Read the article by Peter N. Peregrine "Seeking Truth Among "Alternative Facts", that was published inTheConversation.Com on February23, 2017. Here's the link:https://theconversation.com/seeking-truth-among-alternative-facts-72733
The author gives a clear explanation of two different approaches to alternative facts - the scientific argument and the authority argument. In the end of the article he states:
"We must recognize the logic we use to discriminate fact from nonfact. Showing something to be false by “fact checking” has little impact on those whose facts are determined by authority. If we want to undermine the argument from authority we cannot do it through science – we have to do it by undermining the authority itself. And if we want to undermine science – well, we’ve been doing a pretty good job of that already."
Journalists traditionally consider it their task to "fact check" to ensure truthful information. Throughout the semester, you have mentioned and discussed examples of fake news and the difficulties of both understanding that it is fake and of knowing how to prevent it from having an impact.Discuss the following prompts:
*What do you think is the possible effect of fake news and alternative factson youandsociety as a whole?
[Here, I'm asking you to apply your sociological imagination by not only looking at your own personal experiences but also at the experiences of large groups of people in our society and on a more structural level]
*In the current atmosphere of an abundance of fake news and alternative facts, should news journalists stick to their long established routines of fact checking and discussing as many sides of an argument as possible (striving for objectivity)? Why (not)?
[Remember that the author, Peter Peregrine mentions that fact checking (the scientific argument) has no influence on those people who believe truth is simply based on what an authority figure says is true (the authority argument)]
*Can they fulfill their democratic tasks by continuing to fact-check? (Remember the important tasks of news journalism from Discussion Board 5)? Or, do you think fact checking and striving for objectivity areuseless because it won't undermine arguments from authority (as Peregrine described)?
*Should journalists try to undermine the authorities themselves? Why (not)? How?
Write at least 10 sentences in your initial response and react to at least two others.