It is easy to believe that ‘fake news’ is a modern phenomenon, brought about by social media and promulgated by politicians. Yet as the British Library’s event, ‘Breaking the News’ exhibition demonstrates, fake news – or that unforgettable phrase ‘alternative facts’ – have been features of news reporting for at least 500 years.
Remember the expenses scandal?
The exhibition is not arranged in chronological order but in themes, including crime, conflict, power and censorship. As the blurb reads, “Whilst the themes that interest people do not generally change, the form and ownership of news does”. Neither are the items on display restricted to newspapers. Pamphlets, radio broadcasts, film and video all serve to enrich the experience.