Amplification

When editors decide which stories to assign, publish, and promote, that editorial judgment is a decision about what content to amplify on their broadcasts, digital platforms, or print pages. While news judgment has always driven these decisions, the concept of amplification has taken on new meaning and urgency in recent years as the information ecosystem has become increasingly digital, user-driven, and saturated with misinformation, disinformation, and polarizing content. This entry discusses the risk of amplifying misinformation or polarizing content, even when the purpose is to correct misinformation, and possible ways to avoid this amplification or to minimize harm. The entry also looks at the journalistic practices that lead to amplification and the role of social media.

In today’s media context, amplification is often used to describe ...