Author(s): Ileana-Cinziana SURDU
Publication name: Romanian Intelligence Studies Review
Publisher name: Mihai Viteazul National Intelligence Academy
Publication type: Journal article
Publication date: June 30, 2020
Pagination:
Issue/ Volume: 23/2020
DOI:
Abstract
The article presents the results of an empirical research dedicated to the views
that institutional communicators (spokespersons), journalists, and security studies
experts hold on the phenomenon of fake news, ethics and responsibility in media
reporting in case of security threats and sensitive issues. The study aims to provide a
practical overview, capitalizing the on-field expertise of practitioners in security and law
enforcement fields, and bridging the three perspectives into a unified approach for
efficiently managing strategic communication in media reporting.
Aiming to encourage and empower spokespersons to get out of information
bubbles, to critically address fake news and develop responsible and accountable
communication patterns and behaviors in the relationship with their audience, a
sociological field research has been undertaken at the level of three European states:
Romania, Spain and Greece. The empirical process aimed to understand the phenomenon
of fake news, ethics and responsibility in media reporting in case of security threats, and
to identify the training needs, further necessary information and abilities of the target
groups. The data were collected from the pool of spokespersons, journalists,
practitioners, experts and other stakeholders in the field of security and law
enforcement. The research was based on a triangulation process, combining quantitative
and qualitative methods, and offering a practical overview on the phenomenon of fake
news and ethics in media reporting, strategic communication, critical thinking, media
literacy and responsible communication in case of security threats and sensitive issues.
The analysis of the processed data allows the identification of a set of good
practices, schemes and strategies dedicated to institutional spokespersons, and (young)
journalists in the field of security and law enforcement, and relevant stakeholders, in
relation to responsible and ethical reporting. It identifies methods of increasing
resilience to disinformation and other related aspects, and draws the needs for
acquiring, developing and strengthening skills and key competences, in order to foster
strategic communication, critical thinking, media literacy, fake news resilience, media
ethics and responsible reaction. The results are suitable to be integrated into a practical
overview of any type of approach for efficiently managing reporting in case of security
threats and sensitive issues.
Keywords: hybrid Media reporting, security threats, fake news, disinformation,
strategic communication, critical thinking.
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