The Anatomy of Fake News

In a society awash in delusions, myths, and hallucinations, Nolan Higdon provides a necessary dive into the cultural and political roots of fake news. This book gives crucial insight into the fake news phenomenon and dissociation from reality in the Trump era and is an important contribution to the fight for media literacy.—Abby Martin, host of The Empire Files   The Anatomy of Fake News is a first-rate introduction to the subject. Higdon rigorously combs the published work on the subject and puts it together in a very readable and coherent manner. It is a strong contribution to the field of media literacy and media studies.—Robert McChesney, Gutgsell Endowed Professor in the Department of Communication, University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign   With a clear-eyed understanding that fake news has been around for ages and argued over for a century, Higdon sets his sights on creating an impressive document that clarifies the history of its appearances, the logics of its manipulations, and the powerful effects of its contemporary uses. With cutting-edge theoretical arguments, he illuminates what fake news seeks to hide and offers educators and students a way to challenge its destructive force and learn to create authentic discursive spaces where we can all thrive.—Robin Andersen, Professor of Communication and Media Studies, Fordham University   The Anatomy of Fake News is key to understanding our current media environment and, more importantly, to developing a comprehensive and complex understanding of news and information. This adept history invites readers to see a long line of material intentionally obfuscated by the mainstream media. Higdon provides clear resources for readers to make their own news analysis both more active and better informed.—Allison Butler, Senior Lecturer & Director of the Media Literacy Certificate Program, University of Massachusetts Amherst