
started the election cycle not
started the election cycle not surprisingly hillary was soon to jump
surprisingly hillary was soon to jump
surprisingly hillary was soon to jump aboard the anti fake news train and her
aboard the anti fake news train and her
aboard the anti fake news train and her surrogate David Brock of Media Matters
surrogate David Brock of Media Matters
surrogate David Brock of Media Matters privately told donors he was the one who
privately told donors he was the one who
privately told donors he was the one who convinced Facebook to join the effort
convinced Facebook to join the effort
convinced Facebook to join the effort I’m not the only one who thinks the
I’m not the only one who thinks the
I’m not the only one who thinks the whole thing smacked of the rollout of a
whole thing smacked of the rollout of a
whole thing smacked of the rollout of a propaganda campaign Glenn Greenwald of
propaganda campaign Glenn Greenwald of
propaganda campaign Glenn Greenwald of the intercept wrote the most important
the intercept wrote the most important
the intercept wrote the most important fact you need to realize is that those
fact you need to realize is that those
fact you need to realize is that those who most loudly denounced fake news are
who most loudly denounced fake news are
who most loudly denounced fake news are typically the ones most aggressively
typically the ones most aggressively
typically the ones most aggressively disseminating it but something happened
disseminating it but something happened
disseminating it but something happened that nobody expected the anti fake news
that nobody expected the anti fake news
that nobody expected the anti fake news campaign backfired each time advocates
campaign backfired each time advocates
campaign backfired each time advocates cried fake news Donald Trump called them
cried fake news Donald Trump called them
cried fake news Donald Trump called them fake news until he’d co-op to the term
fake news until he’d co-op to the term
fake news until he’d co-op to the term so completely but even those who
so completely but even those who
so completely but even those who originally promoting it started running
originally promoting it started running
originally promoting it started running from it including the Washington Post
from it including the Washington Post
from it including the Washington Post which in January of 2017 wrote it’s time
which in January of 2017 wrote it’s time
which in January of 2017 wrote it’s time to retire the tainted term fake news in
to retire the tainted term fake news in
to retire the tainted term fake news in fact it’s now commonly Mis reported that
fact it’s now commonly Mis reported that
fact it’s now commonly Mis reported that it was Donald Trump who thought up the
it was Donald Trump who thought up the
it was Donald Trump who thought up the phrase actually it was just a hostile
phrase actually it was just a hostile
phrase actually it was just a hostile takeover suffice it to say that each
takeover suffice it to say that each
takeover suffice it to say that each side now defines fake news and terms
side now defines fake news and terms
side now defines fake news and terms that call the other guy did the question
that call the other guy did the question
that call the other guy did the question so what’s the lesson in all of this I’m
so what’s the lesson in all of this I’m
so what’s the lesson in all of this I’m not here to litigate who’s right but I
not here to litigate who’s right but I
not here to litigate who’s right but I can tell you there are two ways to tell
can tell you there are two ways to tell
can tell you there are two ways to tell that powerful interest might be trying
that powerful interest might be trying
that powerful interest might be trying to manipulate your opinion number one
to manipulate your opinion number one
to manipulate your opinion number one when the media seems to be trying to
when the media seems to be trying to
when the media seems to be trying to shave or censor facts and opinions
shave or censor facts and opinions
shave or censor facts and opinions rather than report them number two when
rather than report them number two when
rather than report them number two when so many of the media are reporting the
so many of the media are reporting the
so many of the media are reporting the same stories promulgating the same
same stories promulgating the same
same stories promulgating the same narratives relying on the same sources
narratives relying on the same sources
narratives relying on the same sources even using the same phrases I mean think
even using the same phrases I mean think
even using the same phrases I mean think of it there are literally thousands of
of it there are literally thousands of
of it there are literally thousands of legitimate news stories that could be
legitimate news stories that could be
legitimate news stories that could be reported in a given day and an incident
reported in a given day and an incident
reported in a given day and an incident number of ways to report them when
number of ways to report them when
number of ways to report them when everybody’s on the same page it might be
everybody’s on the same page it might be
everybody’s on the same page it might be the result of an organized campaign I’ll
the result of an organized campaign I’ll
the result of an organized campaign I’ll leave you with a final thought and a
leave you with a final thought and a
leave you with a final thought and a warning it’s about a new catchphrase
warning it’s about a new catchphrase
warning it’s about a new catchphrase being bandied about media literacy as
being bandied about media literacy as
being bandied about media literacy as and will tell you who to trust and who
and will tell you who to trust and who
and will tell you who to trust and who not to trust media literacy advocates
not to trust media literacy advocates
not to trust media literacy advocates are busy trying to get state laws passed
are busy trying to get state laws passed
are busy trying to get state laws passed to require the fair version of media
to require the fair version of media
to require the fair version of media literacy be taught in public schools
literacy be taught in public schools
literacy be taught in public schools they’re developing websites as resources
they’re developing websites as resources
they’re developing websites as resources for journal
for journal
for journal the public the partnering with
the public the partnering with
the public the partnering with universities I think media literacy is a
universities I think media literacy is a
universities I think media literacy is a new name promoted by some of the same
new name promoted by some of the same
new name promoted by some of the same people who want to tell you what to
people who want to tell you what to
people who want to tell you what to believe people with their own agendas
believe people with their own agendas
believe people with their own agendas using terms designed to fool you into
using terms designed to fool you into
using terms designed to fool you into thinking they’re neutral authorities
thinking they’re neutral authorities
thinking they’re neutral authorities what you need to remember is that when
what you need to remember is that when
what you need to remember is that when interests are working this hard to shape
interests are working this hard to shape
interests are working this hard to shape your opinion their true goal might just
your opinion their true goal might just
your opinion their true goal might just be to add another layer between you and
be to add another layer between you and
be to add another layer between you and the truth
the truth
the truth [Applause]
”
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