Post-truth and fake news: journalistic keys and professional skills of the communicator in the face of disinformation

Abstract

The phenomenon of disinformation is not new, but in the current digital and big data era it is at its most splendid, widespread and threatening. With well-defined economic and political objectives, disinformation agents use confusion and new communication scenarios, such as social networks, to polarise societies and undermine the credibility of the institutions that represent citizens. In this context, the media and journalists have the opportunity and the responsibility to set themselves up as agents in the fight against disinformation, claiming their role as guarantors of democracy in defence of free and truthful information. Despite the precariousness of the profession, information professionals must review their work routines and reintegrate into them the basic principles of the activity, such as the verification of information. The acquisition of specific tools will enable them to increase their skills in this area and to define a new and in-demand professional profile: the fact-checker.