Fake news and fact checking

It was only a few years ago that the term ‘fake news’ began to be widely used as a term. Now it is an issue covered in the media – The Independent has a news section on fake news and Channel 4 provides a FactCheck section which they say “seeks the truth behind claims made by those in public office. The blog has been commended for its statistical integrity and is frequently cited in the House of Commons.”

In the run-up to this month’s General Election there has been even more focus on making sure information is true, with speeches dissected by the media for their accuracy.

Now that social media is omnipresent, it’s easy for fake news to spread quickly, which means we must all be mindful of what we post and share. Indeed, a report published earlier this year by The House of Common’s Digital, Culture, Media and Sports Committee into ‘Disinformation and fake news’ included recommendations that social media companies should be obliged to take down known sources of harmful content, including proven sources of disinformation.

Building trust  

Trust is a central component in any relationship and public relations plays a key role in building it. We are experts at increasing the credibility of organisations within their given industry. This is achieved through a variety of means, including thought leadership pieces, speaker and networking opportunities and increasing an organisation’s social profile. Our role is also to ensure that an organisation is not over-promising or making unrealistic claims about their products. Trust is built by providing open, honest and ethical information.

Keep calm in a crisis

As well as increasing your company’s reputation, PR plays a vital role in times of crisis. If not handled efficiently and expertly, the reputation damage will continue to linger, affecting ongoing business. If an issue needs to be managed or false information has spread, then we will work with you to ensure you respond quickly and effectively, with clear, consistent and strong messaging.

Maintaining relationships

Access to information has never been easier, and in many respects this a good thing. It certainly means that organisations must be transparent in all that they do. To find out how we can help you maintain relationships, by building trust and reputation, please get in touch!