April 28, 2020
Fake news may also appear in disguise of an altercation with a restaurant owner on the issue of its closure till October 15.
You may drop your plan for candlelight dinner in your nearby restaurant but can’t overlook the quarrel with the owner who seems to make it true by shouting at the top of his voice.
The restaurant owner in this case have not only failed to understand the rumor about the closure of all restaurants and hotel in the country till October 15 but have also failed its second chance to correct it.
Instead of repenting, the restaurant owner has now started to act like omniscient creature. In order to convert the fake into truth, he/she may have started a verbal argument that too at the top of his voice to defy any sort of clarification from anyone.
The entire design of fake news is created in the same way; it is produced for multiple sharing over the social media platform in such frequency that its traffic prevails at the top than all other true contents.
This entire design is then also backed by some individuals of some dedicated institutions or organizations that put all its muscle to prove it true. This may be through physical arguments or muscle power to push the fake news pass its final stage. And then to oppose it, there may also arise another violent group.
It has been a time of fake news in India along with the world that has spiked its rate with due advantage of Covid-19 outbreak. In such a situation, a fake message of countrywide closure of hotel and restaurants till October 15 have also coincided with another commendable statement from Press Council of India in the context of violence against bad journalism leading to the combined-condemnation of both spreading fake news and then trying to release out the frustration against the fake news through violence.
The best way to answer against bad journalism is not violence, similarly the best way to stop fake news is also not possible through violence. Though, it is important to understand whether fake news and bad journalism sail on the same boat.
FAKE: The Tourism Ministry has asked restaurants and hotels to remain closed till October 15.
FACT: Reports claiming that hotels & restaurants will remain closed till Oct 15 owing to #COVID19 outbreak' are wrong. The order circulating in social media in this regard is FAKE and has not been issued by the Tourism Ministry. Govt has termed these reports as FAKE — tweeted Prasar Bharati News Services (@PBNS_India) April 8, 2020.
#CheckTheFake is a movement against #Infodemic in this crisis, initiated by Dr Anamika Ray Memorial Trust #ARMT (www.armt.in) in collaboration with The Assam Tribune and Northeast Now (www.nenow.in) to create awareness on #fakenews on #Coronavirus and improve media literacy through #Cartoons. ARMT Research