Challenging post-communication: Beyond focus on a ‘few bad apples’ to multi-level public communication reform

Macnamara, J

Challenging post-communication: Beyond focus on a ‘few bad apples’ to multi-level public communication reform

Macnamara, J

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Publisher:: Taylor && Francis
Publication Type:: Journal Article
Citation:: Communication Research and Practice, 2020
Issue Date:: 2020-12-13

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Field	Value	Language
dc.contributor.author	Macnamara, J https://orcid.org/0000-0003-1387-3882
dc.date.accessioned	2020-12-03T04:29:19Z
dc.date.available	2020-11-30
dc.date.available	2020-12-03T04:29:19Z
dc.date.issued	2020-12-13
dc.identifier.citation	Communication Research and Practice, 2020
dc.identifier.issn	2204-1451
dc.identifier.uri	http://hdl.handle.net/10453/144482
dc.description.abstract	Since declaration of post-truth as Oxford Dictionaries’ word of the year in 2016, studies show that ‘fake news’, ‘alternative facts’, and disinformation have continued unabated—and even increased. Fingers have pointed at individuals such as Donald Trump and the activities of Russian ‘troll farms’. Also, global outrage has risen in relation to the deceptive and manipulative practices of organisations such as Cambridge Analytica and social media oligopolies, notably Facebook. However, transdisciplinary research challenges the ‘few bad apples’ argument and proposes that a wide range of culprits are responsible for what this study calls post-communication. Based on review of reports and commentary related to public communication practices, and key informant interviews, this discussion proposes that reforms are required at three levels: top-down, such as updated regulation and legislation; bottom-up, including new approaches to media literacy; and increased attention to ethics and standards by those in the middle of the post-truth phenomenon—professionals in advertising, marketing, public relations, government and political communication, and journalism.
dc.language	en
dc.publisher	Taylor && Francis
dc.relation.ispartof	Communication Research and Practice
dc.rights	This is an Accepted Manuscript of an article published by Taylor & Francis in Communication Research and Practice, 2021 available online: http://www.tandfonline.com/doi/abs/10.1080/22041451.2021.1876404
dc.rights	info:eu-repo/semantics/embargoedAccess
dc.subject	1902 Film, Television and Digital Media, 1903 Journalism and Professional Writing, 2001 Communication and Media Studies
dc.title	Challenging post-communication: Beyond focus on a ‘few bad apples’ to multi-level public communication reform
dc.type	Journal Article
utslib.location.activity	Australia
utslib.for	1902 Film, Television and Digital Media
utslib.for	1903 Journalism and Professional Writing
utslib.for	2001 Communication and Media Studies
pubs.organisational-group	/University of Technology Sydney/Faculty of Science
pubs.organisational-group	/University of Technology Sydney/Strength - CPCE - Centre for Creative Practices and the Cultural Economy
pubs.organisational-group	/University of Technology Sydney
utslib.copyright.status	open_access	*
pubs.consider-herdc	false
utslib.copyright.embargo	2022-08-31T00:00:00+1000Z
dc.date.updated	2020-12-03T04:29:16Z
pubs.publication-status	Accepted

Abstract:

Since declaration of post-truth as Oxford Dictionaries’ word of the year in 2016, studies show that ‘fake news’, ‘alternative facts’, and disinformation have continued unabated—and even increased. Fingers have pointed at individuals such as Donald Trump and the activities of Russian ‘troll farms’. Also, global outrage has risen in relation to the deceptive and manipulative practices of organisations such as Cambridge Analytica and social media oligopolies, notably Facebook. However, transdisciplinary research challenges the ‘few bad apples’ argument and proposes that a wide range of culprits are responsible for what this study calls post-communication. Based on review of reports and commentary related to public communication practices, and key informant interviews, this discussion proposes that reforms are required at three levels: top-down, such as updated regulation and legislation; bottom-up, including new approaches to media literacy; and increased attention to ethics and standards by those in the middle of the post-truth phenomenon—professionals in advertising, marketing, public relations, government and political communication, and journalism.

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http://hdl.handle.net/10453/144482