I know that the media likes to hype things and sometimes are too quick off the mark and report things that they don't have all the facts for but I didn't realise it was such a problem.

Could this report be a fake news item planted by an insidious organisation such as those we are often warned about?

It's clearly an issue with journalism in general.

Stories are pushed to one extreme or the other, to elicit the maximum amount of outrage or partisan support. Stories are headlined to generate web traffic, not to reflect the contents of the story or the actual issue in order to get clicks for ads.

News and journalism have been chasing their tail since the internet became a thing. They missed the boat and are now trying to stuff an outdated business model onto a computer screen. But for that model to work, they need ads and a huge volume of traffic. So they sensationalise to an extent we haven't seen before to get the traffic and the ad revenue that comes with it.

If the AFL players can counter or affect this to even a small extent then that's a win. But I feel like it's an uphill battle we're all fighting. Anything that forces journalists to get all (or at least more of) the facts is a win.

Right now, being first with a story is the priority for this type of journalism. It doesn't matter if the facts are wrong. It matters that you get the story first and the web traffic that goes with it. Maybe if they're called on their factual inaccuracies often enough, they'll start to prioritise accuracy over speed. I am doubtful this will happen though.

I think this is a fake news story about Fake news.

It smells....

More fake news?

Titus O'Reily‏ @TitusOReily 56m56 minutes ago

More

"But I promise you, the AFL will not forget or abandon Tanzania."

9 replies16 retweets166 likes

Reply

 9

 

Retweet

 16

 

 

Like

 166

 

Direct message

  On 15/03/2018 at 00:09, La Dee-vina Comedia said:

More fake news?

Titus O'Reily‏ @TitusOReily 56m56 minutes ago

More

"But I promise you, the AFL will not forget or abandon Tanzania."

9 replies16 retweets166 likes

Reply

 9

 

Retweet

 16

 

 

Like

 166

 

Direct message

"There were no drugs at Essendon"

  On 14/03/2018 at 23:33, Demonland said:

I know that the media likes to hype things and sometimes are too quick off the mark and report things that they don't have all the facts for but I didn't realise it was such a problem.

I 100% support the players on this issue - it has been a serious problem for quite some years sadly even at our own club. 

Its exactly one reason I gave up reading the AFL media long, long ago and why I love your podcasts. Your podcasts go direct to the source   And cut thru the AFL media. 

 

Players shouldn't even pay attention to the media. There will always be fake news - especially in Australia where journalists appear to be able to write whatever they want (as Dustin Martin well knows). Good players focus on the game instead of the headlines. If they want to do something productive about fake news (if it offends them so much), then sue the papers. Outside of that they are wasting their time and need a reality check. Stop sooking and play football.

  On 15/03/2018 at 00:09, La Dee-vina Comedia said:

More fake news?

Titus O'Reily‏ @TitusOReily 56m56 minutes ago

More

"But I promise you, the AFL will not forget or abandon Tanzania."

9 replies16 retweets166 likes

Reply

 9

 

Retweet

 16

 

 

Like

 166

 

Direct message

You would not believe how much cynicism I have for this photo...

  On 15/03/2018 at 00:43, KingDingAling said:

Players shouldn't even pay attention to the media. There will always be fake news - especially in Australia where journalists appear to be able to write whatever they want (as Dustin Martin well knows). Good players focus on the game instead of the headlines. If they want to do something productive about fake news (if it offends them so much), then sue the papers. Outside of that they are wasting their time and need a reality check. Stop sooking and play football.

Interestingly, this is starting in the US.

Fox News is being sued for publishing a story they knew to be false:

https://nymag.com/daily/intelligencer/2018/03/fox-news-alex-jones-both-sued-for-conspiracy-mongering.html

"But the premise of the article soon fell apart after the primary source, who is also suing Fox News, said he was falsely quoted. After leaving the article online for several days, Fox News issued a retraction, but no apology for the story"

 

 

It's happening, but I guess change is slow.

So yeah, maybe footy journalists will calm down on the false statements if they start getting sued by players. You'd need to prove reputational damage though, which I assume would be difficult to do (I'm no lawyer).

...but what about the false news that comes from the clubs and players?

This stuff goes both ways and some of the more serious journalists have been set up beautifully by clubs, players, agents in the past.

  On 15/03/2018 at 02:39, Choke said:

Interestingly, this is starting in the US.

Fox News is being sued for publishing a story they knew to be false:

https://nymag.com/daily/intelligencer/2018/03/fox-news-alex-jones-both-sued-for-conspiracy-mongering.html

"But the premise of the article soon fell apart after the primary source, who is also suing Fox News, said he was falsely quoted. After leaving the article online for several days, Fox News issued a retraction, but no apology for the story"

 

 

It's happening, but I guess change is slow.

So yeah, maybe footy journalists will calm down on the false statements if they start getting sued by players. You'd need to prove reputational damage though, which I assume would be difficult to do (I'm no lawyer).

Interestingly, this has massive implications for all publishers of content both on or offline.

Wonder when or how long its going to take for the AFLPA ( on the behalf of some players) to sue Bigfooty? or 

An Ex-official suing Bomberblitz for slander with comments regarding their conduct regarding recent issues at their club? 

  On 15/03/2018 at 04:50, DaveyDee said:

Interestingly, this has massive implications for all publishers of content both on or offline.

Wonder when or how long its going to take for the AFLPA ( on the behalf of some players) to sue Bigfooty? or 

An Ex-official suing Bomberblitz for slander with comments regarding their conduct regarding recent issues at their club? 

Yep it's huge.

I assume forums like BF and Demonland have different publishing rules that apply to them given the content is posted by a community. Again, not a lawyer, but it will be interesting to see how it all develops.

Also don't know how it applies to FB and Twitter. They also aren't really responsible for constructing content, but they are responsible for its distribution.

Man is scary how quickly 'Trumpisms' can become part of popular culture. He is no fool but he is a dangerous man.

i will never use the phrase myself

  On 15/03/2018 at 05:04, DubDee said:

Man is scary how quickly 'Trumpisms' can become part of popular culture. He is no fool but he is a dangerous man.

i will never use the phrase myself

Yes he is.

And 'fake news' and defamation are why we should all be grateful for the wonderful job done by Demonland's administrators and moderators.

  On 15/03/2018 at 04:56, Choke said:

Yep it's huge.

I assume forums like BF and Demonland have different publishing rules that apply to them given the content is posted by a community. Again, not a lawyer, but it will be interesting to see how it all develops.

Also don't know how it applies to FB and Twitter. They also aren't really responsible for constructing content, but they are responsible for its distribution.

I would say thats an interesting assumption

FB should not have a problem because the person posts/publishes under his or her name - so it would be relatively easy to get facebook to act. Assuming the AFLPA lawyer thought they had a case. Twitter again understanding how their servers operate store and save data it might be tricky - but hell they are a massive company - if they cant identify the individual or group thats there problem. Other sites I cant say maybe a question you should ask Bigfooty.

But what I do find interesting is they actually mention social media as a target. 

  On 15/03/2018 at 04:56, Choke said:

Yep it's huge.

I assume forums like BF and Demonland have different publishing rules that apply to them given the content is posted by a community. Again, not a lawyer, but it will be interesting to see how it all develops.

Also don't know how it applies to FB and Twitter. They also aren't really responsible for constructing content, but they are responsible for its distribution.

That's an interesting point. Why should Facebook or Twitter be any different to say Demonland.

  On 15/03/2018 at 05:55, Demonland said:

That's an interesting point. Why should Facebook or Twitter be any different to say Demonland.

Does Big Footy own their own data centre and servers? or Are they on a shared server? 

Think you might find Facebook & Twitter own their own data centres and servers. But sorry I cant speak for any other site thats their issue to deal with now the players have mentioned social media.

  On 15/03/2018 at 02:39, Choke said:

Interestingly, this is starting in the US.

Fox News is being sued for publishing a story they knew to be false:

https://nymag.com/daily/intelligencer/2018/03/fox-news-alex-jones-both-sued-for-conspiracy-mongering.html

"But the premise of the article soon fell apart after the primary source, who is also suing Fox News, said he was falsely quoted. After leaving the article online for several days, Fox News issued a retraction, but no apology for the story"

 

 

It's happening, but I guess change is slow.

So yeah, maybe footy journalists will calm down on the false statements if they start getting sued by players. You'd need to prove reputational damage though, which I assume would be difficult to do (I'm no lawyer).

Anyone ever listen to Alex Jones, he is a cheer leader for trump, he is the king of fake news, he has said Michelle Obama, is a  transgender woman, thinks Obama is the Antichrist, and trump is always truthful, and says he understands the common man

  On 15/03/2018 at 05:55, Demonland said:

That's an interesting point. Why should Facebook or Twitter be any different to say Demonland.

they are bigger and have lots and lots of money - 

  On 15/03/2018 at 06:28, daisycutter said:

they are bigger and have lots and lots of money - 

Just goes to show unless we hear stuff directly from the club best to take any news with a grain of salt, Tom McDonald for example was reported he had a hot spot by a journo yet goody came out and said not true and no mention of it from mission, jay Clark usually has good info but still don’t believe anything till it’s announced by us 

Was hoping this was about Jack Viney not playing round 1.

  On 15/03/2018 at 06:40, brendan said:

Just goes to show unless we hear stuff directly from the club best to take any news with a grain of salt, Tom McDonald for example was reported he had a hot spot by a journo yet goody came out and said not true and no mention of it from mission, jay Clark usually has good info but still don’t believe anything till it’s announced by us 

I would not worry about a players injury being wrongly quoted - but I would worry about many comments written by Joe Nobody on certain sites. 

I'm not big on unfair intrusions in to personal lives and reporting on rumours, especially when the sources are clearly vague. Otherwise do your best media.