Deontology and fake news: A study of the perceptions of Spanish journalists

Abstract

Fake news present one of the main challenges of contemporary journalism. The goal of this study is to know whether journalistic ethics offers a useful tool against fake news. A survey to 383 Spanish journalists, together with four in-depth interviews to experts in the field, showed the seriousness and the deontological dimension of the problem of fake news, but journalistic ethics was not considered to be the most useful strategy against fake information. We also wanted to look for possible differences in the approach of digital and traditional journalists towards fake news and deontology. Both groups agree in blaming the economic situation of the sector and the new online communication (not necessarily journalism) context for the rising of this phenomenon. Also, they point out the education of consumers as an effective action against fake news.