Myth of 'Free Media' and Fake News in the Post-Truth Era

(IAIS Malaysia, 7 December 2019

Abstract

The programme was held on 7 December 2019 at 10 am at IAIS Malaysia. The topic of discussion comes from the book authored by the speaker, Dr Kalinga Seneviratne. The book essentially reveals both the myth and truth of the free media and of fake news doctrines in the post-truth world order. The author starts his book by questioning the existence of the truth era. The book also highlights the disruption to the news media that has arisen from the emergence of the internet. The author asserts that media ‘liberalisation’ has weakened the basic premise of Libertarian Media Function Theory, which states that the media is the ‘Fourth Estate’ that protects the citizens from abuses of power by the government.