Encyclopaedia

Negligence defines someone’s failure to exercise the degree of care that would be reasonably expected from them. An average citizen sharing unverified information, for example, can be considered a reckless exercise (even when we have a long way to go before we achieve media literacy), but a journalist who does the same would certainly incurr […]

Complexity comes the Latin word Complecti, meaning “with” (Com-) “intertwining”, “braiding” or “weaving” (-plecti). It therefore refers to the state of being intricate, composed of interconnected parts. It implies a condition where multiple elements or factors are involved, and therefore where understanding, analysing, and predicting the outcome of such condition can only be done by

Media is the group of platforms and tools used to store and deliver information and data, especially the news. As such, it plays a significant role in shaping public opinion, influencing social and cultural norms, and facilitating the exchange of ideas and information in society. The media encompasses a wide range of formats, including print

Political polarisation is the term used to describe the growing divide between social groups‘ ideas and ideology, leading to a an increase in extreme political views and loss of common ground (see charismatic leadership and the demise of opposition). Political polarisation can happen broadly around political parties, when they drift so far apart that they

The anchoring effect, also known as anchoring bias, is a concept which describes the human tendency to rely on a first piece of information encountered (the “anchor”) when forming opinions and making decisions, without investigating that information further. Once an anchor is set, subsequent judgments are made in relation to that anchor, and there is

Journalists is a very broad term used to describe professionals who gather, assess, create, review, edit and present news and information to the public. They may work as reporters, editors, correspondents, columnists, or in a number of other roles that involve researching and disseminating information – usually thorugh newspapers, magazines, radio, television, and online platforms.

Reliable sources is a term used to define publishers who we can trust, and which should be free from misinformation. In reality, however, there is no such thing. Some sources do tend to be more committed to the truth than others, but sadly even the most committed publishers make mistakes sometimes (intentionally or not –

The term ‘misinformation threat’, although often referred to as a singular warning, actually encompasses a wide range of risks to individuals, societies, and even global stability. Here are the 8 most significant threats associated with misinformation: 1. Misinformed Decision Making The main risk behind misinformation is how it influences our actions. Information drives our opinions,

The sad truth is there is no truth. There is only our perception of the world and everything in it through our senses – which can often misguide us (see the myth of perception) – and the tools we build to maximise their reach. How do we then determine what is true if there is

The ‘Horseshoe Theory’ is the idea that the more extreme the political left or right become the more they resemble each other. According to this view, the extreme left and the extreme right, rather than being opposing ends of a linear political spectrum, would therefore actually sit close together and promote systems with important similarities