Rise of 'Fake News' Takes Toll on April Fools' Day

Nordic newspapers are skipping it this year
By John Johnson,  Newser Staff
Posted Mar 31, 2017 10:14 AM CDT
Rise of 'Fake News' Takes Toll on April Fools' Day
   (Getty/nito100)

It's not quite the same as canceling Christmas, but some Scandinavian newspapers are skipping April Fools' Day this year. The reason? They're worried about being attached to "fake news," reports AFP. It seems the editors of papers in Sweden and Norway have decided to refrain from their usual practice of trying to prank readers on April 1. "Historically, we've had super successful April Fools' jokes," says the editor of Vasterbottens-Kuriren in Sweden. "But because of debates and discussions about the media's credibility being connected to fake news, we didn't want to do it this year."

The editor of Bergens Tidende in Norway is among those following suit, citing his concern that "false news is spreading." The Drum website, meanwhile, is taking a different approach to the issue: It has anointed Saturday to be "International Fake News Day" and plans to honor those gifted in the art. Under the #FakeNewsDay hashtag, people can vote for winners in categories such as Lifetime Achievement Award, Best State-Sponsored Story, Best Conspiracy Theory Reported as Fact, and Most Outlandish Claim of the Year. (More April Fools' Day stories.)

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