Post-Truth as a Mutation of Epistemology in Journalism
In recent years, many authors have observed that something is happening to the truth, pointing out that, particularly in politics and social communication, there are signs that the idea of truth is losing consideration in media discourse. This is no minor issue: Truth, understood as the criterion fo...
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| Format: | Article |
| Language: | English |
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Cogitatio
2021-03-01
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| Series: | Media and Communication |
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| Online Access: | https://www.cogitatiopress.com/mediaandcommunication/article/view/3529 |
| _version_ | 1818502333662756864 |
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| author | Pablo Capilla |
| author_facet | Pablo Capilla |
| author_sort | Pablo Capilla |
| collection | DOAJ |
| description | In recent years, many authors have observed that something is happening to the truth, pointing out that, particularly in politics and social communication, there are signs that the idea of truth is losing consideration in media discourse. This is no minor issue: Truth, understood as the criterion for the justification of knowledge, is the essential foundation of enlightened rationality. The aim of this article, based on prior research on social communication (especially as regards journalism), is to elucidate an explanation of this phenomenon, known as ‘post-truth.’ Because it is an epistemological question, the three main variables of the problem (reality, subject and truth) have been analysed by taking into account the manner in which digital social communication is transforming our perception of reality. By way of a conclusion, we propose that (a) the ontological complexity of reality as explained by the news media has accentuated the loss of confidence in journalism as a truth-teller, and that (b) truth is being replaced by sincerity, as an epistemological value, in people’s understanding of the news. The result, using Foucault’s concept of Regime of Truth, suggests a deep change in the global framework of political, economic, social and cultural relations, of which post-truth is a symptom. |
| first_indexed | 2024-12-10T21:08:51Z |
| format | Article |
| id | doaj.art-3dbc538238a845eda37657f7bafaeba1 |
| institution | Directory Open Access Journal |
| issn | 2183-2439 |
| language | English |
| last_indexed | 2024-12-10T21:08:51Z |
| publishDate | 2021-03-01 |
| publisher | Cogitatio |
| record_format | Article |
| series | Media and Communication |
| spelling | doaj.art-3dbc538238a845eda37657f7bafaeba12022-12-22T01:33:33ZengCogitatioMedia and Communication2183-24392021-03-019131332210.17645/mac.v9i1.35291883Post-Truth as a Mutation of Epistemology in JournalismPablo Capilla0Blanquerna Institute of Research in Communication and International Relations, Ramon Llull University, SpainIn recent years, many authors have observed that something is happening to the truth, pointing out that, particularly in politics and social communication, there are signs that the idea of truth is losing consideration in media discourse. This is no minor issue: Truth, understood as the criterion for the justification of knowledge, is the essential foundation of enlightened rationality. The aim of this article, based on prior research on social communication (especially as regards journalism), is to elucidate an explanation of this phenomenon, known as ‘post-truth.’ Because it is an epistemological question, the three main variables of the problem (reality, subject and truth) have been analysed by taking into account the manner in which digital social communication is transforming our perception of reality. By way of a conclusion, we propose that (a) the ontological complexity of reality as explained by the news media has accentuated the loss of confidence in journalism as a truth-teller, and that (b) truth is being replaced by sincerity, as an epistemological value, in people’s understanding of the news. The result, using Foucault’s concept of Regime of Truth, suggests a deep change in the global framework of political, economic, social and cultural relations, of which post-truth is a symptom.https://www.cogitatiopress.com/mediaandcommunication/article/view/3529epistemologyfake newsjournalismontologypost-truthrealitysocial mediatruth |
| spellingShingle | Pablo Capilla Post-Truth as a Mutation of Epistemology in Journalism Media and Communication epistemology fake news journalism ontology post-truth reality social media truth |
| title | Post-Truth as a Mutation of Epistemology in Journalism |
| title_full | Post-Truth as a Mutation of Epistemology in Journalism |
| title_fullStr | Post-Truth as a Mutation of Epistemology in Journalism |
| title_full_unstemmed | Post-Truth as a Mutation of Epistemology in Journalism |
| title_short | Post-Truth as a Mutation of Epistemology in Journalism |
| title_sort | post truth as a mutation of epistemology in journalism |
| topic | epistemology fake news journalism ontology post-truth reality social media truth |
| url | https://www.cogitatiopress.com/mediaandcommunication/article/view/3529 |
| work_keys_str_mv | AT pablocapilla posttruthasamutationofepistemologyinjournalism |