• LibertyLizard@slrpnk.netEnglish
    6·
    2 days ago

    I don’t think it’s fake news. US propaganda is very sophisticated and it usually focuses on the facts—at least, the ones they want you to know. But it being directly created by and for the benefit of the US government sets it apart from other types of biased media. It’s understandable to me why it might be viewed with suspicion, despite being factual. Good propaganda can speak only truth yet very effectively mislead people.

    • kuato@lemmy.worldEnglish
      34·
      2 days ago

      A lot of Radio Free Asia literally is fake news. Most of their “sources” are anonymous/unnamed. They’re just, “trust me bro.” They make stuff up all the time, especially about North Korea, because they know no one’s going to fact-check them.

      • cm0002@lemmy.worldOPEnglish
        45·
        2 days ago

        especially about North Korea,

        Oh boy, let me guess DPRK is actually a utopia that’s being kept secret from everyone amiright?

    • sunzu2@thebrainbin.org
      22·
      2 days ago

      fake news = propaganda. i guess at the end of the day everything is propaganda. i shill here all day.

      i guess if you define fake news = factually wrong information, i will agree with your position.

      but as you said, skilled propagandist will use factual information to misinform the target.

      • LibertyLizard@slrpnk.netEnglish
        6·
        2 days ago

        I guess I don’t like the way that term has come to be used. Fake news to me would be something wholly fabricated without any basis in reality. This type of coverage is actually fairly uncommon outside of fringe sources.

        We have other, more specific words to describe coverage that is biased or created specifically to influence people but is describing real events. Why not use them instead? The term fake news has itself become propaganda. By which I mean, information or news intentionally designed to influence people in a specific way. I don’t agree that all news falls into this category, though it does have other types of bias.

        But yeah I mean I also engage in propaganda for the causes I believe in, as do most people. But propaganda from nefarious people or organizations certainly should be viewed with suspicion.