Date of Award
Spring 5-1-2020
Document Type
Honors Project
Degree Name
Bachelor of Arts
Department
English, Linguistics, and Communication
Department Chair or Program Director
Dr. Gary Richards
First Advisor
Dr. Zach Whalen
Major or Concentration
Communication and Digital Studies
Abstract
This paper investigates fake news and the part we all play in believing and spreading it. To explore the pervasiveness of fake news, I engaged an electronic literary method, netprov, to create a fake news production with its own website and social media profiles. Even though my creative work failed to find an audience, I nevertheless gained insights that led to practical advice on how anyone can avoid succumbing to the influence of fake news. For example, when viewing a potential fake news site, readers should ask if its content is simply confirming their beliefs or even encouraging them to interact (like, comment, share) in a way that bypasses their logical reasoning. My failed experiment shines a light on the festering issue that is fake news and calls upon everyone to critique and analyze this new media phenomenon.
URL of Digital Project
Recommended Citation
Hill, Jennifer, "My Failed Fake News Experiment" (2020). Student Research Submissions. 362.
https://scholar.umw.edu/student_research/362