Countering Misinformation in Political ReportingStephen Cushion Maria KyriakidouLabel: Edinburgh University PressDescription: This book examines how journalists should deal with the growing tide of political disinformation and public scepticism towards news media. Informed by the latest research from the UK and around the world the book draws on a series of UK-based studies over a six-year period between 2019-2024 systematically analysing over 4000 news items and sources across fact-checking sites and broadcast programming. It examines audiences through a survey of more than 1000 people a news diary study of 200 participants and fourteen focus groups in addition to interviewing some of the most prominent news editors and journalists in broadcast news. The authors look beyond disinformation emanating from online and social media platforms to identify where and how misinformation can spread across mainstream media. To enhance the legitimacy of journalism and better serve the public they argue that news reporting should more regularly and robustly confront false and misleading information from politicians.
