The Threat of Misinformation on Journalism’s Epistemology: Exploring the Gap between Journalist’s and Audience’s Expectations when Facing Fake Content

Abstract

This study analyzes the discourse of reporters, editors and audiences in focus groups and in-depth interviews, examining the expectations on journalists when facing misinformation. While both groups agree that journalistic information is critical, how this expectation is met varies. On the one hand, the audience’s way of knowing involves diverse assessments regarding valuable information; also, they are dubious about journalists’ intentions. On the other hand, journalists exhibit a limited understanding of the audience’s informational needs and encounter practical challenges in rigorously fact-checking, affecting their authority in knowledge generation. The study proposes a discussion on acknowledging their complex epistemologies to benefit mutual understanding. Doing this can establish structural support for journalistic information, contributing to trust in journalism when challenged by sources spreading misinformation.