Fake news isn’t new: an entertaining look at 200 years of lies and the media

Stream Fake News A True History on BBC Select

In recent years, claims of ‘fake news’ have been used to discredit genuine news outlets. But since the dawn of mass market papers ‘alternative facts’ have shifted units. They can be as ridiculous as an 1835 scoop about flying man bats on the moon. They can also seriously erode trust in democracy.

Watch Fake News: A True History and more acclaimed documentaries on BBC Select today. Restrictions apply*.

Fake News: A True History on BBC Select

How can disinformation be curbed? And what are the free speech implications if it is?

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