about deadly diseases and ways to avoid them. Fake news is a problem

about deadly diseases and ways to avoid them. Fake news is a problem and the government has been trying to combat it.

In the thousands of links I scan through, my heart flutters as I spot our name.

“Don’t trust what the government says about Monkey Pox. See attached articles from the Turin Register”

Clicking the link, I see a list of familiar headlines:

The Dark Hand Behind the Government Reshuffle - Max Serafino

Patient Malpractice Allegations Covered up by Health Authorities - Max Serafino

Pandemic Recommendations Misguided - Max Serafino

Corruption Exposed in Turin Government - Max Serafino

Other articles Paulina was reading, those not to trust doctors and government health advice, often link to articles written by me and my colleagues.

I stare at the pencil that sits on my desk where Giuseppe left it earlier. Behind me, I hear someone approach,and feel their hands on my shoulders.

Giuseppe’s voice says, “And you thought you were superior to all of us, didn’t you?”

“Is it all…?” I am about to ask an obvious question. But stop myself. I have bills to pay and a scarcity of other work alternatives. I sweep pointless self-doubt from my mind. Journalists report the news, we do not generate it.

With a click of the mouse, I bring up today's police bulletin, and make proposals on which events we might cover for our prestigious 137-year-old newspaper to the Chief Editor.

The next morning, a young journalist who normally sits besides me struts triumphantly through the news room greeting colleagues. Giuseppe gives him a thumbs up. I open the Turin Register's most viewed list, an online article, "Clickbait News Causes Scurvy in Italy's Auto Capital" is trending across the nation.

I begin having regular dinners with Bruno. We talk about our old adventures in school, and about the state of the country, Bruno reminds me that a Political Science professor in University had taught us, "Every industry is selling a product, and at its core, the news industry sells fear."

In the coming months the number of cases of maltrunition similar to Paulina's snowball across the nation. I noti