LOGICAL APPROACH

Logic appeals to the intellect and it is all about presenting factual information. As journalists, we constantly use facts alone. However, the rapid spread of disinformation has shown that sometimes logic and facts alone are not enough. Many in journalism believe fact checking and debunking to be the cure to the disinformation epidemic. This can be for a small number of receivers of the new facts and information but for the vast majority they need more than facts.

Logic assumes you start at your audience. It is their logic that you need to start from, not your own. Look at what your audience believes, the language they use and the kind of stories they like. By using their own logic you’ll have a better chance to get your information to stick. Official statistics might seem relevant for example, but if your audience thinks for instance that numbers presented by the government cannot be trusted, you should rethink your strategy. It is always possible to repackage your information in different words, frames and formats that fit your audience better.

Fact checking is essential in good journalism, but it is not the end point. Fact checking reveals more than just a gap in knowledge. Misinformation and Disinformation spread through false or bad facts also indicate the emotional state of your audience, who they are trusting and where they are getting their information from. These can help you build stories that reach your audience in a more convincing way.