Fake News, Misinformation, & Propaganda: How Fake News Works

In the age of social media, disinformation, conspiracy theories and false news stories have become an increasingly dangerous part of the global information environment. In this illuminating documentary, directed by acclaimed filmmaker Andrew Rossi (Page One: Inside The New York Times, HBO’s Le Cirque: A Table in Heaven), a number of journalists, educators and researchers working to expose “fake news” discuss its real-life, high-stakes consequences. Drawing from exclusive verité access to the victims and perpetrators of fake news stories and a variety of experts, as well as purveyors and targets of misinformation, AFTER TRUTH: DISINFORMATION AND THE COST OF FAKE NEWS sheds light on some of the most dire examples of post-truth culture. The film focuses on several high-profile fake news stories from recent years, including the infamous “Pizzagate” case, the disinformation campaigns that influenced the 2016 presidential election, the Jade Helm conspiracy, and others. Enlightening, galvanizing and unnerving, this feature- length documentary analyzes the human toll of disinformation to paint a dynamic portrait of a phenomena that is said to jeopardize the very future of American democracy. ©2020 Home Box Office, Inc. All rights reserved. HBO® and all related programs are the property of Home Box Office, Inc.

Many fake news peddlers didn’t care if Trump won or lost the election. They only wanted to pocket money. But the consequences of what they did shook the world. This is how it happened.

To understand the misinformation ecosystem, here's a break down of the types of fake content, content creators motivations and how it's being disseminated.

FAU researchers investigate fake news and conspiracy theories.

Time article discussing how your brain tricks you into believing fake news.

While the presence of fake news is not new, the internet and social media changed the ways it’s created and spread. Fake news is a multi-step process that involves making or taking content that others have produced, passing it off as real news, and capitalizing on social media to get as much attention as possible. This section explains how purveyors of fake news operate, and how fake news is created. It provides a step-by-step guide to how fake news producers utilize the internet and social media.