ABSTRACT. We inspect the relevant literature on the perceived accuracy of fake news, providing both quantitative evidence on trends and numerous in-depth empirical examples. Using data from Alexa, Edelman, eMarketer, Gallup, Pew Research Center, SNCR, Statista, and Visual Capitalist, we performed analyses and made estimates regarding distribution of traffic sources for fake news in the U.S.A., sources that should take the lead in solving the problem of fake news ads according to U.S. marketers, perceived frequency of online news websites reporting fake news stories in the U.S.A., and extent to which users trust in journalism or platforms for general news and information.

Keywords: perceived accuracy; fake news; informational objectivity; trust; journalism

How to cite: Massey, Giulia, Jana Kliestikova, Maria Kovacova, and Victor V. Dengov (2018). “The Perceived Accuracy of Fake News: Mechanisms Facilitating the Spread of Alternative Truths, the Crisis of Informational Objectivity, and the Decline of Trust in Journalistic Narratives,” Geopolitics, History, and International Relations 10(2): 37–43.

Received 14 March 2018 • Received in revised form 19 July 2018
Accepted 23 July 2018 • Available online 28 July 2018

doi:10.22381/GHIR10220184