Study Examines Role of Ethnic Press in Spread of Disinformation

In a comprehensive examination of the 2024 U.S. election, closed digital platforms like WhatsApp groups emerged as significant vectors for disinformation, according to a new report from the International Center for Journalists (ICFJ).

The 70-page report, titled “Disarming Disinformation, United States,” reveals how encrypted messaging platforms created fertile ground for false information to flourish away from public scrutiny and fact-checking efforts that typically occur on open social media platforms.

Researchers from the ICFJ collaborated with academic institutions including Arizona State University, the University of Maryland, and City St. George’s University of London to analyze disinformation patterns during the highly contentious election cycle.

A key finding upends conventional wisdom about the source of election misinformation. Rather than foreign interference, which dominated concerns in previous election cycles, the report identifies domestic political actors as the primary generators of false narratives. Former president Donald Trump played a particularly influential role in distributing disinformation about U.S. political processes throughout his campaign, according to the researchers.

The investigation also revealed nuanced patterns in media trust across demographic groups. While trust in mainstream media continues its troubling decline nationwide, the degree of skepticism varies significantly across racial and ethnic lines. People of color demonstrated relatively higher trust in news outlets, with only 32 percent expressing distrust compared to 44 percent among white respondents.

This trust gap highlights the complex relationship between diverse communities and media institutions, potentially reflecting different historical experiences with news coverage and representation.

The report’s methodology focused on ethnic and Indigenous media outlets, examining their unique challenges and opportunities in combating disinformation. Through case studies of Asian American, Black, Indigenous, and Latino news organizations, researchers documented how these outlets serve as critical information sources for communities often underrepresented in mainstream coverage.

“These outlets often have deeper community connections and cultural understanding that can be leveraged to combat misinformation in ways mainstream media cannot,” said one of the researchers involved in the study, who requested anonymity as they weren’t authorized to speak publicly about the findings.

The proliferation of closed messaging platforms presents particular challenges for fact-checkers and media literacy efforts. Unlike Facebook posts or tweets, messages shared in private WhatsApp groups remain largely invisible to researchers and journalists, creating information silos where falsehoods can spread unchecked.

Media experts note that this trend toward private messaging platforms represents a significant evolution in how disinformation campaigns operate. While previous election cycles saw public social media platforms as primary battlegrounds, the shift to encrypted messaging creates new obstacles for those working to ensure information integrity.

The report outlines 22 specific recommendations for newsrooms and journalism support organizations to counter these trends. Among the most notable suggestions are for journalists to actively challenge harmful disinformation from influential political figures rather than simply reporting their claims verbatim.

Additionally, the researchers warn against “bothsidesism” – the journalistic practice of giving equal weight to claims regardless of their factual basis in an attempt to appear balanced. This approach, they argue, can inadvertently legitimize false information by presenting it alongside factual reporting.

Perhaps most significantly, the report emphasizes the importance of community engagement, suggesting that news organizations must develop deeper relationships with the communities they cover to effectively combat disinformation.

The findings come at a critical moment for American democracy, as trust in institutions continues to erode and information ecosystems grow increasingly fragmented. By highlighting the unique role of ethnic and Indigenous media in this landscape, the report offers a potential roadmap for rebuilding trust and strengthening information resilience in an increasingly polarized society.

Media organizations and election officials are already evaluating these recommendations as they prepare for future electoral contests in an environment where distinguishing fact from fiction continues to challenge voters, journalists, and civic institutions alike.