Journalists dealing with misleading information on Jordanian news websites

Abstract

False information on Jordanian news websites lures readers through their inaccurate headlines to click on them in order to access the content, shock and impress them, regardless of the effects it has on these people when they discover that they are dealing with false news. This research aims to identify the methods used by journalists on Jordanian news websites to deal with false information. The methodology of this study is based on the descriptive analytical approach, through which a literature review of certain terms related to the problem and four interviews with editors of some Jordanian news websites were conducted. The results show that there is a consensus that the veracity of the news should be ensured before publication by the editors of these news websites, without resorting to appropriating information from other news websites and verifying its authenticity. To conclude, several recommendations are made to avoid disinformation, among which it is worth highlighting that there should be legal protection for the information issued by news websites and harsh penalties for false information published on them.

Keywords

• Mass-media
• journalists
• misleading information
• news websites
• Jordania