Weaponizing “fake news” as agenda cutting: a content analysis of partisan media discourse in the U.S., 2020–2024

Abstract

This study investigates the rhetorical and agenda-setting functions of the term “fake news” in U.S. partisan and centrist media from 2020 to 2024. Originally denoting fabricated information, “fake news” has evolved into a politically charged label used to challenge the credibility of journalists, media organizations, political actors, and public institutions. Using quantitative content analysis of 1,972 news items from nine outlets, the study examines differences across left-leaning, centrist, and right-leaning media in usage type, targets, tone, evidentiary support, and political context. Findings reveal that left-leaning outlets primarily employ an analytical approach to “fake news,” discussing misinformation, democratic risk, and media trust. In contrast, centrist outlets focus on platforms, technology companies, and governance. Right-leaning outlets, particularly Fox News, use the term predominantly as an accusatory label targeting mainstream or center-left media. Across all ideological categories, election and voting politics dominate the context of use. The study contributes to understanding agenda manipulation in a platformized attention economy by showing that “fake news” functions not only as a marker of misinformation but also as a tool for framing, agenda cutting, agenda steering, and credibility contestation in polarized media environments. These insights have implications for journalism, media literacy, and democratic communication in the contemporary information ecosystem.