3 ms·

This does make me wonder what constitutes a fake newspaper. These are deceitful because we expect paper of that size and quality, and with that design, to come

This does make me wonder what constitutes a fake newspaper. These are deceitful because we expect paper of that size and quality, and with that design, to come from a paper that has been around for decades. So certainly they are fake established newspapers, or fake reputable newspapers.

jtbayly 4y ago
Wrong. Anybody can start a newspaper and print it on that kind of paper if they want. In fact you’d use that kind of paper if starting a newspaper because it works well. A new newspaper isn’t a fake newspaper. And in fact that’s all this is. A new newspaper. A mixture of editorial and political advocacy and local news.
- iudqnolq 4y ago
  > And in fact that’s all this is. A new newspaper. A mixture of editorial and political advocacy and local news. A strange new newspaper, then. Can you name any other real newspaper that only writes stories when a political campaign requests them?
- 1123581321 4y ago
  I don’t believe we disagree on that point; these are technically newspapers. I could have written it better, but I was trying to say that they are exploiting the widespread impression that something that looks like a newspaper is established and trustworthy. If cheap digital production, unused newsprint capacity and better data continue to make it financially viable to invent and distribute new newspapers every couple of years, then the reputation to exploit (the deceit) will fade away. Or perhaps the low media trust found in recent surveying will continue, to the same effect.
  - jtbayly 4y ago
    I think you’re right. Something about this is certainly dishonest. I am struggling to figure out what exactly. Fake newspaper websites are also a scourge, typically pushing some particular product. But interestingly, in this case I struggle to see what exactly the difference is. Perhaps it’s because I have such a low view of newspapers in the first place…
- theCrowing 4y ago
  There is a pretty specific publication requirement... but I like the confidence.

jtbayly 4y ago

Wrong. Anybody can start a newspaper and print it on that kind of paper if they want. In fact you’d use that kind of paper if starting a newspaper because it works well. A new newspaper isn’t a fake newspaper. And in fact that’s all this is. A new newspaper. A mixture of editorial and political advocacy and local news.

iudqnolq 4y ago
> And in fact that’s all this is. A new newspaper. A mixture of editorial and political advocacy and local news. A strange new newspaper, then. Can you name any other real newspaper that only writes stories when a political campaign requests them?
1123581321 4y ago
I don’t believe we disagree on that point; these are technically newspapers. I could have written it better, but I was trying to say that they are exploiting the widespread impression that something that looks like a newspaper is established and trustworthy. If cheap digital production, unused newsprint capacity and better data continue to make it financially viable to invent and distribute new newspapers every couple of years, then the reputation to exploit (the deceit) will fade away. Or perhaps the low media trust found in recent surveying will continue, to the same effect.
- jtbayly 4y ago
  I think you’re right. Something about this is certainly dishonest. I am struggling to figure out what exactly. Fake newspaper websites are also a scourge, typically pushing some particular product. But interestingly, in this case I struggle to see what exactly the difference is. Perhaps it’s because I have such a low view of newspapers in the first place…
theCrowing 4y ago
There is a pretty specific publication requirement... but I like the confidence.