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Lunchtime Talk

The Global Fake News Epidemic: Can Asia Escape?

Fake News is now a global phenomenon. The global nature of digital and social distribution is with a few exceptions breaking down barriers for publishing content online, making the cost of entry to the news market much lower, and promoting the spread of at best questionable and at worst toxic misinformation around the globe. The most vivid examples are the protracted battle between President Trump and his domestic media, alleged misinformation in the UK Brexit and Scottish referendum campaigns, Russia’s alleged interference in Western elections and the rise of anti-establishment political parties in supposedly mature democracies in Western and Central Europe. But many Asian nations are also grappling with related problems, from the spread of malicious stories online to a lack of public trust in media institutions. So with demographics that favour exploding interest in international news amongst the young, and many fragile and emerging democracies in the region, what are the Asian aspects of this global phenomenon, and what are the unique challenges for Asia as it seeks to combat the global fake news epidemic? Do a specifically Asian set of problems require an Asian set of solutions? And what can the news industry in advanced economies like Singapore do to keep up?
Seminar Room 3-5,
Manasseh Meyer,
Lee Kuan Yew School of Public Policy,
469C Bukit Timah Road,
Singapore 259772
Thu 20 April 2017
12:15 PM - 01:30 PM

Mr. Jamie Angus

Mr. Jamie Angus

Deputy Director, BBC World Service Group, Editorial Director, BBC Global News Ltd

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