Presentation at the ICA Regional Conference 2023 in Manipal, India.

1. ICA REGIONAL HUBS 2023, MANIPAL, INDIA | 27 MAY 2023
A Challenge to Authenticity of Mass
Media Communication
A Case Study of Misinformation Landscape of Nepal
Ujjwal Acharya
CMR Nepal Journalism Academy

2. The problem
UJJWAL ACHARYA | ICA REGIONAL HUBS 2023, MANIPAL, INDIA | 27 MAY 2023
• The public trust of mass media
communication is declining.
• Mass media communication is no more
perceived as a representation of truth.
• The emergence and widespread use of one-
to-many communication channels on the
internet have not only challenged the
authority of mass media in representing the
truth but have also given rise to an
authenticity crisis in mass communication.
• This authenticity crisis is primarily a result of
the abundance of unveri
fi
ed and anecdotal
content that may or may not have broader
implications.
• Consuming misinformation is associated
with a general decrease in media trust.

3. Francis Fukuyama (2022)
UJJWAL ACHARYA | ICA REGIONAL HUBS 2023, MANIPAL, INDIA | 27 MAY 2023
“a partisan blogger asserting the opinion that a particular politician
is highly corrupt should not have the same weight as an
investigative journalist who had spent six months carefully going
through that politician’s financial records… the internet makes
these alternative views appear to be equally credible.”

4. Authenticity of Communication
UJJWAL ACHARYA | ICA REGIONAL HUBS 2023, MANIPAL, INDIA | 27 MAY 2023
• Authenticity is not an absolute or intrinsic
characteristic of a text or exchange, it is
dependent on subjective evaluation by
participants or observers.
• According to Lee (2019), authenticity of
communication consists of three
subcomponents:
• authority of source (“Is the communicator
really who he/she/it claims to be?”),
• authenticity of message (“Is what’s being
said true?”), and
• authenticity of interaction (“Is this real
interaction?”)
• However, the assessment of authenticity is
subjective to the receiver of the message
and there are several factors - ranging from
social constructs to personal beliefs -
contributing the authenticity perception.

5. This study’s methodology
UJJWAL ACHARYA | ICA REGIONAL HUBS 2023, MANIPAL, INDIA | 27 MAY 2023
• This study aims to examine the impact of
misinformation on the authenticity of mass
media communication in Nepal.
• A mixed methods approach, including four
case studies and a quantitative analysis of
294 fact-checked misinformation.
• It investigates the role of social media
platforms and mainstream media as sources
of misinformation.
• In the context of authenticity, as a part of the
larger work to look into misinformation in
Nepal, this study aims to look into the
authenticity of messages based on their
platforms to
fi
nd out whether mass media
stand as the authentic source to answer if
mass media in today’s context is modeling
it’s role as the platform of representation of
the truth.

6. Nepal’s misinformation landscape
UJJWAL ACHARYA | ICA REGIONAL HUBS 2023, MANIPAL, INDIA | 27 MAY 2023
• The spread of false or misleading
information—whether by word-of-mouth,
media or otherwise—is an age-old
phenomenon in the [South Asian] region [as]
there are a few examples of how fake news
spreads in South Asia, often instigating hate
speech, mob lynching and killing.
• Nepal’s worst experience with
misinformation occurred in in 2000, in the
pre-internet era, when internet access was
limited.
• In December 25, 2000… Rumours started
spreading in Kathmandu that the popular
Indian actor Hrithik Roshan had insulted
Nepali… protests broke out in the country.
• The riots lasted a few days, during which at
least
fi
ve people were killed, and hundreds
were injured [and] the riots were eventually
quelled when Roshan repeatedly denied
making the statement and expressed his
love for Nepal.

7. Previous data
UJJWAL ACHARYA | ICA REGIONAL HUBS 2023, MANIPAL, INDIA | 27 MAY 2023
• Results of a survey of 403 Nepalis found that
“91.8% respondents had seen
misinformation online in the previous seven
days”; 79.8% of respondents said they saw
misinformation on Facebook.
• According to Nepal’s census 2021, 72.94
percent of households have smart mobile
phones, 37.72 percent households have
internet facility; and 15 percent households
have computer/laptop as a household asset.
• The internet penetration is a contested data
in Nepal as Nepal Telecommunications
Authority (2023) puts it at 133.1 percent
whereas other studies, such as DataReportal
(2023), puts it at 51.6 per cent.
• Data published in Meta’s advertising
resources indicates that Facebook had 11.85
million users in Nepal in early 2023
(DataReportal, 2023). This is equivalent to
38.6 percent of the total population.

8. Data analysis & interpretations I
UJJWAL ACHARYA | ICA REGIONAL HUBS 2023, MANIPAL, INDIA | 27 MAY 2023
• Politics is the primary subject of
misinformation, followed by health and social
issues.
• Data period coincides with the Covid
pandemic, resulting in a higher prevalence of
Covid-related misinformation.
• News media coverage and priorities often
focus on political activities and politicians
rather than being driven by the concerns of
the public.

9. Data analysis & interpretations II
UJJWAL ACHARYA | ICA REGIONAL HUBS 2023, MANIPAL, INDIA | 27 MAY 2023
• In mass media contents, who is the source?
• Is the medium itself a source or, the person
providing the information, or the individual
writing or vetting the information (the
journalist)?
• All contribute to the perception of
authenticity.
• Most of the time, the claimant in
misinformation is the content creator,
(journalist or social media post writer).
• In 1/5th cases, the claimant is a politician.

10. Mass media and journalists spreading
misinformation
UJJWAL ACHARYA | ICA REGIONAL HUBS 2023, MANIPAL, INDIA | 27 MAY 2023
• In cases where the claimant is the producer of
content, nearly 2/3rd of the time it is a social
media post writer.
• However, the data shows that in 38% of such
cases, journalists themselves are the claimants
of misinformation, indicating that they have
written and disseminated the misinformation
without attributing it to anyone else.
• Politicians also utilize social media as a
platform to spread misinformation in 43% of
cases.
• But in 57% of misinformation cases where
politicians are the sources, they are quoted in
mass media.
• When experts, whether relevant or irrelevant,
are the claimants of misinformation, they are
more likely (3 in 5 cases) to be quoted in mass
media than publishing the misinformation
themselves.

11. Data analysis & interpretations III
UJJWAL ACHARYA | ICA REGIONAL HUBS 2023, MANIPAL, INDIA | 27 MAY 2023
• Half of the misinformation appears on
social media.
• But >39% of misinformation are found be
propagated through mass media, including
both online and print/electronic media.
• While social media plays a prominent role
in disseminating misinformation, the
mainstream media is not far behind.

12. Data analysis & interpretations IV
UJJWAL ACHARYA | ICA REGIONAL HUBS 2023, MANIPAL, INDIA | 27 MAY 2023
• Fact-checkers primarily relied on existing
documents as evidence to debunk
misinformation. These documents could
include of
fi
cial reports, research papers, or
veri
fi
ed data sources.
• Expert statements were also commonly used
as evidence to counter misinformation,
drawing on the knowledge and expertise of
professionals in the relevant
fi
eld.
• Additionally, available data, such as statistics
or research
fi
ndings, played a signi
fi
cant role
in debunking false claims.
Document as evidence 43.06%
Expert statement as evidence 24.50%
Available data as evidence 20.90%
Video evidence 7.57%
Other evidence 3.60%
Audio evidence 0.36%
Proofs of fact-checkers

13. Was Rigorous Journalistic
Procedure Followed?
UJJWAL ACHARYA | ICA REGIONAL HUBS 2023, MANIPAL, INDIA | 27 MAY 2023
The evidence presented by fact-checkers to debunk misinformation,
with the exception of cases where they provide video, audio, or other
forms of evidence, suggests that accessing such proofs would not
have been dif
fi
cult for the content producers or claimants if they had
made an effort to verify the information before publishing it.
The fact that documents and data were readily available as evidence
implies that the content producers may not have exerted suf
fi
cient
effort to ensure the accuracy of the information.

14. Case Studies
UJJWAL ACHARYA | ICA REGIONAL HUBS 2023, MANIPAL, INDIA | 27 MAY 2023
• USA-Nepal MCC Compact and Chinese
disinformation through state-owned
Chinese Radio International’s Nepal Service’s
Facebook page.
• Covid Misinformation in Four Viral Videos
published by YouTube channel (Himal
Online TV), national TV channel (AP1) and
regional TV channel (Suryodaya TV).
• The Biggest Corona Conspirator: Indian
TVs (TV9 Bharatvarsha & TV24)
disinformation on Covid accusing Nepal’s
elected local representative as the leader of
ISI-devised Covid spreading campaign in
India.
• Spectacular Fake Photos of Snow Leopard
taken by Kittiya Pawlowski made to almost
all Nepali mass media as well as Indian and
foreign media after US Embassy’s social
media post.

15. Case Studies show…
UJJWAL ACHARYA | ICA REGIONAL HUBS 2023, MANIPAL, INDIA | 27 MAY 2023
• Mass media outlets played a predominantly
reactive role in relation to misinformation
rather than actively working to combat false
information or providing accurate context,
they often contributed to the spread of
misinformation either through their
reporting or by failing to take proactive
measures to address it.
• It was also evident that mass media had
failed to adhere to fundamental journalistic
procedure of veri
fi
cation of the information
that it published.
• When journalism becomes a vector for
disinformation, this further reduces public
trust (Ireton, C. & Posetti, J., 2018).

16. Discussions
UJJWAL ACHARYA | ICA REGIONAL HUBS 2023, MANIPAL, INDIA | 27 MAY 2023
• Social media platforms, along with
mainstream media, are the primary sources of
misinformation.
• Contrary to popular belief, mainstream media
outlets were found to be almost equally
responsible for spreading misinformation as
social media platforms.
• The consequence of such practices by mass
media is a decline in public trust.
• When media outlets fail to ful
fi
ll their role as
purveyors of accurate and reliable
information, it erodes the credibility of their
content and undermines the public's ability to
perceive them as authentic sources of
information.
• The
fi
ndings of this study highlight the urgent
need for media organizations to prioritize
responsible reporting and take proactive
measures to combat misinformation.
• It is crucial for mainstream media adhere to
the fundamental journalism practices rather
than playing role in further spreading
misinformation.
• Rebuilding public trust requires a concerted
effort from media organizations to prioritize
accuracy, impartiality, and the promotion of
veri
fi
ed information.

17. References
UJJWAL ACHARYA | ICA REGIONAL HUBS 2023, MANIPAL, INDIA | 27 MAY 2023
• Acharya, U. (2023). Promoting digital literacy with scarce resources. In
Worthington, J. (Eds), Managing the Misinformation Effect — The State
of Fact-Checking in Asia. Sydney: International Federation of
Journalists.
• Acharya, U. (n.d.). Media Landscape: Nepal. European Journalism
Centre.
• Bhattarai, D. (2023). Combatting Information Disorder: A South Asian
Perspective, in Fowler-Watt, K. & MacDougal, J. (Eds.) (2023). The
Palgrave Handbook of Media Misinformation. Switzerland: Palgrave
Macmillan.
• CMR – Nepal. (2022). Nepal Social Media Users Survey 2022.
Kathmandu: Center for Media Research – Nepal.
• DataReportal (2023). Digital 2023: Nepal. Last accessed on April 25,
2023 at https://datareportal.com/reports/digital-2023-nepal
• Fukuyama, F. (2022). Liberalism and Its Discontents. London: Pro
fi
le
Books.
• Giplin, D. R., Plazzola, E. T., Bordy, N. (2010). Socially mediated
authenticity. Journal of Communication Management, 14(3), 258-278.
DOI: 10.1108/13632541011064526
• Hanitzsch, T., Van Dalen, A., & Steindl, N. (2017). Caught in the Nexus: A
comparative and longitudinal analysis of Public Trust in the Press. The
International Journal of Press/Politics, 23 (1), 3–23. DOI:
10.1177/1940161217740695
• Ireton, C. & Posetti, J. (Eds.). (2018). Journalism, Fake News and
Disinformation. Paris: UNESCO.
• Lee, E. J. (2020). Authenticity Model of (Mass-Oriented) Computer-
Mediated Communication: Conceptual Explorations and Testable
Propositions. Journal of Computer-Mediated Communication, 25(1),
60-73. DOI: 10.1093/jcmc/zmz025
• Nepal Telecommunication Authority. (2023). MIS Report, Year: XIX Issue
170 Vol. 220. Kathmandu.
• Ognyanova, K., Lazer, D., Robertson, R. E., & Wilson, C. (2020).
Misinformation in action: Fake news exposure is linked to lower trust in
media, higher trust in government when your side is in power. Harvard
Kennedy School (HKS) Misinformation Review. DOI: 10.37016/
mr-2020-024
• Strömbäck, J., Tsfati, Y., Boomgaarden, H., Damstra, A., Lindgren, E.,
Vliegenthart, R., & Lindholm, T. (2020). News Media Trust and its impact
on media use: Toward a framework for future research. Annals of the
International Communication Association, 44(2), 139–156. DOI:
10.1080/23808985.2020.1755338

18. Thank You
ujjwal.acharya@journalism.academy | @UjjwalAcharya