Fake News 101

FAKE NEWS 101

The new buzzword or buzz-phrase for 2017 is “Fake News.”  What does it really mean, where did it come from, how is it being used, and why is it causing such a stir among the people? 

In my opinion, the best place to start is by defining the common words being used and some concepts behind them so that the intended meaning is easier to understand.  Words like “marginalize”, ”propaganda”, “truth”,  “fake”, “news”, “fact”, “buzzwords”, “labeling”, “opinion”, “propaganda”, “subjective”, and “objective” will be explored and defined in this article. 

Most of these definitions can be found at Merriam-Webster, thesaurus.com, or other word resources available on the internet. The purpose of this post is to provide convenient and simple information to help people see what is going on behind the curtain. Please feel free to share this post in any manner that will help get the word out there.

News – (noun) :  a report of recent events; previously unknown information; something having a                              specified influence  or effect; material reported in a newspaper or news                                              periodical or on a newscast
     Synonyms :  announcement, broadcast, data, disclosure, message, report, statement, story, account, word

Let’s start by defining news as verifiable evidence based facts or known information reported in some form of written or spoken media to disclose the truth.

Truth – (noun) :  the body of real things, events, and facts ; the body of true statements; being                                   in accord with fact or reality
     Synonyms : accuracy, authenticity, certainty, fact, legitimacy, principle, truthfulness, veracity

Facts – (noun) :  something that has actual existence; a thing done; the quality of being actual;
                             a piece of information presented as having objective reality; in truth; 
     Synonyms :  Certainty, data, details, gospel, info, reality, truth, bottom line, whole story, evidence, proof

The opposite of news would be “fake news”.

Fake – (adj) :  to alter, manipulate, or treat so as to deceive; one that is not what it purports to                            be; a device used to achieve the illusion of magic in a trick; to engage in faking                                something; 
     Synonyms :  Counterfeit, fabricated, fictitious, forged, fraudulent, mock, phony, concocted, invented, 
                          make-believe, pretended, artificial, pseudo, untrue, simulated, artificial, bogus, altered

So fake news would be altered evidence based oncounterfeit facts or artificial information reported in some form of written or spoken media to deceive.
Fake news would be based on partial truths, lies, fact twisting, redefining information or as the media likes to call it spin. Why is the media all of a sudden so insistent on labeling news as fake?

Labeling – (verb) :  The process of assigning a descriptive or identifying word, phrase, or brand                                      to something; branding a name; To distinguish something by placing 
                                   on it a description
     Synonyms :  characterize, classify, define, designate, identify, specify, tag, call, name, judging

Buzzword – (noun) :  an important-sounding usually technical word or phrase often of 
                                      little meaning used chiefly to impress laymen or re-define something
     Synonyms :  doublespeak, lingo, phraseology, fuzzword, mediaspeak, policyspeak, jargon

Just like we witness in the advertising world; labelingsomething such as “news” with a buzzword like “fake”creates a new brand identity or meaning. An example of this would be the phrase “political correctness” in which an absolute term like “correct” is paired with a conditional term like “politics” to create a new meaning that is relative or non-absolute. The “politically correct” label has been used to change the meaning of many things in America since it became commonly used in the eighties. 

The introduction of doublespeak or buzzwords into thecharacterization of something has been an effective tool in silencing the voice of opposition by many people and governments throughout history.  In this instance of fake news, the labeling re-defines news as beinguntrue and unreliable by introducing the negative wordfake into it. When a person hears this phrase over and over and over again it starts to change their feelings, and eventually their beliefs. 

Think it doesn’t work that way? Look around your home and see if you can identify something you purchased and have never used or used just once because you had to have it. Advertising works and the proof is in the billions of dollars that is spent on it. 

So what does this have to do with fake news?Everything! You see fake news isn’t news at all, it is“propaganda” used to sway “opinion” in order to“marginalize” a person or a group of people. 

Propaganda – (noun) :  ideas, facts, or allegations spread deliberately to further one’s cause 
                                           or to damage an opposing cause; most effective when done repetitively
     Synonyms: disinformation, hype, indoctrination, publicity, advertising, announcement, 
                       brainwashing, doctrine, evangelism, hogwash, implantation, newspeak, promotion

Opinion – (noun) :  a view, judgment, or appraisal formed in the mind about a particular matter;
                                  a belief; a judgment about a person or thing; a belief based on experience 
                                  and on seeing certain facts that falls short of positive knowledge
     Synonyms:  assumption, presumption, attitude, feeling, impression, judgment, point of view, 
                        speculation, theory, thought, viewpoint, conjecture, hypothesis, inclination, 
                        presupposition, suspicions, theorem

Marginalize – (transitive verb) :  to relegate to an unimportant or powerless position within a 
                                                    society or group; to remove to or keep in a position without 
                                                    influence in a society or group
     Synonyms : Criticize, demean, deprecate, diminish, disparage, belittle, depreciate, 
                        dismiss, abuses, defame, discount, smear, vilify, silence

If ”fake news” is designed to deliberately misinform orindoctrinate (Brainwash) people by shaping and steering their beliefs based on feelings (opinions) instead of facts; why is it being pushed? Is it to save face, redirect conversation, or promote an agenda? One logical conclusion could be that there is a plan in place to demonize, smear, and vilify (marginalize) any and all undesirable groups of people that do not agree with the agenda in order to remove their influence and keep them in a powerless position.

It is also critical to understand the the frame of reference that is being used when trying to determine if something is based on real facts or personal feelings and opinions. This reference point is typically defined as being either subjective or objective.

People who believe things based on opinions, feelings, and their own desires are described as holding a“Subjective” viewpoint.

Subjective – (noun) :  arising within one’s self or mind; knowledge as conditioned by personal 
                                        mental characteristics or states; characteristic of or belonging to reality 
                                        as perceived rather than as independent of mind
     Synonyms : biased, instinctive, intuitive, personal, introspective, non-representative, prejudiced, 
                        abstract, irrational, superficial, willful, egocentric, narcissistic, opinionated, 
                        self-centered, vain, perverse

Subjective news followers generally try to seek out data that will support their beliefs even if the information is irrational, abstract, narcissistic, or perverted. Affirming one’s belief is more important than measurable proof or getting confirmation of something being real. 

People who seek to understand things based 
on truth and credible facts are described as holding 
an “Objective” viewpoint.

Objective – (adj) :  dealing with facts without letting one’s feelings interfere with them; 
                                   being outside of the mind and independent of it 
     Synonyms :  unprejudiced, impartial, factual, uninfluenced, nonpartisan, unbiased, nondiscriminatory, 
                         straight, legitimate, credible, valid, verifiable, authentic

Objective news followers generally search for factual evidence to lead them to a legitimate conclusion. Opinions are not as important as proof. The intent is to make impartial judgments based on examination of facts, searching for other possibilities, and re-evaluating the position based on new verifiable data.

If you were standing trial in a court of law, would you rather have the subjective or objective judge in front of you?

In conclusion:
When a message is being sent through written or spoken words there is a purpose behind the broadcast to inform or create a response. Whenever it is possible, pay close attention to the tone of the message, the buzzwords that are being used, and the reference point of the source so that it is easier to discern the intent.Practicing these principles will enable critical thinking and will begin to lead you to the truth. 

Keep in mind that the terminology that is used in the media is continuously changing in order to keep the public confused. The term ”Fake News” is already starting to change to ”Alternative Facts” and i’m sure it will soon change again. Those responsible for this bewilderment are experts at keeping the masses in a state of confusion and illusion with theirdoublespeak, lies, and half truths. We must learn to decode the information around us and start using the brains we have been given. 

I have attempted to show and simply explain the what, where, when, and some of the why in fake news. Hopefully you now see how much deeper and darker this deception goes. It’s time for us humans to investigate whether the things we believe are actually true. We need to stop hating and arguing with one another on ideas and thoughts that have been put in our minds that are not based on facts. A blueprint has been given with definitions that should help jump-start the process of seeing through the illusion. The quest for the truth should be an ongoing practice and you  might will be very surprised as to where it leads. Please share this article.

Thank You for reading,
JT CLARK

Final Thoughts:

• Deception is very hard to detect because the person whom is deceived doesn’t realize it.
• When a Doctor does not know the cause it’s labeled a virus.
• Coincidence is God’s way of staying anonymous.

http://www.hymnrevival.com/1/post/2017/01/fake-news-101-the-fake-news-deception.html