Understanding extinction, the fossil record and the media

Awareness of why creatures become extinct is vital, but the Discovery Channel misinformed with its claim that the Megalodon was still alive. Is Racing Extinction their attempt to make amends?

In the last few years, the Discovery Channel has aired two fake documentaries (aka mockumentaries) on the fossil shark Megalodon (Carcharocles megalodon). In both they claim that this extinct species is still roaming the world's unexplored oceans. The worrying part is not that the Discovery Channel is broadcasting false information to millions of people - as disturbing as that is - but that surveys taken by the Discovery Channel's viewers show that 73% of them think this species is in fact still alive.

Related: Did Discovery Channel fake the image in its giant shark documentary? | George Monbiot