What does it mean to be 'authentic' in a world of reality television and virtual communication? How is an organisation, or a brand, positioned as 'authentic'? Our understanding of the term 'authentic' in terms of authorship, trust, and truth is challenged in the communication 'clutter' of an increasingly globalised world. Together, the papers reveal the fluidity of meanings surrounding the concept and enactment of authenticity in very different contexts; they shed new light on theoretical understandings, and at the same time raise questions about how authenticity is perceived and evaluated in practice.