The Anatomy of Fake News - by Nolan Higdon (Paperback)

About the Book

"Since the 2016 U.S. presidential election, debates about fake news have appeared regularly in entertainment, politics, and news media. While many agree on the dangers associated with fake news, there is no consensus around the definition of the phenomenon, and its origins are loosely attributed to a variety of practices and technologies. Much of the discourse has focused on proposing solutions, with media literacy being one of the most frequently mentioned. However, Nolan Higdon argues that critical media literacy pedagogy will be unsuccessful without a comprehensive understanding of fake news. The Anatomy of Fake News offers the first examination of fake news for the purpose of creating effective critical news literacy. Higdon employs a critical-historical media ecosystems approach to identify the producers, themes, purposes, and influences of fake news and incorporates his findings into an invaluable fake news detection kit. This much-needed resource provides a rich history of fake news and a promising set of pedagogical strategies for mitigating its pernicious influence"--

Book Synopsis

Since the 2016 U.S. presidential election, concerns about fake news have fostered calls for government regulation and industry intervention to mitigate the influence of false content. These proposals are hindered by a lack of consensus concerning the definition of fake news or its origins. Media scholar Nolan Higdon contends that expanded access to critical media literacy education, grounded in a comprehensive history of fake news, is a more promising solution to these issues. The Anatomy of Fake News offers the first historical examination of fake news that takes as its goal the effective teaching of critical news literacy in the United States. Higdon employs a critical-historical media ecosystems approach to identify the producers, themes, purposes, and influences of fake news. The findings are then incorporated into an invaluable fake news detection kit. This much-needed resource provides a rich history and a promising set of pedagogical strategies for mitigating the pernicious influence of fake news.

From the Back Cover

"In a society awash in delusions, myths, and hallucinations, Nolan Higdon provides a necessary dive into the cultural and political roots of fake news. This book gives crucial insight into the fake news phenomenon and dissociation from reality in the Trump era and is an important contribution to the fight for media literacy."--Abby Martin, host of The Empire Files

"The Anatomy of Fake News is a first-rate introduction to the subject. Higdon rigorously combs the published work on the subject and puts it together in a very readable and coherent manner. It is a strong contribution to the field of media literacy and media studies."--Robert McChesney, Gutgsell Endowed Professor in the Department of Communication, University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign

"With a clear-eyed understanding that fake news has been around for ages and argued over for a century, Higdon sets his sights on creating an impressive document that clarifies the history of its appearances, the logics of its manipulations, and the powerful effects of its contemporary uses. With cutting-edge theoretical arguments, he illuminates what fake news seeks to hide and offers educators and students a way to challenge its destructive force and learn to create authentic discursive spaces where we can all thrive."--Robin Andersen, Professor of Communication and Media Studies, Fordham University

"The Anatomy of Fake News is key to understanding our current media environment and, more importantly, to developing a comprehensive and complex understanding of news and information. This adept history invites readers to see a long line of material intentionally obfuscated by the mainstream media. Higdon provides clear resources for readers to make their own news analysis both more active and better informed."--Allison Butler, Senior Lecturer & Director of the Media Literacy Certificate Program, University of Massachusetts Amherst

Review Quotes

"The Anatomy of Fake News...offers much for readers interested in a better understanding of fake news. . . .clear and accessible."-- "California History"

About the Author

Nolan Higdon is a lecturer in media studies and history at California State University, East Bay. Higdon sits on the boards of the Action Coalition for Media Education and Northwest Alliance for Alternative Media and Education. He also cohosts the Along the Line podcast.