Group applies to trademark ‘fake news’ to stop Trump from using it
Nothing fake about this news.
The Florida chapter of the Society of Professional Journalists (SPJ) has applied to trademark the term “fake news,” chapter president Emily Bloch*writes in Teen Vogue.
Bloch argues in her piece that President Trump’s “hefty use of the term — and the way it’s caught on among his followers — threatens the livelihood of healthy discourse within a democracy,” adding that he has referenced the term over 1,200 times since taking office.
The op-ed highlighted*a Knight Foundation/Gallup study*that found American trust in the media is at an all-time low.
That same study also found that “40% of Republicans say accurate news stories that cast a politician or political group in a negative light should ‘always’ be considered fake news.”
Bloch admitted that SPJ does not expect the trademark to get approved.
“No one can really trademark a generic term like ‘fake news,’ which started being used long before Trump even took office. What we do hope is that this idea is outrageous enough to get people to stop and think about what fake news is, and what it means to them.”
Regardless, the group still plans to send cease-and-desist letters to anyone who is a frequent abuser of the term.
Bloch says they have sent their first letter to Trump and the White House should have received it Tuesday.
The letter to Trump reads in part, “Referring to factual stories that are critical of your administration as FAKE NEWS (TM pending) is indeed trademark infringement.
“You may not be aware, but your misuse of the term FAKE NEWS (TM pending) has greatly confused the American people and shaken their trust in the journalism that’s so vital to our democracy.”
As for what SPJ hopes the trademark will accomplish, Bloch is hopeful, but realistic.
“Yes, this is satire. It’s a joke. But it’s a joke with a point, and as any student of public discourse will tell you, a joke sometimes hits harder than the truth. And if anyone accuses us of trolling the president, well, nothing else seems to work with him, so what do we have to lose?”