The Routledge Companion to Media Disinformation and Populism

Abstract

In this setting, it is crucial to look not only at the actual facticity, neutrality, and honesty of information, but also at the perceptions of unintended misinformation and intentional disinformation. This chapter gives an overview of how mis- and disinformation can be conceptualised as perceptions of the news media's accuracy and honesty. The goals of disinformation may vary, but cultivating distrust; increasing support for, for example, radical leftor right-wing issue positions; and strengthening polarisation may be some of political goals targeted by agents of disinformation. As disinformation is intended to make an impact and as it can be distributed in systematic, goal-directed way to bring about societal change or disruption, it may be problematic for deliberative democracy. Differences in disinformation perceptions are even stronger than national differences in perceived misinformation. However, in national settings where press freedom is lower and corruption and distrust in media institutions is highest, citizens are more likely to have strong perceptions of mis-and disinformation.

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