I'd define the current "fake news" phenomenon as the unique and novel combination of: 1. The ability to create and publish to a large audience a blatantly fals

I'd define the current "fake news" phenomenon as the unique and novel combination of: 1. The ability to create and publish to a large audience a blatantly false story. 2. The ability to throw together a landing page that resembles a "real" media site (to those who don't care to think about it closely) 3. #1 and #2 can be done very easily and with a modest budget and modest level of technical skill. 4. The internet allows #1 and #2 to be done anonymously and without accountability. (For a while. Perhaps.) And obviously obscures the nation of origin. Also the audience is specifically primed to accept fake news at this point in history because of: 5. The 25-year softening of the American public's interest in discerning truth from fiction (thanks Fox News) from entertainment (thanks CNN) in political reporting. 6. An economic downturn whose recovery bypassed a lot of people who didn't have modern enough skills, which is textbook conditions for making people susceptible to the loudest demagogue who blames outsiders rather than suggest one has the responsibility to adapt to a changing economy. Making college free is a real solution but it puts time and effort on people.