Big Technology Podcast The Motivations Of Facebook Reporters, And Their Sources — With Ugly Truth Author Sheera Frenkel
Aug 11, 2021
Sheera Frenkel, a New York Times reporter and author of "An Ugly Truth," dives deep into the complex world of Facebook's influence on politics and reporting. She addresses criticisms that journalists harbor biases against the platform, particularly stemming from the Trump era. Frenkel examines the ethical responsibilities of reporters and the intricate dynamics of misinformation. Additionally, she sheds light on Facebook's surveillance practices and the challenges of content moderation in today's polarized environment.
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Journalistic Motivation
- Journalists criticize Facebook due to its immense power and lack of oversight.
- Sheera Frenkel emphasizes that covering powerful entities is a journalistic duty.
Obama and Trump Campaigns
- Obama's campaign utilized Facebook's data-gathering capabilities during his re-election.
- Trump's campaign employed similar tactics but with greater effectiveness due to Facebook's evolution.
Readers' Political Interpretations
- Readers often interpret reports through a political lens.
- However, Facebook's decisions are often ad-hoc, lacking grand plans, despite reader assumptions.
