Top 10 typical cases of fake news in 2014

●Major events now short

●Case: the disappearance of Malaysia Airlines Flight MH370

Publication time from March 8, 2014

"News" after the disappearance of Malaysia Airlines flight MH370, due to the lack of authoritative sources of information, from the central media to local Media information flying around, so that people are confused. Among the more typical, widely spread rumors are mainly divided into several categories:

Miracle of survival category - March 8, 14:28, "Chengdu Evening News" media microblogging even with several exclamation points to catch people's eyes: "'Landing ！！！！！ ' Malaysia Airlines general manager spoke on the spot, the flight has been confirmed to have landed in the Nanning (phonetic) area of Vietnam." Later that night, media reports claimed that MH370 was spotted by a Philippine maritime vessel that was on a search and rescue mission. The plane was found with a badly damaged fuselage, but it did not disintegrate, and the level of casualties may be far lower than previously expected;

Search Progress Category - According to reports, on the morning of the 8th, two search and rescue ships of the Ministry of Transportation's South China Sea Rescue Bureau departed from Xisha and Haikou at 10:49 a.m. and 11:30 a.m., respectively, to go to the South China Sea to Sea to carry out search and rescue work.

The cause of the accident category - the lost flight two people fraudulent use of an Italian passenger and an Austrian passenger's passport mixed on board the plane, resulting in the flight by a terrorist attack. At a news conference held by Malaysia Airlines, Malaysian Transport Minister Hishammuddin said four passengers were suspected of boarding the plane using false information, including two Austrian and Italian passengers who were previously exposed.

Plane crash category - "Yangcheng Evening News" and a number of other media microblogging news release that, according to CNN reports, Malaysia Airlines Flight MH370 has been confirmed to have crashed in the territory of 100 kilometers north of Ho Chi Minh City, Vietnam.

The truth is that the People's Daily's "truth-seeking" column released a "review of false rumors about the loss of the Malaysia Airlines flight" on March 10, clarifying seven fake news stories about the loss of the flight.

1) "Vietnam's search and rescue personnel found signals of the lost plane" is untrue. It was later confirmed that the location of the signal discovery reported by the Vietnamese media was the last location of the plane before it lost contact.

② "Boeing China president said the plane has been found" is not true. Previously, Boeing China President Ma Ailun @ pony love 747 said the plane has been found, Boeing technical team is going to assist in the investigation. Since then, Boeing China President Ma Ailun @小马哥爱747 deleted the microblogging, and said "the plane has been found" is false information, the search is still continuing.

③"Flight MH370 was found by a Philippine maritime vessel" is untrue. Le Dung Ha, a reporter of Vietnam News Agency, confirmed that Vietnam News Agency did not publish this report. The website of Vietnam News Agency also did not see the relevant reports. The claim that "Flight MH370 was found by a Philippine maritime vessel" is untrue.

④"The lost airplane was found by the Philippine navy ship" is not true. This short message is the Tianya netizen "Batistuta" in the evening of March 8 made up a "Titanic-style" joke.

5 "South China Sea Rescue Bureau two search and rescue ship in the morning of March 8 to search and rescue" is not true. The South China Sea Rescue Bureau said, at that time for the search and rescue ship from the shore to the anchorage, not to the search and rescue, at that time, the South China Sea Rescue Bureau of the three search and rescue ship is still on standby in preparation.

6 net rumor "Malaysia Airlines plane forced landing in Nanning" is not true. 8, for the net rumor "Malaysia Airlines plane forced landing in Nanning", Nanning, Guangxi and the local Longdongbao airport denied that Malaysia Airlines flights landed here.

7 CNN did not release the news of the crash of the missing plane.

Reviewed in the occurrence of major emergencies, it is difficult to avoid the spread of all kinds of false information. And when the media is involved in spreading it, it's even harder to tell if the information is true or false. It is worth noting that this type of event is often accompanied by a large amount of misinformation at the beginning of the report, and continuously corrected and updated in the continuous reporting thereafter, an industry reality that may prompt us to update our usual understanding of fake news. The use of social media and other Internet tools by journalists for reporting and information gathering has become a new news routine, while at the same time making media errors more prominent and visible, raising questions about the authority of journalism. The Malaysia Airlines incident, as a "special" catastrophe without a "scene" of the incident, has been focused on by the Chinese media because of its strong relevance to China, but in the face of uncertain news facts, the unfamiliar environment of transnational cross-culturalism, and fierce competition between international and domestic news media, the shortcomings of the Chinese media have become more and more obvious, and the Chinese media has become more and more concerned about the news. However, in the face of uncertain news facts, cross-border and cross-cultural environments, and fierce competition between international and domestic news media, the shortcomings of the Chinese media have come to the forefront, and the answers they have delivered are hardly satisfactory.

●Media not aware of deception

●Case: Guo Meimei owes 260 million yuan in gambling debts in Macau

Published on April 8, 2014

"News" On April 8, some domestic paper media as well as authoritative media websites, re-posted the news based on the "Internet rumor". She has not yet settled the debt, and even revealed that someone claimed to have a boss to repay the money for her, but unfortunately the debtor has not yet received the repayment. Guo Meimei, who once claimed to be a senior member of the Red Cross Society of China, has been in the news again for her ostentatious display of wealth.

The truth is that on July 9, 2014, Guo Meimei was arrested by Beijing police during the World Cup on suspicion of online gambling, and on August 4, CCTV news channel "bottom of the "Internet celebrity" Guo Meimei", pointed out that "Guo Meimei owes 260 million gambling debts in Macao". is speculation. The police found that this is purely a piece of fake news.

ReviewSince 2011, when she sparked an uproar by flaunting her wealth on Weibo as the "general manager of commercial affairs for the Red Cross Society of China," Guo Meimei has become well versed in gaining profit through hype. In the news broadcast by CCTV, the police said, whether it is speculation on the Red Cross, or "260 million gambling debts", as well as for Guo Meimei tailor-made network movie "My name is Guo Meimei", and even Guo Meimei was arrested for gambling, her mother to cooperate with the Beijing police investigation when the Internet appeared "Guo's mother flew home from Japan overnight". After Guo Meimei's mother was arrested for gambling, even when her mother cooperated with the Beijing police investigation, the Internet appeared "Guo's mother flew home from Japan overnight" and other inaccurate news, are suspected to have behind the scenes to carry out network speculation. In each network speculation, there is no lack of active participation of a large number of media, willing to become Guo Meimei "made" for the network celebrity in the process of the promoter, despicable, pathetic!

●●Misadventure and passivity

●Case: Gutter oil black industry chain in Gyeonggi

Published on May 14, 2014

"News" On May 14, a national news website launched the "Where's the gutter oil going? The bottom of the gutter oil black industry chain in Beijing" series of reports. According to the report, the reporter's unannounced visit, which lasted more than a month, found that a gutter oil production chain is still operating covertly and efficiently in the Gyeonggi region. After tracking the gutter oil along the way, the reporter found that the tanker trucks carrying the suspected gutter oil ended up in the factory of Kerry Cereals and Oils (Tianjin) Co, Ltd, which is owned by Yihai Kerry, which owns edible oil brands such as "Jinlongyu".

The truth is that on May 15, Yihai Kerry held a press conference, saying that journalists had mistaken "Kerry Oleochemical (Tianjin) Industry Co. The treatment of waste oil and grease is the former's normal business.

On May 20, a reporter for the website issued a statement admitting that his report "inadvertently misstated Kerry Oleochemicals (Tianjin) Industry Co.

Reviews of this report were originally a rare investigative report to serve the interests of the public ****, because the reporter was wrong about the name of the company involved, the focus of the follow-up report became how the company was misnamed to defend its reputation, deviating from the original purpose of the report, and unnecessarily consuming media resources, leaving a residual chicken feathers. We have no way of knowing how the reporter got the two companies wrong, but the impact of this "carelessness" on the named company was not small, so that the company had to spend a lot of effort to clarify. But judging from the report, it doesn't seem to be that difficult to figure out the scope of business of the two companies. The case is yet another reminder of how important it is to check the facts of a story, and how important it is to do it right so that innocent people aren't hurt and the media can protect themselves.

●●Counterproductive injury to integrity

●Case: the inspiring story of orphan Yang Liujin

Published on May 23, 2014

"News" on May 23, a public service program on a television channel in Guangxi, "The First Secretary", aired on the TV channel. "broadcast the story of the inspirational child Yang Liujin. The program said: Yang Liu jin, 12 years old, Guangxi Longlin County De'e Township people, his father died, his mother remarried with his younger brother, because of his father's side of the obstruction, Yang Liu jin continued to live with his grandparents. After his grandparents passed away, Yang lived alone in an empty house provided by relatives. Every week, he received 10 yuan from his cousin as living expenses and pocket money. He is particularly strong in survival, often eating wild vegetables to fill his hunger, and making his own tools to catch fish, which are considered meat dishes.

The truth June 27, "Southern Metropolis Daily" published a reporter's field visit to Guangxi after the report "Yang Liujin life is pitiful but is not as lonely and helpless as in the program", pointed out that this program in the three inaccuracies:

The first, the age of the misrepresentation. Yang Mingzhi, the standing committee member and propaganda minister of Guangxi Longlin Autonomous County, said in an interview that Yang Liujin is now 14 years old, not 12 years old as stated on the TV program.

Secondly, the claim of living alone for five years is inaccurate. The reality is that after his grandfather died in May 2012, Yang Liujin went to live with his uncle in Shangmapai Tun, Xinjie Village, De'e Town, in July 2012, and then went to live with his cousin Yang Tailin, who was at home until March this year, when he went out to work, and his solitary life began only in March this year. Five days a week Yang Liujin live in school, before returning to his cousin's home on weekends, and by the time the TV program aired the solitary time did not add up to more than 25 days.

Third, the claim of eating grass is wrong. Local students told the Nandu reporter that the TV program showed Yang Liujin eating scissor grass, a kind of wild vegetable often eaten by local residents. Xinjie finished primary school principal Yang Jiya Yong said, in accordance with the provisions of the Yang six pounds to enjoy the state's policy subsidies, three meals a day in school, the daily meal standard is about 8 yuan, every day basically meat dishes, in the school's life is still guaranteed.

Review of this seemingly promote positive energy public service reports caused a lot of controversy, a direct causal factor is naturally the flaws in the TV program. Specifically, the main reason is that the reporter consciously exaggerated some facts. The director of the TV channel said that the reporter said "Yang Liujin has been living alone for five years" because the reporter wanted to help him and make people sympathize with him more, and the digging was not deep enough, thus resulting in inaccuracies. In addition to subjective considerations, some of the work routines of the TV program also contributed to it, such as the TV shot Yang Liu Jin eating wild vegetables, fishing images, restore the previous life, trying to use the limited time to express the child's high concentration of hard-working, inspirational and upward. The TV station believes that this is the basic method of television filming, not "posing", "acting".

While the subsequent clarification statement, repeatedly emphasized the motivation of the program and downplayed the operational flaws, but as some netizens pointed out, the reporter of the hardship of Yang Liujin made exaggerated reports is out of good intentions, but such good intentions have touched the bottom line of the two news reports and charity integrity.

● Zhang Guan Li Dai jokes

● case: bumper ceramic man tragically run over by a female driver straight

publication time July 22, 2014

"News" July 22, a newspaper with a half-page report "female drivers encountered bumper ceramic man drove over the past ......", the report said: a video titled "bumper porcelain man brutally run over by a female driver straight" has been hotly circulated on the Internet. The man in the video in a slow drive into the intersection of the vehicle in front of the left suddenly fell to the ground, the female driver looked around and then ran over. The process was captured by the car recorder installed on the passing vehicle. The video spread quickly triggered netizens hot debate.

In addition, there are a number of domestic media have also been reprinted or reported, and traffic police and legal experts were asked to do the interpretation, which in turn triggered a heated discussion on the female driver in the end there is no responsibility, how much responsibility should be set.

The truth July 24, "Southern Metropolis Daily" pointed out that, after checking, "bumper porcelain man was run over" occurred in South Korea, the video originally from a video site in the U.K. On July 25, "People's Daily" confirmed that the video named "Ms. Jin VS self-inflicted intimidation group On July 25, People's Daily confirmed that the video, titled "Ms. Kim vs. the Self-Inflicted Terrorist Group," was posted on July 19 by a netizen named "pd yoon.

Reviewing the video, which was first circulated on the Internet as mentioned in the report, a newspaper's report did not question the authenticity of the video in any way, but only quoted some netizens' words in a sprawling manner. This is a common modus operandi of many media outlets today, where the clues to the topic come from the Internet, the reporter does not do any interviews, and intentionally "omits" the 5 W's, and only collects comments from netizens, and a piece of writing is then concocted. And some media follow-up reports also did not have doubts about the authenticity of the video, but also made a fuss about the traffic police and legal experts to do "interpretation", to discuss the attribution of responsibility. In fact, journalists can see a lot of clues if they look at the video carefully, at least they won't make the cheap mistake of treating foreign events as domestic news.

●Fake misrepresentation anti-"hit"

●Case: muddy water noodle incident

Publication time August 5, 2014

"News" August 4 afternoon, is the Yunnan Zhaotong earthquake-stricken areas of the Central People's Broadcasting Station "China". The Central People's Broadcasting Station's "Voice of China" reporter sent back a report that the epicenter of the Longtoushan town of Longquan Middle School is currently suffering from a lack of food, and can only eat outside the delivery of noodles, groundwater and tap water because of the quake is now more turbid, and rescue workers can only use the turbid water noodles for cooking.

Late at night on August 5, a newspaper website released a report "disaster relief forces: muddy water noodles is not true, do not gullibly hurt the morale of the front", announced that "muddy water noodles" is fake news. The article reads: "The newspaper reporter asked the front disaster relief forces for confirmation on the 5th, and learned that this is a fake news. A person in charge of the front relief force confirmed that after checking, no relevant situation was found in the process of disaster relief. He appealed to the front-line troops, who are doing their best to help the victims, not to believe in such pictures, which may hurt the morale of the relief troops.

The truth is that after this "fake" report was published, public opinion reversed, with netizens accusing the media of publishing "muddy noodles". But the first release of the "Voice of China" emphasized that the incident is "CCTV reporter Li Tengfei witnessed, the troops asked to eat only noodles without soup, he and his colleagues ate". The Voice of China also criticized the "fake" reporter was not at the scene of the disaster area, but the conclusion of "fake news", contrary to the principles of journalism, said the other side did not have the right to speak without investigation.

August 6, 9:00 am, the newspaper's website, deputy director of the Department of News Hao Junshi issued an apology statement, admitting that the "muddy water noodles" incident did occur: watched the video, the troops did eat muddy water noodles, logistics is a local organization, not the troops to do the meal, the muddy water is the water, put the disinfectant tablets.

Comment This is one of the most dramatic "fake news events" of 2014. The flaws in the operation of this "fake" news are readily apparent. But it is more worthwhile to explore is its "fake" motivation, earthquake relief in the "political correctness" seems to be more important, so there are omissions in the interview, and in the report appeared "please do not mistakenly believe that this kind of ulterior motives of the rear The report also contains the statement "please do not misbelieve this kind of ulterior motives, so as not to hurt the morale of the relief troops". This, I am afraid, is something more worth thinking about.

●Misreporting stirs up controversy

●Case: Maternal death at Xiangtan Maternal and Child Health Hospital

Published Aug. 12, 2014

"News" On Aug. 12, a Hunan-based news website published a story about a woman who died on the operating table in Xiangtan. Xiangtan maternal death on the operating table," the report said: the afternoon of August 10, Hunan Xiangtan County Maternal and Child Health Hospital, a woman surnamed Zhang, in cesarean section operation, due to postoperative hemorrhage unfortunately died. The family believes that "she was an unnatural death, the hospital has a great responsibility, if found in a timely manner is not to death, not to hide us for so long". The report also describes: "(Maternity) lying naked on the operating table full of blood, eyes still with tears, but there is no longer breathing, and should have been in the rescue doctors and nurses have all disappeared." This news was then reprinted in large numbers by the national online media traditional media.

The truth about 14:00 on August 13, Xiangtan County official microblogging informed the matter that the delivery of the fetus, the fetus appeared to vomit, choking, initially diagnosed as "amniotic fluid embolism" may be, hospitals immediately start the hospital, the county, the city of maternal rescue green channel, the city, the county experts presided over the rescue, but because of amniotic fluid embolism caused by the The company's first-ever product was a new product, a new product, a new product, a new product, a new product, a new product, a new product, a new product, a new product, a new product.

August 13, 16:00, Xiangtan County, deputy director of the Health Bureau Qi Xianqiang "should have been in the resuscitation of all the missing medical staff," responded to the media reporter, said that the medical staff in the maternal cardiac arrest after the resuscitation of half an hour before giving up, the hospital announced the death of dozens of family members gathered outside the operating room agitated family members rushed into the operating room, the medical staff, the hospital announced the death of the family members of the family members of the family members of the family members of the family members of the family members. The family rushed into the operating room, the medical staff is in the rest room, not "all missing".

August 16, Xiangtan County Health Bureau said, from the entire medical process, the hospital should also still do the hospital's responsibility.

Commenting on the reason why the conflict between doctors and patients has become a prominent problem in Chinese society, the media has undoubtedly played an important role. The news coverage of this incident is a clear example. Before the facts were clear, the media rushed to characterize the incident, unilaterally accepting the patient's side of the story, while the other side of the story was absent, resulting in a loss of balance and objectivity in the coverage. Moreover, some emotionally charged words were frequently used in the article, such as "tearful" and "tragic death", implying the hospital's cold-blooded inaction and indifference to the patient's life, which could easily give rise to inappropriate innuendos and associations, and the real cause of the maternal death, "amniotic fluid", was not clearly understood. The real reason for the death of this pregnant woman "amniotic fluid embolism" is shielded and ignored. Of course, it is not that the hospital is not responsible. As the media, what they need is to present the process of the incident objectively and comprehensively, and how to characterize the incident is the work of the relevant professional departments. In fact, in many similar doctor-patient disputes, we can often see the media nearly the same "offside" performance. As the People's Daily commentary "Concerned about doctor-patient disputes, please do not easily jump to conclusions," said, "Human life is at stake, do not easily jump to conclusions and determine responsibility.

● Visual image was misinterpreted

● Case: Shanghai Metro foreigner fainted passengers no help

Published on August 20, 2014

"News" August 20, a Shanghai newspaper published a report "Shanghai Metro disclosed 2 cases of passengers blindly panicked typical Case foreigner fainted, the whole carriages run out of people," said the evening of August 9, 9:34 pm, a male foreign passenger in the train will enter the Jinke Road station suddenly fell slowly to the right, his head almost to the side of the middle-aged female passenger's shoulders. In the following seconds, he first lay down on his seat and then tumbled to the ground as the train braked and slowed down, seemingly unconscious. Seeing this, the five passengers on the opposite seat got up violently and fled. In less than 10 seconds, the carriage was empty, leaving only the fainted foreigner on the ground.

The truth August 20, microblogging account "New People's Evening News Xinmin Net" released: Shanghai Metro clarification: no one to help is not true Shanghai Metro confirmed that passengers were panicked because the situation was sudden, less than the reaction, but when the train came into the station, ran out of the compartments of the passengers immediately sought help from the station attendant, the station attendant also got on the train in time! The train was in the middle of the train's journey.

August 21, "People's Daily" 15 also published "Shanghai Metro, a foreign passenger fainted, "no one to help" claim is not true," the report said, according to the Shanghai Metro operator provided by the surveillance video shows that due to the suddenness of the incident, the first reaction of the surrounding passengers is to immediately avoid, run to the subsequent carriages. As do not understand the specifics of the situation, see a passenger running, the subsequent compartments passengers are also affected by this panic atmosphere, to be the train stops have rushed out of the compartment. However, after leaving the carriage, some enthusiastic passengers immediately found the station attendant on duty on the platform, described the unexpected situation in the carriage and asked for help. Subsequently, the station attendant quickly arrived at the incident carriage, ready to start rescue. By then, the fainted foreign passenger had already awakened and got up to leave on his own.

An important factor in the frequent occurrence of fake news triggered by videos and pictures in the past few years is that people can interpret the videos or pictures from different perspectives. And journalists focus more on the news value of these videos or pictures when interpreting them. For this incident in a Shanghai subway car, the foreign passenger fainted and people helped him, but the latter is more imaginative than the angle presented in the initial report. Imagine, a foreigner fainted in the carriage, the people scattered to flee, not become a typical example of social indifference? It's more valuable to spread the word.

It is worth noting that in recent years, with the increasing construction of metro in major cities in China, the metro has become a very important place for the urban population, the occurrence of news in the subway, business in the subway to engage in business planning has also greatly increased. Subway operations have a certain degree of professionalism, in the future in the face of similar events, the reporter or to seek evidence, and listen to what the professionals say.

●Unscrupulous companies are making a mess of the hype

●Case: Post-95 female netizen exchanges her body for a trip

Published on Oct. 23, 2014

"News" On Oct. 23, a newspaper devoted a full-page article to a news story, "Post-95 woman" (95后女网友用身体换旅行), which was published on the website of a newspaper. "Body in exchange for a trip across the country", every place to recruit temporary boyfriends". According to the report, a self-proclaimed "after 95 budding girl" female net friend, posted on the network "with the body travel: after 95 budding girl to the country to collect all over the temporary boyfriend accompanied tour! A post, publicly announced his "0 yuan tour of China" plan: for netizens to start "temporary boyfriend" collection. The article will be a detailed statement of the content of the post, but also lists the post below the netizen's message, and finally warned readers "travel to dilly-dallying with food and shelter is risky, it is best for girls not to easily try". This story originally circulated in microblogging, Internet forums finally on the pages of traditional media, followed by a large number of authoritative media sites have also been forwarded.

The truth October 23, self-media microblogging account "Media Watch" microblogging: "has been initially confirmed that this is still a social software suspected of pornographic marketing fake news hype, we are collecting more evidence to the public security organs and the Internet management department to report. We advise the major 'authoritative' media to respect themselves."

On Oct. 28, the "Youga" software mentioned in the "Body for Travel" report was "suspected of spreading obscene pornography and vulgar information" by the State Internet Information Office, which suspended access to the service and ordered it to The Office suspended access to the service, ordered rectification, and notified major application stores to take down the software, while coordinating with relevant departments to investigate and deal with the relevant units and responsible persons in accordance with the law.

The review proved to be an attempt by a software company to use the influence of pornography for news hype to promote the social software it developed. The company had already produced a fake news story about a "digger car shock" and was a "repeat offender" with previous convictions. The company's intention to produce fake news in order to promote its products, cater to Internet hotspots and carry out vulgar marketing should be severely punished.

The traditional media, which was utilized by the unscrupulous company, used a full page to report on the "95-year-old girl's body in exchange for travel", 95-year-old, girl, body, the news title is filled with these words that make people daydream, and created an authentic news that is both false and vulgar. After the publication of the report, some well-known news sites have also followed up on the dissemination of this fake news to make a "contribution". These media outlets, which do not recognize the truth and spare no effort in spreading fake news, should also think about what kind of values the newspapers and websites are trying to express, even if this is a true story.

●Understanding bias makes a mess

●Case: China "loses" the list of the world's 20 cities with the worst air

Published on October 28, 2014

"News" On October 28, a news website published a report entitled "China's Cities with the Worst Air"

"The news" was published on a news website. A news website published the article "Chinese Cities 'Exit' World's 20 Worst Air Cities," reporting that China "fell off the list" of the 20 cities with the worst air. In the WHO "2014 Urban Outdoor Air Pollution Database" ranking data, PM2.5 value of the highest 20 cities in India accounted for half of the cities, the rest of the cities were from Pakistan and Iran and other countries. The database includes publicly available online data from 1,600 cities in 91 countries, spanning 2008 to 2013, and CNN reports that none of the 20 Chinese cities made the list. This is despite the fact that many cities in China are shrouded in thick gray fog, with millions of residents wearing masks outside.

The TruthOn Oct. 29, the network began to dispel the rumors. The source pointed out that the WHO did not conduct a ranking of the world's 20 worst cities for air pollution, and it does have a database of outdoor air pollution in cities, the most recent edition of which was published in May 2014, but only recorded the worst air pollution in the world. In this database, only PM10 and PM2.5 measurements (or estimates) are recorded for some cities for a given year.WHO does not rank cities based on these data, and in fact cannot, because the data is incomplete and not comparable.

Commenting on China's environmental quality, which has been criticized for years, various segments circulate online whenever the haze strikes, reflecting the nation's concern about environmental issues. The media have also begun to take it as an important topic of coverage, and some media have set up green news pages with specialized running reporters. It should be said that this article "Chinese cities" out of "the world's worst air 20 cities" captures the social concern of the news, but because the reporter is not careful enough to use the relevant data, resulting in the dissemination of a wrong message, contrary to the truth.