American Journalism and ＂Fake News＂: Examining the Facts

This book provides a comprehensive and impartial overview of the state of American journalism and news-gathering in the 21st century, with a special focus on the rise-and meaning-of ＂fake news.＂

A part of ABC-CLIO’s Examining the Facts series, which uses evidence-based documentation to examine the veracity of claims and beliefs about high-profile issues in American culture and politics, this volume examines beliefs, claims, and myths about American journalism and news media. It offers a comprehensive overview of the field of American journalism, including contemporary issues and historical foundations, and places modern problems such as ＂fake news＂ and misinformation in the context of larger technological and economic forces.

The book illustrates the strengths and weaknesses of journalistic practices so readers can feel empowered to navigate the complex information environment in which we live and to understand the level to which various news sources can (or can’t) be trusted to provide accurate and timely coverage of issues and events of import to the public and the nation. These skills and knowledge structures are necessary for any citizen who wishes to be an informed participant in a self-governing democratic society.

Seth Ashley, PhD, is associate professor of journalism and media studies at Boise State University. His research on media literacy, media sociology, and communication policy has been published in a wide range of peer-reviewed journals.

Jessica Roberts, PhD, is assistant professor of communication studies in the School of Human Sciences, Universidade Católica Portuguesa in Lisbon. Her recent research on citizen journalism and social media has been published in Journalism and the International Journal of Communication. Roberts earned her PhD at the University of Maryland and her MA at the University of Southern California.

Adam Maksl, PhD, is an associate professor of journalism and media at Indiana University Southeast, where he teaches digital journalism and social media classes. Maksl’s research has been published in top-rated journals in his field.