Amidst the spread of misinformation in today’s digital age, The 23 Watts, a new-age communication consulting firm, has released a report exploring the relationship between Delhi Youth, notably Generation Z (Gen Z), and ‘fake news’. The report, titled ‘Truth Be Told’, examines how the digitally native Gen Z perceive, consume, and navigate the complexities of misinformation. With over 1,200 respondents aged below 25 years across Delhi-NCR, ‘Truth Be Told’ covers three broad areas: the influence of misinformation, the experience of encountering fake news, and the youth’s opinions on who is responsible for the fake news epidemic.The methodology applied in the report was verified by Vijay Ganesan, former Director of Analytics & Data Strategy, Europe at Kantar. According to a recent Global State of the Media survey, approximately 58% of journalists cited ensuring content accuracy as their number one priority, ranking above exclusivity.In response to the increasing spread of misinformation, platforms like X (formerly Twitter) have implemented new policies to restrict the amplification of disinformation, especially during crises such as armed conflicts and civil unrest. This policy, created in response to Ukraine’s invasion by Russia, aims to hide potentially damaging assertions behind warning messages and limit their visibility in the Home timeline, Search, or Explore sections.Also read:The many tools in PR professionals’ arsenal to fight misinformation crisesPR professionals play a crucial role in addressing misinformation. Tarunjeet Rattan, Managing Partner, Nucleus PR, emphasized the importance of understanding data, its impact on the brand, and the timing and manner in which a brand should address a misinformation crisis. Rattan noted, “The PR team needs to spend their time understanding how to use this opportunity of being in the news to demonstrate the brand’s values and strengthen its reputation.”Deepak Jolly, Founder & Director of Consocia Advisory, highlighted the societal menace posed by fake news, which can destroy reputations and disrupt governance and industry. Jolly stated, “Fake news must be nipped in the bud as it has become a menace to society, governance, and industry, destroying the reputations of individuals at large. The culture of forwarding WhatsApp messages without verifying them must stop. There have been instances of fake news about individuals, companies, political developments, and different sectors. Personally, I always question the sender and ask them to delete the message after checking Google for real news. However, it is disheartening that many opponents in business and political rivalry resort to such fake news. For instance, there was recently a fake news story showing a Boeing 747 taking off from an aircraft carrier, which was widely circulated by friends and shared as an Instagram reel. When challenged, some of my learned friends admitted that they should have applied some common sense instead of simply saying ‘Wow’.”Jolly provided several tips to avoid falling prey to fake news:Increase your newspaper reading habits and regularly check major news channels for updates.Surround yourself with friends who have good reading habits and avoid habitual gossip mongers.Verify exaggerated news on social media using authentic websites and Wikipedia, and always check the source of the information.In an earlier interaction with Adgully, Jaideep Shergill, Co-Founder of Pitchfork Partners, had noted, “Where there is content, there is a possibility of misinformation and disinformation existing.” Shergill added that this concern is particularly critical in India, which ranked highest in a survey among experts during the recent World Economic Forum. In this complex landscape, the public relations industry can be a key player in combating or at least minimizing the spread of misinformation, with technology-driven tools serving as powerful allies in this journey.As misinformation continues to proliferate, PR professionals must develop innovative methods for verifying information and ensuring its accuracy before dissemination.Deepak Jolly emphasized the importance of trust and proactive communication: “Journalists and other stakeholders depend on many sources, including PR professionals, for authentic information. In the case of an accident, calamity, or business discontinuity, I often find articles stating that the spokesperson could not be reached or refused to comment, which lends credibility to the news item. A good PR professional should provide background information so that journalists do not misreport the incident. Often, bad news is avoided, and the response given is incorrect, leading to mistrust. Journalists may then seek information from other sources within the company. Building overall trust with journalists is crucial. You can only win their trust by being proactive, providing information in a believable manner with reliable sources, and ensuring that the journalist is not questioned about the authenticity of their sources during editorial meetings. In my four decades of handling external communication, my relationship with the media has remained exceptionally high. Many journalists still comment that their stories were authentic and that I never compromised on the information and its authenticity.”