Media in the post-truth era: implications of anti-intellectualism and populism

Abstract

The authors of the article compare and analyze the research concepts of post-truth and pay special attention to the consequences of false information, manipulation and propaganda on public consciousness. This study also considers the representation of anti-intellectualism and populism in the media in the post-truth era, divided into several stages.

Accordingly, conclusions are made about the influence of "fake news" in the era of information and communication technology and the consequences of the loss of trust in real information in the post-truth era.

The aim of the research is to analyze the concepts of post-truth and the issues of populism and anti-intellectualism in the information space.

In the course of the study, the main trends in the post-truth era, which have been frequently mentioned and studied in the world politics and media space in recent years, are discussed. Also, the impact and influence of "false information" in the media space on public consciousness and its consequences are analyzed. In addition, specific examples of anti-intellectualism and populism in the media are given, and different opinions and concepts about the current values of the society are compared and analyzed.

The methodology of the research work is based on the analysis of methods of influence of disinformation, propaganda, manipulation, etc. in the media space in the post-truth era. Moreover, content, discourse and comparative analysis of media publications in order to determine the media literacy of social media users and their ability to recognize false information were used. The study employed surveys, drawing conclusions using sociological research methods.

As a result, comparative analysis on post-truth determined the importance of information distribution in the domestic media during the years of repression before the independence and the consequences of Stalin's rule for society. Giving examples of the influence of false information in social media on the public mind, recommendations were made to improve the quality and content of traditional media. Thereafter, a conclusion was made about how and with what consequences society has come to the post-truth era.

This research is one of the actual topics considered in interdisciplinary communication in the field of political science and journalism. Research on post-truth has been mentioned only in recent years among academics, who study the influence of social media on the public consciousness and modern journalism. A step-by-step analysis of the consequences of anti-intellectualism and populism in domestic media in the post-truth era can be considered a novelty of this study.