NEW MEDIA ADVOCACY AND THE CHALLENGE OF AUTHENTICITY: A STUDY OF YOUTUBE
ABSTRACT
Disinformation, misinformation, and fake news have been and are becoming an increasing problem online. The authenticity of online information is being questioned and the need for validation of data is clear. To overcome this obstacle, where and how information spreads online is examined. Furthermore, detection and mitigation methods that can be employed are discussed. Through this Systematic Literature Review, articles were put through stages of screening to ensure relativity and lastly, they were quality assessed. Once included, data was extracted and results recorded. Three main themes that emerged were the platforms in which we obtain fake news, how fake news spreads online, and the detection and mitigation methods in place. Social networks and search engines are aware of the existence of such content and are reacting accordingly to reduce it. On the other hand, people need to assess information more critically before passing it on. Results indicate that new media and online information is becoming more and more questioned but detection and mitigation strategies are being adhered to.
Table of Content
CHAPTER ONE
INTRODUCTION
1.1 Background To The Study
1.2 Statement of the Research problem
1.3 Research Questions
1.5 Objectives of the Study
1.6 Justification of the Study
1.7 Scope and Limitation of Study
CHAPTER TWO
REVIEW OF RELATED LITERATURE
2.1 Introduction
2.2 New Media and Participatory Culture
2.6. New Media and Advocacy
2.6.5 YouTube and Advocacy
CHAPTER THREE
RESEACH METHODOLOGY
3.2 Population
3.3 Population Sample
3.3 Method of Data Collection
CHAPTER FOUR
PRESENTATION OF FINDINGS
4.1 NEW MEDIA PLATFORMS
4.3 Mitigating information authenticity
CHAPTER FIVE
SUMMARY, CONCLUSION AND RECOMMENDATION
5.1 SUMMARY OF FINDINGS
5.2 Conclusion
5.3 RECOMMENDATIONS
REFERENCES
Conventional and traditional advocacy has always relied on the mass media as a tool to gain mass support and mount pressure on policy makers. Media advocates employed a communication strategy based on stern lecturing and beaming of information to receivers who are expected to act on the basis of the information received. The expected outcome is that information and education will lead to awareness, and will ultimately result in behavior change. This communication strategy has failed to get the desired result and has created a huge gap between the sender and the receiver due to the inability of the receiver to understand the messages designed by experts largely because the people were not involved in the process of message conception, design and dissemination.
Many challenges of advocacy projects in Nigeria do not only stem from the fact that the people do not participate in the process but the fact that advocates lacked the ability and medium to effectively mobilize members of a given community to support the desired project. Therefore, most advocacy campaigns/projects fail to get the level of support needed to bring the much needed change. Also, very critical to advocacy is the question of empowerment. In most cases, the people or community who participate in advocacy project are still unable to speak for themselves because they are not empowered to take part in the advocacy project. As a result, the people are left voiceless as they cannot fight for themselves.
