What role can the press play ?
By Matthieu Delaloye, Zarina Charlesworth, Shaban Shabani, Camille Pellaton
The global epidemic linked to Covid-19 has led to the spread of a great deal of false news, misinformation campaigns and conspiracy theories. In this context, the WHO declared at the beginning of February an « infodemia » which concerns the origin, the extent, as well as the prevention and treatment of the disease. This information is disseminated through social media as well as through some professional media and poses the threat to our health systems of a generalized distrust of certain publics, leading to the non-respect of health instructions.
On the other hand, citizens are demanding reliable information, at a time when information sources are multiplying and when everyone can become a content creator. Paradoxically, the infodemia is coupled with a form of strong return of expectations from traditional information players (press, public services). Peak attendance at Swiss Federal Council press conferences is proof of this. Several studies show that in Europe 90% of individuals say they get information at least once a day and 50% of those in between do so several times a day. Subscriptions to some national newspapers have soared. In normal times, the media are integrated into the social fabric and go almost unnoticed. In times of crisis, the 4th power plays an essential democratic role. The formation of citizens’ opinions cannot be achieved without independent and critical media, which report, question and put into perspective the news. When the diversity of the press becomes impoverished, our democracy is in peril.
Today, the fourth estate is shaken. The pressure on the so-called traditional media is pushing them to publish information quickly and to emphasize sensational content in order to attract the readership. In addition, some regional media have had to reduce their canopy because of declining advertising revenues in a context where the demand for information is greater. The unprecedented crisis shaking the media is putting the diversity and quality of information at risk. While Switzerland was able to count up to 406 paid newspapers in 1939, there are currently fewer than 200. This gradual melting of the media fabric must be put into perspective with the concentration of titles within a few large groups, whose objective is not always the wealth of information, and the increased dependence on international press groups.
Social networks also push typical user profiles to publish false or erroneous information. Our blog devotes an article to this very subject (link). This creates a kind of cynicism about information and politics. This mistrust towards political bodies and our decision-making bodies is very dangerous for our democracy. Indeed, if most citizens find themselves questioning and thinking that the information provided is false, this mistrust can jeopardize our democracy.
Also, the way in which the readership forms an opinion on the world has changed. They now often have to sort and filter the information themselves, but they are not always able to do so and avoid the unintentional dissemination of false news (fake news). Such misinformation has extremely negative effects.
Freedom of expression and debate are two fundamental elements of our democracy.