The Role of New Technologies in Combatting Fake News –Experiences and Challenges of Croatian Media Organisations

Abstract

Convergence of the media accompanied by the development of new technologies is intended to ensure that received information is used on all the channels of a media organization. In this sense, an integrated newsroom is a prerequisite for this mode of operation. Such an approach entails the collaboration of departments that used to be separate not long ago, technology and the personnel that have to be educated and trained in a digital environment. It is a great challenge for professional
journalistic standards due to the imperative of speed, as well as due to a new, different way in which
the sources communicate with the media. On the other hand, the altered role of audiences made by active mass communication creators requires continuous checking of the ethics of channels and communicators, all with the aim of strengthening the credibility of the media that are losing consumer
confidence in comparison to social networks. Furthermore, the depth of the communication crisis, culminating in the inflation of fake news, has been recognized by the European Commission, which emphasizes the importance of self-regulation. At the same time, technology giants and platforms are trying to contribute to the development of automated (fact-check) systems driven by artificial intelligence, which should make it easier for journalists, editors, as well as for users to identify socially harmful forms of communication. The aim of this paper is to explore the experiences of Croatian journalists working in integrated newsrooms, as well as their relationship to lifelong education and professional standards in the digital age, seriously challenged by fake news. Moreover, the goal of this paper is to examine the use of
artificial intelligence in verifying information and combatting disinformation.