NYU journalism professor Jay Rosen describes "verification in reverse."
NYU journalism professor Jay Rosen describes what he calls "verification in reverse."
“Destroying the media releases a lot of energy. I have a term for this, which is ‘verification in reverse.’ Verification is basic art and science in journalism. It’s central to how journalists do their work. It’s asking ‘Did that really happen? Is that really true? How do we know this? What is the evidence? Where’s the proof?’
Verification is like the central task in serious journalism. Verification in reverse is when you take something that’s already been nailed down and introduce doubt about it. And the doubt creates energy and commotion and conflict and rage and emotion.
And with that energy released by the denial of verified fact, you can power a political movement. You can give rise to a candidacy. You can win the debate. And this pattern…is transparent but it’s also very difficult to counter.”
Excerpted from the Journalism & Democratic Backsliding webinar, recorded 19 October 2023. Full webinar available at: • Journalism & Democratic Backsliding: ... .