BRUSSELS - “Are we, as mainstream media, doing our job well enough?” It's a question that has preoccupied VRT investigative journalist Luc Pauwels for years. Because he sees too many worrying warning signs.
A feature article in 'De Journalist' in February 2021 indicated that trust ratings in the media had fallen from 59% to 51% in Flanders between 2016 and 2020. That is not a great deal. An earlier survey that probed the trust of 32 professions already showed then that journalists in Belgium ranked fifth last, in the company of insurance agents, pastors (the abuse in the Church then!), advertisers and politicians. In other countries, journalists scored even worse.
There was hardly any talk of disinformation, fake news then. That changed after the election of Donald Trump: he upended the political discourse in an unprecedented way. The tone became harsh and brutal. The eruption of fake news and disinformation is poisoning the entire society and is far from over. This should make those mainstream media think about their stance and position. Are they walking such a flawless course themselves?
Pauwels' answers are at times disconcerting.
BOEK
- Title: Journalistiek in tijden van fake news
Author: Luc Pauwels
Publisher: Kritak
EAN: 9789401484381
Publication date: 05/04/2022
Pages: 240
Edition: Paperback, 210x140, 1e Druk
Language: Dutch
PRESS
- VRT-journalist Luc Pauwels over fake news: ‘We laten ons als journalisten te veel wijsmaken’, De Morgen, 02/04/2022
- VRT-journalist Luc Pauwels: ‘Mensen hebben evenveel vertrouwen in journalisten als in politici, pastoors en verzekeringsmakelaars: amper, Humo, 04/04/2022
- Red de journalistiek in tijden van fake news, Apache, 08/04/2022
- "Mensen vinden journalisten vandaag even betrouwbaar als politici”, Interne Keuken — VRT Radio 1, 06/05/2022
- Journalistiek in tijden van Fake News, met Luc Pauwels, BRT Brabantse Radio en kleurenTelevisie, Podcast (Via De Standaard), 09/06/2022
COUNTRIES
- Belgium
