DISINFORMATION IN THE DIGITAL AGE: CHALLENGES AND SOLUTIONS IN PROFESSIONAL JOURNALISM

Аннотация

This article provides a scientific analysis of the threat of disinformation in the digital information space and its impact on professional journalism. The spread of fake news through social networks and artificial intelligence-based technologies, the mechanisms of this process and the negative consequences it brings to journalism are highlighted. The experience of international organizations such as the European Union, UNESCO, OSCE, RSF, and practical solutions of large media outlets justify the need for fact-checking, media literacy, and legal regulation. Keywords: disinformation, fake news, journalistic ethics, fact-checking, digital media, AI- content. Абстракт: В статье представлен научный анализ угрозы дезинформации в цифровом информационном пространстве и ее влияния на профессиональную журналистику. Будут рассмотрены распространение фейковых новостей посредством социальных сетей и технологий на основе искусственного интеллекта, механизмы этого процесса и его негативные последствия для журналистики. Необходимость проверки фактов, медиаграмотности и правового регулирования основана на опыте международных организаций, таких как Европейский Союз, ЮНЕСКО, ОБСЕ и «Репортеры без границ», а такженапрактическихрешениях крупнейшихСМИ. Ключевые слова: дезинформация, фейковые новости, журналистская этика, проверка фактов,цифровые медиа,контент ИИ Annotatsiya: Mazkur maqolada raqamli axborot makonida dezinformatsiya tahdidi va uning professional jurnalistikaga ta’siri ilmiy tahlil qilinadi. Ijtimoiy tarmoqlar va sun’iy intellekt asosidagi texnologiyalar orqali yolg‘on yangiliklarning tarqatilishi, bu jarayonning mexanizmlari va jurnalistikaga keltirayotgan salbiy oqibatlari yoritiladi. Yevropa Ittifoqi, UNESCO, OSCE, RSF kabi xalqaro tashkilotlar tajribasi va yirik OAV’larning amaliy yechimlari asosida faktcheking, media savodxonlik vahuquqiy tartibga solish zaruriyati asoslanadi. Kalit so‘zlar: dezinformatsiya, yolg‘on yangiliklar, jurnalistika etikasi, faktcheking, raqamli media, AI-kontent. Introduction. The rapid digitalization of the media landscape has brought about new challenges for professional journalism, among which disinformation stands out as one of the most critical. The spread of fake news, manipulated content, and conspiracy theories through social networks and digital platforms threatens the integrity of journalism and the public’s trust in information sources. According to the Reuters Institute (2024), 63% of people worldwide have encountered fake news https://ijmri.de/index.php/jmsi volume 4,issue6,2025 385 online in the past year. The World Economic Forum ranks disinformation among the top five global risks. The evolution of AI technologies, particularly deepfakes and content generators, has furthercomplicated thefight against falseinformation. This paper analyzes the causes and mechanisms of disinformation dissemination, its impact on journalism,and effectivecountermeasures based oninternational experience and mediapractices. Methodology. Thisresearch employs: - Comparativeanalysis ofinternational reports (UNESCO, OSCE,RSF, Reuters Institute). - Casestudies from majormediaorganizations (BBC, TheGuardian, CNN). - Reviewofglobal fact-checking initiatives (IFCN, Poynter Institute). - Statistical analysis ofglobal surveys onmediaconsumption. - Legal document analysis regarding information regulation. This study was conducted based on a scientifically based multifaceted approach. First, the latest reports of international organizations on disinformation and information security (UNESCO, OSCE, RSF, Reuters Institute) were systematically studied and compared. This approach made it possibleto identify global trends. Second, the practical methods and technological solutions used by major international media outlets - BBC, The Guardian, CNN - were analyzed. This sheds light on the practical aspects of combating disinformation inprofessional journalism. Third, the activities and recommendations of international fact-checking networks (IFCN, Poynter Institute) were studied, and mechanisms for fact-checking and exposing fake news were analyzed based ontheirmethodology. Fourth, global surveys on digital media and information consumption were statistically analyzed, theresults clearly showed the level ofpeople's exposure tofake news. Fifth, the content of legislative documents of the European Union and other regions aimed at regulating disinformation, inparticular theDigital Services Act (DSA), was analyzed. Finally, practical problems and realistic solutions related to disinformation were identified through interviews with professional journalists and media experts in 2024. This methodology provided a comprehensive approach to the topic from a scientific, theoretical and practical perspective. Results.Mechanisms ofDisinformation Dissemination - Social Media Algorithms: Facebook, TikTok, and Twitter (X) often amplify sensational andmisleading content duetoengagement-focused algorithms. - AI Technologies: De