The Documentary Podcast
Detours 1: Doctor Fake News
Sep 4, 2019
Elena, a struggling medical student, joins friends in North Macedonia to write fake news stories for cash. They discuss the impact of fake news in the US election, clickbait tactics, collaboration in the industry, and consequences of misinformation.
27:19
Episode guests
AI Summary
AI Chapters
Episode notes
Podcast summary created with Snipd AI
Quick takeaways
- Financial success in fake news surpassed Elena's medical aspirations, revealing moral dilemmas.
- Exploitation of social media algorithms and human emotions drove the profitable fake news industry.
Deep dives
The Rise of Fake News Industry in Vellis, Macedonia
In Vellis, Macedonia, Elena Demetrieva, a medical student, turned to creating fake news articles to pay for her tuition. Amidst the 2016 US election, Vellis gained notoriety for hosting sites publishing pro-Trump fake news. Elena ventured into this lucrative industry, surpassing her income from working in Germany. Despite her medical aspirations, she faced the reality that fake news brought more financial success than medicine, highlighting the moral dilemmas and financial incentives associated with producing false information.
Remember Everything You Learn from Podcasts
Save insights instantly, chat with episodes, and build lasting knowledge - all powered by AI.
