OT Forum: Vasilis Kanellis (in.gr) – Christos Dogas (ot.gr) – Fake news is a great challenge for digital media

Can digital media win the battle of speed, as well as the battle of validity and reliability? To what extent is the truth threatened by the power of the image? Is there a way to detect fake news? Can digital media replace print media?

These questions were answered by the directors of in.gr and ot.gr,  Messrs Vasilis Kanellis and Christos Dogas, respectively, while discussing about  the “Challenges for Digital Media amid an unpredictable environment”, the first session of the second day of the OT Forum.

As the two experienced journalists pointed out, fake news is a great challenge for digital media, especially at a time when they are called to cover a war in progress.

As Mr Vasilis Kanellis characteristically said, a modern war can be won not only by military means, but also by propaganda.

For his part, Mr Christos Dogas underlined that as technology evolves, it will become more difficult to detect fake news. As he pointed out, at a time when the image is gaining more and more power, there are blurred lines boundaries between what is real and what is fake. Technical skills are also required. As he characteristically said, even large agencies fall victim to misinformation.

The role of social media

Social media has done a lot of harm to independent and objective journalism, noted Mr Vasilis Kanellis, adding that any social media can distort the news or even a photo, e.g. twitter, to make millions of plays. “In the age of speed there will be mistakes,” he noted.

He also talked about the “balance of terror” between the speed of the news and the assurance of the truth. “We are trying to check every information we have. When we have controversial news, we prefer not to publish it, so to gain in credibility and validity, than to get more views on our site”, noted the director of in.gr.

Mr Christos Dogas stressed that one piece of information can cost millions and this is even more important in economic reporting. However, he noted that in addition to how the heads of the media manage the news and the are trying to discern the fake news, the citizens should also begin to develop his own defenses. “The citizen has a responsibility for what they choose to read,” he said characteristically, adding that the State should also find a way to promote critical thinking.

Print and Digital Media

Answering a question from a journalism student as to whether digital media could replace print media, the two directors agreed that they could coexist.

“Unfortunately, print media is waning. The dominance of digital media is not absolute, but they have started to prevail over print media. However, I do really hope that, if  newspapers adapt to the circumstances we live in, they will endure. The analysis of the news is the subject of the newspaper, and the need for speed to do this analysis is not needed”.

For his part, Mr Christos Dogas expressed the view that both digital and print media can coexist.