Fake News

 Misleading Information on the Internet 

“Rush Limbaugh: ‘The coronavirus is an effort to get Trump,’” is an article that consists of a transcript from The Rush Limbaugh Show that contains many trigger words, sensationalism, and straw man and faulty cause and effect fallacies regarding the topic of the novel coronavirus. Limbaugh considers COVID-19 as harmful as the common cold or the flu, and inaccurately uses these terms interchangeably (CDC 2019). Then he proceeds to compare how its existence is being reported on to Russian weaponized opioids (he says fentanyl, but he is describing carfentanil (Little)). He discusses how the reporting has caused the Dow to drop and make Trump look bad in an effort to bring him down. And adds communist buzzwords to the origin of this novel coronavirus, claiming it came from Communist China where they were trying to create a weapon like the Russians had. Assuring it did not come from America, it was just a communist and American media conspiracy (Staff 2020 “Rush Limbaugh...”). The media is the most hated subject in his dialogue because he considers it a source of false and hyped information. When comparing the facts and strategies he uses and the ones mainstream media uses, this type of statement is one of projection. The article attempts to get any person to click on it with its provoking title, and the transcript within uses claims that people want to hear and believe without providing facts or interpretation for comparison, which can lead viewers astray if they do not take the time to fact-check the information themselves. 

Although this article was posted by Media Matters for America, a progressive news outlet, a clickbait title, “Rush Limbaugh: ‘The coronavirus is an effort to get Trump,’” is provided with no further commentary within the subtitle or the article itself. It encourages people to click whether they're thinking “Great, the media has found another way to create an attack on Trump,” or “Wow, that’s absurd.” The subtitle also includes quotes that would be provocative for a reader no matter their political affiliation, further drawing in the reader. Upon further inspection, Media Matters for America considers themselves a progressive research center that corrects misinformation in conservative media, so that makes it even more odd that the article would have no commentary from their team. Anyone who knows this organization’s reputation would expect that. Rush Limbaugh's diction, that they quote, is triggering to anyone and only further grounds people to their pre-existing bias, and this “progressive” media outlet does nothing to counter, fact-check or comment on the transcript which could potentially make the article less biased or at least less misleading. The title they provide this article, or transcript rather, is quite accurate, however, without any fact-checking information, it looks like they are either creating a database without declaring it or they are taking someone else’s sensationalism and making it their own clickbait.

If an article has no commentary, people are more likely to head towards the comment section, either to look at what other readers are saying or to leave a comment themselves. For this page it only becomes clear that the article was posted by a left-leaning website because of what is written in the comments. Many of them are opinionated and littered with insulting or sarcastic diction directed toward Limbaugh and/or Trump. There are a couple comments that stand out in being wrong and misleading regarding who was at fault for the coronavirus hysteria (vs. Ebola) and how coronavirus is hyped in the media. And some of the comments are basically unrelated and are people just attacking each other. The comments are not monitored and end up being the voice of response to this transcript instead of someone more credible and well-spoken.

This article was created by Media Matters for America (MMfA) and simply contains a transcript of Rush Limbaugh’s radio show without additional commentary from the research and information center. Therefore, it is important to consider both MMfA and Rush Limbaugh as authors to this article (Haglund). 

Media Matters for America considers itself progressive and dedicated to correcting conservative misinformation and is strategic in not calling itself a news organization (Staff 2020 “About Us”). While most reliable news organizations naturally express some bias, it is not responsible to pass as a news organization when the goal is to target a certain group of people. News is about holding those in power accountable and presenting the whole picture of facts with the least amount of bias possible. If they decide to go after conservative bias to correct misleading or false information that may have been created, then they ought to also go after liberal and establishment bias. Extremist viewpoints, no matter where they come from are likely to create dangerous and false information. It appears that the conservative media has a disproportionate amount of lies compared to liberal or mainstream media, perhaps due to their consumers’ susceptibility to it and likelihood to share it (Hern), but this should not mean that they are the only group targeted. Media Matters for America consider themselves progressive when that should not have anything to do with it. They are fact-checkers of conservative media.

However, the article discussed here does not even include any fact-checking commentary or a declaration that this was only a transcript or source of wrong and misleading information in the title or at the top of the article. The author who compiled this piece is not made transparent either, they are simply called “Media Matters Staff.” The responsibility is on the company instead. The first tenet in the Society of Professional Journalists Code of Ethics, under “Seek Truth and Report It” states, “Take responsibility for the accuracy of their work. Verify information before releasing it. Use original sources whenever possible” (Walsh). The author does not take responsibility for their work and they do not bother to verify or disprove Limbaugh’s statements for the sake of their readership. And utilizing the CRAAP test, authority is murky, and the accuracy and purpose have the likeness of propaganda especially because the transcript was not reviewed (Meriam Library).

Rush Limbaugh’s voice takes over the page. Limbaugh is a famous American radio personality that many consider a conservative political opinion leader. It is difficult to find why people consider Limbaugh a credible and trustworthy source because that reason is not based on his educational or political involvement credentials besides providing a controversial and sensationalist radio show on AM, FM and Armed Forces Radio Network. He graduated from high school in 1969 and left Southeast Missouri State University after two semesters and a summer session (Trey). He already had some experience in radio from his high school career, and spent many years thereafter pursuing a radio career. In 1984, Limbaugh was hired by KFBK radio station replacing Morton Downey Jr. who was considered wild and often offensive. And in 1988 he struck gold when he was signed by EFM Media Management and The Rush Limbaugh Show debuted August first, and within five years became the most popular radio talk show (Augustyn). This indicates his popularity and power comes from the listener's pre-existing bias being reaffirmed on his channel. His works were relatable to millions of Americans who were too afraid to speak their opinion in public, so his channel quickly became a place people felt understood. 

It is frightening how much false and misleading information Limbaugh creates that many consider unbiased. Especially his statements regarding coronavirus being like the flu and coronavirus being made in a Chinese lab so now the media is weaponizing its existence by hyping it up in order to say, “Trump and capitalism are destroying the world.” Coronavirus is not like the flu because, as stated by the CDC, “A novel coronavirus is a new coronavirus that has not been previously identified. The virus causing coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19), is not the same as the coronaviruses that commonly circulate among humans and cause mild illness, like the common cold” (CDC 2020). The media is not “weaponizing” the coronavirus, the facts Limbaugh denies because they would not sit right with him and his audience do not make them less true. And there may be people who simply distrust the CDC due to their changing position, such as their recommendations regarding face masks, however, their overall message regarding social distancing and the severity of the outbreak has remained consistent. COVID-19 is new territory for everyone, therefore as scientists gather more data updates will occur. Is it not better to change with facts rather than to remain consistent with disproven data? 

There is evidence indicating China’s attempt to downplay the disease at the start of the outbreak, that may to some look like an expression of guilt, but no evidence suggests the virus was made in a lab. A CNN clip quotes 27 public health scientists who wrote a letter in the journal Lancid, in which they, “overwhelmingly conclude that this coronavirus originated in wildlife, as have so many other emerging pathogens” (Griffin). The virus most likely originated from bats infecting farmed or wild animals that were brought alive, crowded and in cages, to market. And although China had a slow response, they cannot take the blame for the United States’ level of suffering. The head of the CDC in China burst into tears telling the US CDC director how bad the virus was on January 1st. As of January 20th, the first case in the US was detected in Washington state (Favreau). The numbers in the US are not fake, in fact, they are greatly undercount due to the lack of initiative to test. It is unfortunate that Limbaugh considers this is just communism spreading its tentacles across the world to promote hysteria as the “fake” numbers rise in news reporting.  

It is important that people are equipped with the tools that will allow them to be cautious when consuming information, from the internet, or anywhere. These days there is a drive towards news that gives us an emotional reaction and reaffirms our beliefs because people have become so accustomed to instant gratification. Our society thrives off convenience in many industries including food and entertainment. This causes a severe disconnect from our environment, how goods originate, as well as from other people who are all vital to the makeup of how our society functions. Everyone ends up living in a bubble, and if they follow the path of least resistance people will continue to be fooled by misleading and disinformation spread through every type of media. It appears there are some who follow these inaccuracies with a fervor resembling what one might have for religion, however, for those who feel lost in this void of information it is vital for them to learn how to tell the difference. It is dangerous to live in a world of lies, believing what other people want you to believe, committing to loyalties rather than facts, and not attempting to hold the most powerful few accountable, it leads to a type of government the United States has never had before: authoritarianism.  

Works Cited  

Augustyn, Adam, et al. “Rush Limbaugh.” Encyclopædia Britannica, Encyclopædia Britannica, Inc., 5 Feb. 2020, www.britannica.com/biography/Rush-Limbaugh. 

CDC. “Cold Versus Flu.” Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, 30 Dec. 2019, www.cdc.gov/flu/symptoms/coldflu.htm. 

CDC. “Frequently Asked Questions.” Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, 4 Apr. 2020, www.cdc.gov/coronavirus/2019-ncov/faq.html. 

Favreau, Jon, et al., directors. How Did This Get So Bad. Pod Save America, Crooked Media on Snapchat, 1 Apr. 2020, www.snapchat.com/discover/Pod_Save_America/3307186281. Season 3, Episode 64 

Griffin, Drew. “Virus Hunters Look for a Culprit - CNN Video.” CNN, Cable News Network, 6 Apr. 2020, www.cnn.com/videos/us/2020/04/06/coronavirus-origins-drew-griffin-lead-pkg-vpx.cnn.

Haglund, Kim. “Recording #4.” YouTube, 24 Mar. 2020, www.youtube.com/watch?v=4mkEnrgwFvU. 

Hern, Alex. “Fake News Sharing in US Is a Rightwing Thing, Says Study.” The Guardian, Guardian News and Media, 6 Feb. 2018, www.theguardian.com/technology/2018/feb/06/sharing-fake-news-us-rightwing-study-trump-university-of-oxford. 

Little, Becky. “How Opioids Were Used as Weapons During the Moscow Theater Hostage Crisis.” History, 22 Aug. 2018, https://www.history.com/news/opioid-chemical-weapons-moscow-theater-hostage-crisis.

Meriam Library. Evaluating Information - Applying the CRAAP Test. Evaluating Information - Applying the CRAAP Test, California State University, Chico, 2010. 

Staff, Media Matters. “About Us.” Media Matters for America, 2020, www.mediamatters.org/about-us. 

Staff, Written by Media Matters. “Rush Limbaugh: ‘The Coronavirus Is an Effort to Get Trump.’” Media Matters for America, 24 Feb. 2020, www.mediamatters.org/rush-limbaugh/rush-limbaugh-coronavirus-effort-get-trump. 

Trey. “Rush Limbaugh's Education Background.” Educational News & Tips - EDUInreview.com Blog, 9 Aug. 2018, www.eduinreview.com/blog/2011/04/rush-limbaughs-education-background/. 

Walsh, Lynn, et al. “SPJ Code of Ethics - Society of Professional Journalists.” Society of Professional Journalists - Improving and Protecting Journalism since 1909, 6 Sept. 2014, www.spj.org/ethicscode.asp.