Inside Line: Formula 1 and the increase in fake news

First, it is worth contemplating the background and origins of Fake News over the ages. For sure it is not a new 'phenomenon' discovered by any means.

I am no historian but I imagine Fake News originated centuries ago, perhaps when humans lived in caves, back in the day when chieftains or kings would send observers to various fronts to report back on the state of an enemy, or a restless neighbour, or starving underlings. You get the picture.

This news gatherer would use his wits to try and accurately extract information on specific matters of interest to his minder. One can picture a well-travelled, honest news gatherer returning with 'not-so-good-news' or outright 'bad-news' for his chief only to have the poor guy's head lobbed off, or shot between the eyes for doing his job, but alas for him telling a truth that his boss did not want to hear

When the dead guy's replacement returned from the next trip filled with bad news, he would have been wise to omit the bad news, embellish the good news and even invent some tidbits to please his chief and, of course, save his own head.

Hence the cliche: Don't shoot the messenger.

As humanity rushed into the twentieth-century the need for knowledge and news was vociferous, to the point that newspapers were born to pass the message to large communities, fed by the content of news gatherers aka as journalists, photographers, cameramen and reporters in this modern world.

Sensational headlines and gory pictures, sprinkled with occasional helpings fake news and manipulated images, were the click-bait of the time, they sold newspapers which in turn built empires and turned their owners into very powerful, super-rich media barons.

William Randolph Hearst and Joseph Pulitzer were early pioneers, the first serious purveyors of news to the masses in the United States through newspapers, and along the way the architects of elaborate Fake News reports that not only took down governments but also helped launch wars, elect presidents, vilify gangsters, consecrate cops, glorify silver screen stars etc etc.

Hearst versus Pulitzer was one of the first high profile media wars that tapped into all these elements as readership grew beyond their wildest dreams and sustaining that readership at all costs became

Pulitzer purchased the New York World in 1883 and strove to provide a sensational read with pictures, games and contests aimed at drawing in new readers. This approach impressed Hearst, a mining heir who acquired the San Francisco Examiner from his father in 1887.

The two groups slugged it out to win readership, going to astounding lengths of dishonesty or truth moulding to promote their own ambitions and interests, best illustrated when Hearst sent writer-come-illustrator-correspondent Frederic Remington to Cuba in an effort to dig dirt on the island in an effort to promote US military intervention

Famously finding no friction on the island, Remington informed Hearst by telegram: “There is no trouble here. There will be no war. I wish to return.”
Hearst replied: “Please remain. You furnish the pictures, and I’ll furnish the war.”

There are many such tales and it is ironic that one of the kingpins of early Fake News and yellow press - Joseph Pulitzer - today has one of the most respected awards in journalism named after him, namely the Pulitzer Prize. Go figure.

Attributed to Mark Twain, the immortal "Never let the truth get in the way of a good story" became the motto of many editors at the time and has prevailed since he [allegedly] wrote those words over a century ago. From this, huge media conglomerates were built and some continue to thrive.

These days Fake News is part and parcel of information delivery through websites, social media, newspapers, magazines and so on. Anyone with an iPhone is a correspondent, make that a publisher waiting to happen.

It is also an era in which monetisation of content continues to be paramount which is another unholy can of worms. For this to happen sensationalism even dishonesty is required to keep the masses hooked and coming back to click those banner ads, just as they were required to buy newspapers for two cents when it all began.

The juicier the headlines the more sales, nothing has changed.

But when there is no news or news is dull, clicks are hard to come by and hence keyboard warriors are tasked to launch ridiculous notions on the myriad of soapboxes available in this digital world.

Reporting fake news is increasingly common from 'no-name' publications - GPFans, F1Fans and a plethora of bot run websites and right through to the colonialists at Motorsport Network who are not shy to pop Fake News out on their cacophony of websites.

As editor of this site, I honestly go to great lengths not to report Fake News. Checking, double-checking and rechecking sources is now part of the routine. And at times it is still wrong.

Right now there is little 'new' F1 news, thus supposed 'experts' are having to dig deep into their speculative imaginations, already they have launched the Silly Season with fake reports that Nico Hulkenberg is supposedly on his way out at Renault.

Granted the German has to raise his game relative to his new teammate Daniel Ricciardo because the tag of the 'no-podium-journeyman' is set to be Hulk's legacy, however to claim he is on his way out at Renault is malicious Fake News

But someone lit a fire and it then just evolved and evolves, out of control like a bad acid trip. And despite the outraged denials of both parties the flames are simply stoked even further as everyone flings in their fuel to keep the Fake-Nico-News burning.

First, they had him going to Red Bull to replace under-pressure Pierre Gasly. Now they fling in Esteban Ocon who is supposedly set to replace The Hulk in the black and yellow car. Naturally, the German will be taken in by Toro Rosso! WTF!

Seriously who scripts this crap? Pure bullshit on all fronts. Folks - a gentle reminder - because they say it on TV does not mean it is true!

On that note, Ferrari believed Karun Chandhok's holier than thou TV observations on the Vettel-Penalty-Tantrum-After-He-Messed-Up-Again which was rightfully laughed out of the room by the FIA stewards. I bet they are still taking the piss among one another. I digress...

Recently Fake News reports surrounding Robert Kubica's mysterious lack of pace popped up in Polish media. Partisan journos claiming their driver was not getting the same kit that Williams teammate George Russell has at his disposal.

Most reports on the matter state that indeed there was a chassis swap between the two during the Spanish Grand Prix weekend. Russell is quoted by several sources confirming that this indeed did happen in Barcelona.

But even now (a month later) Polish media are reporting that Robert has not driven George's car, ignoring the hard facts to suit their own agenda.

For that matter, what is it then - have they or have they not swapped cars?

The answer is very important in the context of Kubica's suitability to remain in F1 beyond this season and for PKN Orlen who forked out $15-million to make his dream come true. Surely some bean counter will be asking some uncomfortable questions.

At the same time, ignorant of the Fake News, which these reports appear to be, fans lament the (supposed) unequal equipment handed Robert but, whatever is happening, the facts are he is being well and truly demolished by his rookie teammate. Thus, inevitably in F1, reports of his demise are not new with Nicolas Latifi a likely candidate to replace the Pole.

The first 'suggestion' of the Latifi-to-Williams option emerged in Canadian media ahead of the race in Montreal. Naturally, Latifi is a Canadian and money is not an issue. So, at the time, with Kubica way off the pace it seemed a credible notion until we popped the question to a team spokesperson who denied it. End of story? Not really, it is still simmering in Poland.

Working for a modern amoral Hearst or Pulitzer-style editor would be the coolest assignment, covering F1 and encouraged to "be creative" with reports would be the biggest piss-take of all time - and getting paid for it!

Needless to say, I already have a bunch of Fake News spreads lined up for the presses, just in case any of Randolf's or Joseph's offspring are interested in an F1 yellow press website venture:

As well as non-Vettel Fake News:

Clearly, the above list of headlines is written with tongue firmly in cheek, but the reality is with this small platform we could launch a Fake News story that could go viral for a day or two but, eventually, our credibility would fly out the window as it is doing for media outlets that regularly peddle dubious content for clicks.

Indeed I relish doing 'the Fake News thing' annually on 1st April because it is traditionally accepted then but increasingly, on numerous websites and social media platforms, it appears April Fool's day happens every week.

Believe me, the idea of www.Not-The-F1-News.com is a site concept that I toy with in my mind's eye whenever I need to have a laugh with my mates. Should it work - like Mad Magazine once did - maybe a 100 years from now, they might even name a prestigious media prize after this site!

In closing, with regards to the Ayrton-Senna-in-a-Ferrari photo at the top of this piece: I stumbled on the Photoshop job during my Twitter rounds, which immediately had me racking my brain to place 'that historic moment' in the maze of my confused memory.

Of course, it did not compute because it is a Fake News photo manipulation and not a bad one at that. I should know better but guaranteed there are folk out there (non-F1 anoraks) who will now believe that Ayrton actually drove for Ferrari at some stage of his career.

And then, of course, there is the infamous doctoring of McLaren images to remove reference to Marlboro which is Fake News on another more sinister level altogether, but more of that for another time...

https://www.grandprix247.com/2019/04/01/fernando-alonso-racing-to-tackle-f1-in-2021-with-toyota/