Strategies to Deal with Fake News in Iran's Media Space (Case Study: Infodemic Covid-19)

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Rahimzadeh Hanachi Ehsan; Nasrollahi Kasmani Akbar; Soltanifar Mohammad; Mozafari Afsaneh

مرکز اطلاعات علمی Scientific Information Database (SID) - Trusted Source for Research and Academic Resources

Journal Paper

Paper Information

Journal: News Science Year:2025 | Volume:13 | Issue:4 Page(s): 133-153

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Information Journal Paper

Title

Strategies to Deal with Fake News in Iran's Media Space (Case Study: Infodemic Covid-19)

Author(s)

Rahimzadeh Hanachi Ehsan | Nasrollahi Kasmani Akbar | Soltanifar Mohammad | Mozafari Afsaneh | Issue Writer Certificate

Keywords

Fake News

COVID-19

infodemic

Activist Journalism

Thematic Analysis

Abstract

Objective: During the outbreak of the COVID-19 pandemic in the country, we witnessed the phenomenon of information disruption and the publication of Fake News, followed by the confusion of some journalists and activists in the field of information, audiences, politicians and executive officials.This research has been conducted along with the pathology of the information process during the Corona period in Iran with the aim of designing strategies to deal with Fake News in Iran's media space (Case study: infodemic COVID-19).Methods: This research is qualitative research that, using the content analysis of 15 interviews with experts and lecturers in the field of social communication and media activists, identified ways to deal with Fake News of COVID-19 in Iran.Results: Five solutions in the form of five overarching themes identified are: 1- Activist Journalism, 2- rebuilding national trust, 3- preventive public relations, 4- depoliticization of scientific phenomena, 5- legal-judicial measures. In order to realize this method of Activist Journalism, these items identified as organizing themes should be put on the agenda: Demanding by science journalism, the formation of Fact checking infodemic management desk, the use of artificial intelligence, the ability to deal non-passively with rumors and Fake News, Attention to the quality of media instead of quantity, media convergence and improving the cognitive skills of the audience.In order to realize the "restoration of national trust", these items should be put on the agenda: strengthening independent journalism, maximum action and minimum announcement, and Transformation in the way of governance.Conclusions: The development and strengthening of partisanship in the country and the competition of real parties provide a platform to deal with fake and false news. Public and private institutions that are responsible for the COVID-19 disease and its consequences should inform by using the "preventive public relations" model. One of the main challenges and concerns of the interview participants is the political confrontation in Iran with scientific phenomena. If news sources and authorities have a specific political and party identity, they take steps to produce and distribute correct information in order to maintain the credibility and status of their organization. In a situation where people are not affiliated to any guild, group or party, they do not have to worry about refuting their claims and statements, and they easily create and publish fake content. In other words, belonging to a guild, group, and party increases the costs of lying. The development and strengthening of partisanship in the country and the competition of real parties provide a platform to deal with fake and false news. "Depoliticization of scientific phenomena" is a proposal that seems necessary in the crisis of health communication. The findings of this research about the necessity of "horizontal distribution of information and avoiding vertical hierarchy" are consistent with Castells' theory of "network society". Due to the fact that citizens travel widely in social networks, sending information from a communication source in a vertical and mandatory manner is not working and horizontal message distribution should be on the agenda

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