‘Fake news’ is big news. Stories are made up and shared online either for political purposes, financial gain (those clicks mean revenue, folks) or sheer mischief.
Today, the famous quip about a lie travelling half-way around the world while truth is still pulling its boots on has never been more true. We have to work to tell the difference and most of us can’t be bothered. Now Pope Francis is weighing in too. According to a Reuters report, he’s writing a message for the Catholic Church’s World Day of Social Communications on the theme, ‘The truth will set you free. Fake news and journalism for peace.’
Here’s where we might say Christian Today caught up with Francis at our Islington office and asked him about the problem of fake news. There’s always the risk, though – miniscule, you might think, but it happens – that someone might actually believe it. So no, we didn’t – but we’re very glad someone of real moral authority is talking about it.
Because there isn’t one problem with fake news, there are two. One of them is far more serious than the other – and it’s not what you might think.
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