City Research Online

Abstract

Through a case study of the Irish Health Service Executive’s (HSE) response to a fake news attack on their HPV vaccination campaign, we argue that responses to fake news should be analyzed from a legitimacy perspective. We propose a model of emotion legitimacy management where the HSE and a third-party collaborated to: (1) connect with the emotional aspects of the issue, (2) leverage emotions to build vicarious legitimacy, (3) transfer the third-party's legitimacy to the organization, and (4) activate the target public emotionally. This study contributes to the field of fake news and legitimacy management by moving beyond fact-checking and debunking strategies. We suggest a framework centered on legitimacy and organizational agency in using emotions to counteract fake news. Finally, we emphasize the importance of third-party vicarious legitimacy building and its transfer to the organization.

Publication Type:	Article
Additional Information:	Reuse is restricted to non-commercial and no derivative uses. This article will be published in its final form in Business & Society by SAGE and it will be available online at: https://us.sagepub.com/en-us/nam/journal/business-society
Publisher Keywords:	fake news, legitimacy, crisis management, emotions
Subjects:	B Philosophy. Psychology. Religion > BF Psychology H Social Sciences > H Social Sciences (General) R Medicine > RA Public aspects of medicine > RA0421 Public health. Hygiene. Preventive Medicine
Departments:	Bayes Business School Bayes Business School > Management
SWORD Depositor:	Symplectic Administrator

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