Misinformation, Post-truth and Alternative Facts. The End of Voters’ Competence?

Abstract

Traditional studies of political knowledge dichotomize citizens into the informed and the uninformed. Presently, this classification is obsolete and does not account for the raise of misinformation. The misinformed believe in facts that are purposely deceiving, factually wrong or inaccurate, at best. Media producers, politicians and parties share responsibility in what has come to be a post-truth political environment where expertise is often traded for unsubstantiated sensationalism. However, there are strong signs of resistance to the deteriorating quality of political information: in particular, fact-checking organizations foster the resurgence of hard facts and accurate statements. This panel brings together theoretical and empirical contributions on the consequences of misinformation and the effects of corrective interventions. Papers address the role traditional, new media and fact-checking organizations play, as well as the impact correct and incorrect information has on citizens’ political attitudes and behaviours.