Saratov University has hosted an open lecture by Professor of the Department of Political Sciences Alexander Kazakov on the topic of fakes in media landscape.
More than 200 SSU students took part in it. They learned what types of fakes exist and what methods are used to protect against false information.
According to the lecturer, fakes are a fairly common phenomenon. Before the widespread use of the Internet unverified news were called newspaper hoaxes. This expression is over three hundred years old.
It is difficult to overestimate the social, political, and financial consequences of the mass distribution of fakes – they are destructive to society, they make havoc, push people to search for false enemies, incite unrest, deceive consumers, destabilise the audience, make them feel anxious and less confident. However, considering the aggravation of the international situation, they acquire special significance due to their negative impact on the collective consciousness.
In the first part of his speech, Prof. Kazakov spoke about the manipulative techniques that journalists and bloggers use to mislead the audience. This can be evidenced by catchy headlines, typos and errors in text, photo and video content as well as a date mismatch with the specified event.
During the second part of the meeting, the participants learned how to protect themselves from false information. The professor believes that any information should be taken with a fair amount of scepticism, especially when it comes to political processes.
It is necessary to compare information from various sources, in particular, one should be guided by official websites. It is important to check the resource itself, where the information appeared. The authenticity of the photographic material can be clarified using the search engine in the Pictures section. With the help of these instruments the addressee becomes more objective.
‘Currently, it is important to be able to sort out the large information flow that comes out of the media. To do this, it is necessary to know the mechanisms that make it possible to distinguish reliable facts from false ones. The lecture has helped to understand this issue, and I am sure it will be useful not only for students but also for professors,’ Vladislav Bykov, a 1st year student of the Faculty of Sociology, shared his impressions.
The results of the meeting were summed up by Vice-Rector for Youth Policy and Educational Work Anton Golovchenko. ‘Surely, following the results of this meeting, you have received a tool that will allow you to feel more confident in the Internet and will enable you to use only verified and truthful information.’
In conclusion, the students were able to ask questions to the lecturer and share their opinions on the topic. The lecture was organised with the support of the Department of Educational Work and Youth Programmes and the SSU Council of Undergraduates and Postgraduates.
