ABSTRACT
This chapter harnesses interviews, surveys, and fieldwork with practicing journalists and journalism experts in order to determine their perceptions of how digital manipulation, ranging from computational propaganda to targeted attacks on news-makers, has impacted reporting. We interviewed 22 journalists and experts from major news publications in the United States and the United Kingdom. We conducted a survey with reporters and editors from across the United States. The survey included 1,018 respondents, with 803 completing the full survey. We found that, despite respondents’ universal acknowledgment of the increase in the amount of false information, they disagreed on the scope of the problem and associated terminology. A majority of reporters said that they had been tricked by false information in the course of their careers and said there was a problematic absence of training on how to spot and report upon misinformation, disinformation, and “fake news.” Moreover, respondents said that the growing focus on false news and disinformation has decreased the credibility of and trust in journalism for a subset of the general population. They also said, however, that part of the public has simultaneously increased their demand for and respect of journalism resulting in increased hiring at large outlets.
