The Making Of An Alternate Reality:
Multiple media outlets - including News18, Dainik Jagran, Amar Ujala, OpIndia & many more - made the claim that an NGO with “Khalistani” links paid over 18 crores INR to tweet in support of the farmers.
Multiple media outlets - including News18, Dainik Jagran, Amar Ujala, OpIndia & many more - made the claim that an NGO with “Khalistani” links paid over 18 crores INR to tweet in support of the farmers.
Upon examination, it was found that all the outlets published this story on the basis of a report by The Print - an online newspaper.
These publications do not go into the details of the investigation, so the next step is to examine the original report by The Print.
These publications do not go into the details of the investigation, so the next step is to examine the original report by The Print.
The Print’s report reveals:
A case was filed by the Delhi Police against “unknown persons” in connection with a toolkit tweeted by Greta Thunberg.
They have not even used Rihanna's name in the headline - if they've broken this important story why not use it to get eyeballs?
A case was filed by the Delhi Police against “unknown persons” in connection with a toolkit tweeted by Greta Thunberg.
They have not even used Rihanna's name in the headline - if they've broken this important story why not use it to get eyeballs?
The reason they don't use "2.5 million dollars" in the headline is that everything else claimed in the report was “according to sources” - what kind of sources, the report doesn’t elaborate.
Also, note that say “allegedly” paid - it means this claim was not verified.
Also, note that say “allegedly” paid - it means this claim was not verified.
Within 2 days, a second report was published by The Print - (please note that at least one writer is same as mentioned in the byline of the original article) - clarifying that the firm says it did not pay any money to Rihanna or Greta.
However, no points for guessing that the second report was not featured by OpIndia, News18, Jagran, Amar Ujala or any other publication that picked up the first report.
This is how “false reporting” works!
This is how “false reporting” works!
The Print publishes an article quoting "sources" that Rihanna was paid $2.5 million for tweeting support to farmers.
Others publish an article saying the same & quoting The Print to lend credibility to their articles.
When the clarification is printed, nobody else publishes it.
Others publish an article saying the same & quoting The Print to lend credibility to their articles.
When the clarification is printed, nobody else publishes it.
Hence, an alternative narrative is born & the public is misinformed.
The story was shared all over social media platforms by various people (including verified accounts) - despite there being no proof of these allegations. Even “journalists” shared this unverified information.
The story was shared all over social media platforms by various people (including verified accounts) - despite there being no proof of these allegations. Even “journalists” shared this unverified information.
None of these posts was taken down after the second report by The Print and no clarifications were issued or apologies tendered for contributing to the spread of misinformation in this systematic manner.
Unverified Claims -> Misinformed Public ->
Mission Accomplished!
Unverified Claims -> Misinformed Public ->
Mission Accomplished!
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