News that starts with the people who are normally asked last
Bad Think Tanks: How fake facts get into the news
Care about independent and ethical news? Support Media Storm on Patreon!Last week, we talked about ‘New research shows…’ headlines, and how the media commodifies science into clickbait. This week, it's part two of that episode, looking at bad social science. Because this issue is not just about influencers selling us bogus diets and face creams. There’s also think tanks selling us bogus research on highly political topics: like abortion, immigration, or fossil fuels.
Their funding is highly opaque, but if you trace the money, it tells a terrifying story about who shapes the truth in our information economy. Joining us this week is Peter Jukes, the co-founder and Executive Editor of Byline Times, who has written on the Murdoch empire, Russian influence, and "dark money" in politics – and exposed many a think tank scandal.
We talk about the bad think tanks based at 55 Tufton Street, how media narratives about immigration and climate change were meticulously planned and peddled, and how we as news consumers can change the narrative.
This episode is hosted and produced by Mathilda Mallinson (@mathildamall) and Helena Wadia (@helenawadia)
It was edited by Christy Callaway-Gale
The music is by @soundofsamfire
Follow us @mediastormpod
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