The fake and the authentic

The collection of papers in this special issue of Continuum draws out the many dimensions of fakery in contemporary digitally mediated cultures. The editors observe in their Introduction that 'media fakery' needs to be understood more broadly than simply fake news or misinformation. Rather, it sits within the broader media ecology of entertainment as well as news and occupies an ambiguous relationship to trust that invites the consumer to believe in what is being represented, whether with playful or more conspiratorial intent.