NDW 17

BBC quotes apparent parody Twitter account in Zimbabwe coverage

https://www.theguardian.com/media/2017/nov/15/bbc-quotes-apparent-parody-twitter-account-zimbabwe-coverage

- The Guardian

The article talks about how the BBC has quoted an apparent parody twitter account when reporting the military takeover in Zimbabwe in the Breaking news alert ands the website. It is unknown who the owner of the account is and caution is urged. BBC World News later apologised for referring to it as an official accounts.

• It has more than 50,000 followers, while an account called @ZANUPF_Official has fewer than 10,000.

This shows the effects that new and digital media has on traditional media in the sense that it is very easy to cite false information. The fact that an unofficial account has so much more followers than the official account emphasises how easy it is for people to believe false information as truthful.