Break Out Dig The News

DIG THE NEWS

Aboutthe game

start

For those who want to play

This is a Choose your own adventure text maze game. Such games take you on a trip through a story told in a non-linear way. You’ll need to make choices and face the consequences. Let’s see how far you can get in the wicked and vicious world of creative news writing and disinformation. I hope, it'll help you boost your resistance to the nuisanse news which bombard us all the time.Good luck!

For teachers

This is a Choose your own adventure text maze game, which can be used as a teaching tool in English language immersion classes at a C1 level. Such games take your students on a trip through a story told in a non-linear way. They will need to make choices and face the consequences. Meanwhile, they'll have to do some reading! ;) It’s loosely based on the game, whose idea is to “inoculate” young people against bad online information by putting them into the position of those who create bad news.

BAD NEWS

Created by Veneta Medarova

You meet up with your boss in a quiet café. He wants you to take a final decisive step and get the big guns out.

That's a bit too shy. Even with a fake account, it'll take ages to convince the public through personally writing tweets. You'd better go back and make another choice.

introduction

DIG THE NEWS

Introduction

Map/missions

Characters

I guess, you've read some really badly written news stories. Stories which you find hard to dig as they don't make any sense. Funny enough, although far-fetched and outrageous, such stories have enormous popular appeal and are consumed by millions of people. How easy is it to create them? Who makes them up? And why? Are people so gullible that they'd buy anything you throw to them? How about you? Can you always tell what True, or False is? First, check out who the characters are. Then, have a go and see how much you can influence public opinion through creative news writing. Complete the missions and try to get as many followers as you can!

The party member

The Good Party boss

DIG THE NEWS

Introduction

Map/missions

Characters

.

The party member

The Good Party boss

Help out the trainee journalist

Try to help out the Good Party PR diva to boost the party's popularity on Internet. All you need to do is follow the party's boss advice and guidance. He's been Good Party President and Prime minister of the country for years, so he must know what's good or bad for people. So, why bother them with boring facts, which not only might make them feel unhappy, but may also bring undesired changes within the establishment? Anyway, people watch or read the news for the fun of it. News stories are simply the new fairy tales, aren't they? Let's just keep the magic going!

Your mission

DIG THE NEWS

The Good Party member

DIG THE NEWS

Introduction

Missions

Characters

You've been a faithful party member for years. You've proved yourself as such in more than one occasion, and no way you'll miss the chance to get promoted to Head of Public Relations (PR) and Communications. It's time to show your full potential.Your party needs you!

The party member

The Good Party boss

DIG THE NEWS

The Good Party boss

DIG THE NEWS

Introduction

Map/missions

Characters

It's a life or death situation we have here! Our party either wins the elections next month, or we'll be washed away from the political scene. And what's the worst, all these corruption secrets will blow into my face.Luckily, I think I've got the right person. She just needs a bit of persuasion...

The party member

The Good Party boss

You've found this envelope on your office desk at the Headquarters of the Good Party. Open it!

A tip from your party's boss

What's going on? Have you seen the pre-election polls? It's high time you did something about our rating on the net! So, PLEASE, get to writing. Remember your past...

Choose a slogan for the Good party news site

As a faithful member of the Good Party, last year you got involved in covering up some evidence for corruption. That was how you got your job in the PR section, and the manager position is vacant right now. Nobody, but the party's president, knows about the cover-up and your involvement. It was him who got you the job in the Headquarters, skipping the official procedures. If the party loses the elections, he'll have to resign and, in a private conversation you had with him, it was made clear that, in such event, your secrets won't be kept any longer. You are an expert on disinformation and manipulation of the public opinion.

HQ café

Now, that's real! 20 K new followers and rising! Good shot, but we can't stop here.

I think, I know now what is needed.

HQ café

Moral objections? Give me a break!

Sorry, chief...The show must go on!

Start posting on Twitter

I was in a hipster café and heard people next to me whispering to each other how good for the economy the Good party is. Now, I know GP will definitely be re-elected!#Goodpartyforrightcause

A woman linked to a pet rights group takes away Maya, the chihuahua of a lonely 9-year old girl. We know whose friends they are. #Goodpartyprotectsyourpet

We'll get Autism on camera to prove danger of vaccines. Keep safe!#Goodpartycares

Choose you comment

How serious can this piece of news be? Is it scientific or pseudoscientific?

Post this comment

April, 1st, 2021

Dig The News

Post this comment

"We live in a fantasy world, a world of illusion. The great task in life is to find reality." Irish Murdoch

Breaking news. We're not alone!

They've been trying to hide from us the facts. Here comes the Good Party to inform you. How safe are we? While the Bad party just doesn't care, we'll keep you alert.It's time to be united!

Busting pseudoscience

While some try to make you believe the imposible, we always keep our feet on the ground. We're sure we don't need to remind you that in the thin air of Mars no mushrooms can survive.

Sonic weapons cause cancer

Post this article

April, 1st, 2021

Dig The News

Discart it as pseudoscientific

"We live in a fantasy world, a world of illusion. The great task in life is to find reality." Irish Murdoch

New weapons threatening our democracy

U.S. personnel at the Embassy in Havana experienced a rash of symptoms from mysterious sonic health attacks. Between 2016 and 2018 about 30 diplomats working there suffered symptoms of unexplained origin such as nausea, hearing loss, dizziness, vertigo or lack of concentration.

Trump Administration withdrew most of his staff members and issued an alert claiming that his diplomats had been the victims of targeted sonic attacks. A new medical report published by the American Medical Association defines it as a neurotrauma from a nonnatural source, possibly a new sonic weapon developed by the Cuban army.Questions arise about the safety of our country and citizens.

Source:OAT at https://bit.ly/3ugDZA4

Do I need to repeat it again? I need a make-believer and a scare-monger!

Just outsite the Headquarters a guy in a hoodie passes you a message from the boss.

Try another article

100/100

Good try! That's what we need. Your news feed is becoming a trending topic with more than 30K new followers. It doesn't matter that sonic weapons are in the realm of sciene fiction. They sound scary enough.

TRY another one

Your boss seems satisfied

We can't slow down. The more anxious peoplefeel, the more they'll trust us.

Good start! Aliens and consripacies always work on people's emotions.

I knew I could rely on you!

Fear is often the response to uncertainty.

We need more suspence to make everybody forget about our silly corruption scandals.

10K new followers and rising! Keep distracting the public...

Publish another article

HQ café

Back to previous page

Are you a physicist or what? How exactly busting pseudoscience will help us improve our chances of winning the elections?

Nobody really knows what reality is about. Not to say that reality often happens to be boring. I need you to change this comment of yours. I told you, we need distraction and uncertainty.

Moral objections? Don't be funny!

Sorry, chief...I thought my mission was to inform people. We can't just watch how the public is being disinformed...

But I've got some moral objections...

Of course, boss...What an idea...I'll do as you say!

EU Parliament is discussing a new post pandemic law. Fearing the avalanche of mad partying after the end of physical distancing measures, MPs are concerned that EU citizens might not get enough sleep. School marks and work pay will depend on how well you perform at the spoon test.

www.digthenews.com

Tendencies

Good PartyGood for You

Spoon Test

You think this is for real. Denounce the legislation bill as an attack on individual freedom.

You think this must be a joke. Discard it.

?

Test procedureMaterials used: a watch, a spoon and a metal trayProcedure: This spoon test is to be carried out only during the daytime. Darken the bedroom and then lie down at the edge of the bed. Keep a metal tray on the floor beside the bed and hold a metal spoon over it. The individual should note the time and close their eyes as if to sleep. When the individual falls asleep, the hand will loosen its grip over the spoon and it will come crashing down onto the tray, waking them up. Immediately look at the watch and note how much time has passed. Conclusions: If they have fallen asleep within 5 min, they are most likely severely sleep-deprived. Schools and companies are to install rooms for carrying out the test on those suspected of late-hour-TV watching, browsing the Internet, or preferring to socialize instead of going to bed regularly at a particular time. Source: Medical Life Sciences, https://bit.ly/3tqo9Sh

You've been promoted

As a Senior Public Relations Officer (PRO), you'll be in charge of the Good Party's ofiicial Twitter account. You are now only a step away from getting the job of Head of Public Relations and Communications. It all depends on how well you'll manage the account in order to get as many new followers as possible.

Congratulations!

PRO senior

The Good Party Big Boss

Date

June, 20th 20XX

certified

TRY AGAIN

I've warned you! if we needed an investigation journalist, we would have hired a proffesional, not you. your mission was to bug the public opinion, not to fight the fake news. Just to see how benevolent i am, i'll let you try again.

Good Better Best

Because Good Party Cares

Good Party Good News

Every news site needs a slogan. Choose yours. Remember, it's first impressions that count!

Nice! So take us somewhere new . Life's been kind of dull lately. To take control of people's emotions, they need to get excited in the first place...

121.2k

Escribe un subtítulo aquí

Crecimiento de seguidores

Choose your comment before posting it on the Good Party's news site.

WAtch the video

You know that an image is worth a thousand words.

Choose a gif for your tweet.

Fuente

He must have seen it!

She must have seen it!

You know that an image is worth a thousand words.

Choose a gif for your tweet.

Fuente

That must be truth!

That's the truth!

You know that an image is worth a thousand words.

Choose a gif for your tweet.

Fuente

Isn't she so right?

Isn't that ridiculous?

Kudos for the choice!

The sound of a baby cry captures attention in a way that few other sounds in the environment do. It seems that our brains are made this way. So, if you want somebody to get alert, just show them a picture of a kid crying. Everybody will react! Our popularity is growing by thousands of new followers...

You disapprove such use as you believe the goal doesn't justify the means.

You approve the use of crying kids as a form to influence public opinion. The goal always justifies the means.

Title 2

You're enjoying yourself. Manipulation is such fun! You want to go further.

Kudos for the choice!

How clever! It's a fact the lady's pregnant. She's also wearing the right getup for a woman involved with a king. She seems nervious. Why? Does the scene prove she has a secret? Of course, not! But does the gif give this impression? Sure! You're getting each time better! Our popularity is growing by thousands of new followers...

You feel ashamed. You don't really want to be good at this game. You think you've got enough of it.

Title 2

You're enjoying yourself. Manipulation is such fun! You want to go further.

Kudos for the choice!

How clever! It's a fact there is a baby. Somebody needs to take responsibility for her! Does the image of the ultrasound scan prove the King is invloved? Of course, not! But can the gif distract the public? Sure! You're getting each time better! Our popularity is growing by thousands of new followers...

You feel ashamed. You don't really want to be good at this game. You think you've got enough of it.

Title 2

You feel you are just a step away from completing your mission. You can't wait to continue.

There you go!

What's the point in feeding a homeless guy some fine meat? Just to make him go away when the camera is once off. What if everybody started doing the same? Much worse, this would have a pull effect. What are we going to do with all these new homeless flooding the city centre? The proof that people don't like this is that our popularity is growing by thousands of new followers...

You feel ashamed. You don't really want to be good at this game. You think you've got enough of it.

You feel you are just a step away from completing your mission. You can't wait to continue.

There you go!

Of course she's right! Some people seem to have lost all sense of decency. They just come from everywhere, wearing all sorts of foreign garments. Some of them look like terrorists! If they look like terrorists, they might be terrorists. Logical! Or not? It doesn't really matter. Just keep wagging the dogs as it makes our popularity growing by thousands of new followers...

You feel ashamed. You don't really want to be good at this game. You think you've got enough of it.

Title 2

That's a losing card :(

Who cares about old people? Old people are burnt out and sad by definition. An old man crying would never break the heart of the masses. On top, he looks like a Hollywood actor. Why would anybody pity a rich old man?Change you choice!

That's the end of the game for you. You've lost the chance to get promoted to Head of Public Relations and Communications. Now you'll have to face the consequences of your past actions. However, as you were forced to get involved in dodgy deeds, the law will take it into account. You'll get the opportunity to start fresh and create a better life. Don't you feel better losing this game?Do you always need to win in games?

+info

+info

+info

+info

Last challenge

Before you make a decision, you'd better get well informed!

Twitter bot

NO WAY!

Trolling

#2

#3

YOUR CALL

Sock-puppetaccount

#1

Twitter bots, also known as zombies, are automated Twitter accounts controlled by bot software. While they are programmed to perform tasks that resemble those of everyday Twitter users — such as liking tweets and following other users — their purpose is to tweet and retweet content for specific goals on a large scale. Source: https://nr.tn/3uo8IeA

Though you don't think trolling is necessarily a bad thing, as it can also be used by comedians or socially involved people to freely express their opinion without fear of a jail sentence in some countries, it's actually walking on thin ice. Furthermore, what we are talking about here is a straightforward hoax. You don't want to go this way, as committing one offence brings the next, a slippery slope, which can easily take you to prison...

'Trolling' is the anti-social act of causing personal conflict and controversy online by deliberately inflicting hatred, bigotry, racism, misogyny, or just simple fighting between others. You either do it through:

• a sock-puppet account (a personal fake account);
• a Twitter bot (a type of malicious software).

The difference is in the scale of disinformation, as obviously a bot can act at a considerably bigger scale than a person.

Sock-puppet accounts are often made by a troll, pretending to be a third independent party, whose real objective is to manipulate public opinion by praising, supporting or promoting a person or organisation.

500,000

That's the total number of new followers you've managed to obtain! Remember, you've got them through scare-mongering, manipulating, distracting and, in the end, even with the help of malicious software. Nothing really got on your way. You helped the Good Party boss to raise the popularity of the party on Internet and you'll probably win the elections as well. You showed little remorse along the way and your boss did not forget his promise. Now you are the Head of Public Relations and Communications and a real expert on how to manipulate public opinion.

Do you still like yourself, though?

Use a Twitter bot to get more followers

+info

#1

Last challenge

Before you make a decision, you'd better get well informed!

Trolling

NO WAY!

#2

#3

Use a sock-puppet account to get more followers

'Trolling' is the anti-social act of causing personal conflict and controversy online by deliberately inflicting hatred, bigotry, racism, misogyny, or just simple fighting between others. You either do it through:

• a sock-puppet account (a personal fake account);
• a Twitter bot (a type of malicious software).

The difference is in the scale of disinformation, as obviously a bot can act at a considerably bigger scale than a person.

Choose another Tweet

Aren't you tired of all these strangely dressed people? Who allowes them to ruin the beauty of the city centre? Beauty will save the world!#Goodpartyfororderandbeauty

The wife of a member of the Bad political party has been seen smashing a cat while driving. How cruel!#Goodpartyforanimalrights

#

The King involved in another paternity scandal. A woman claims she has photographs from her mother's pregnancy. Where is the bad political party?#Goodpoliticalpartyformorality

#Goodpoliticalpartycalledtosavetheworld

Your boss seems disappointed.

People have got enough worries how to make ends meet to annoy them with boring stuff.

I'm disappointed, I have to say...I expected more.

Economy?! Who cares about the economy?

On top, the Association to the world Hipster has published an open letter to distance themselves from politics.

Your boss seems delighted.

Maya? The chihuahua?! HA-HA-HA..Brilliant! That's exactly what we nedd.

Right now the post is a trending topic on Twitter and our account has grown with another 30 K new followers!!

It's not only that our country is threaten by alien life forms and mysterious weapons.

People's pets are not safe either.

They anyway tend to care for their pets more than for anything else.

Give them more of this!

Post another tweet

Your boss seems happy.

That topic always catches the public eye, but considering the pandemic, maybe this time we should not go this way.

It's just that this time we need everybody on board, so no extreme points of view...

We don't want to be labelled as negationists. Not everybody will understand it.

Good! About 5K new followers!

Try again! I'm sure you can come up with some interesting stuff!