Why do we have so many untrained reporters and sensationalist stories floating around? What is the trigger that has inevitably started this never-ending cycle?
The answer is a familiar one: the internet.
The internet has undoubtedly changed the way we consume news whether it be on social media or on a site. In fact, confidence in the media is at an ‘all-time low‘. However, the internet isn’t going away any time soon, so we as netizens, citizens, readers and users must develop an appetite for facts.
With the onset of the ‘click’ economy, you can never be so sure with any news outlet or source, whether it be a credible national organisation or a blog site because hiding behind the reputation of a media company could be a lazy, untrained journalist.
Exhibit A:
The story of the Thai Cave rescue captured the world’s attention in mid-July this year, dominating all social media platforms as a hot topic. Above is a clip that was highly shared, attracting millions of views on Twitter with the hashtag #13ชีวิตต้องรอด showing cave divers exploring a narrow tunnel.
Seven news was quick to catch on and also tweeted the video. 
However, lo and behold the footage actually came from a 2012 video from Wisconsin.
According to Storyful, the video has been online for a while and shows “clear water conditions whereas the water that flooded the cave was muddy, providing zero visibility for cave divers”.
So here we have it, even seven news, a highly rated and one of Australia’s largest news networks didn’t check up on facts.
So what can we take out of this?
Some might say boycott media organisations but that’s not the way to go because as Professor Fernandez from Curtin’s School of Media once said, there is a pending danger that if people stop trusting the news, they will stop trusting institutions and will stop participating in significant public debates. Debates are still very much needed in our society because that’s how we initiate progress and change.
Instead, we must start demanding facts and read critically and the mediasphere will change accordingly.
Cecilia
FlakeOnFake 