Petru Macovei
According to Macovei, one of the key hallmarks of a reliable media outlet is adherence to professional and ethical standards of journalism. At the same time, the mere fact that a publication is available online does not in itself guarantee the accuracy of the information.
“Social media platforms are not media outlets because they are not governed by a code of ethics. Only those media outlets that have signed and adhere to the norms of professional ethics are reliable. If we’re interested in a particular topic, we should verify it using reliable sources,” explained the API director.
He urged readers to pay attention not only to the content of the material but also to who specifically published it. If a website has anonymous or non-transparent sources—with no information about the editorial staff, authors, or contact details—then such information cannot be trusted.
Such resources often pop up during election campaigns and become channels for spreading unverified messages. At the same time, the responsibility for spreading misinformation does not lie solely with the authors of such publications. A user who forwards a message without verifying it also contributes to its spread.
“We must verify the source before sharing information and analyze the context in which it is presented to us,” said Macovei.
Another red flag is a headline designed to elicit a strong emotional reaction. Shocking or fear-mongering language may not just be a way to grab attention, but also a tool to influence the reader’s decisions. “If a headline tries to tug at our heartstrings or shock us, it may have been intentionally written to influence our decision,” he noted.
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