Maduako Igbokwe l Friday, February 17, 2023
AWKA, Anambra – A group known as Association of Digital Media Core Advocate (ADMCA) has advised Nigeria journalists to shun fake news ahead of the 2023 general election.
The advice was given in Awka Anambra state at a sensitization Programme it organised for media practitioners in Anambra state with the theme “The Roles of Media in Countering Political Intolerance, Electoral Violence and Fake News”
The president of ADMCA Dr Chuma Harris in his speech said that fake news brings about violence and intolerance in the political space .
According to him, intolerance, propaganda, fake news, thuggery and violence will not make the society better rather worst. He urged journalists to shun any reportage that will create tension in the country.
“As Media personalities involved in both conventional and none conventional media, we most be adequately prepared to give the public what they need and desire. As media practitioners we should arm ourselves enough to discern what hate speech means” he said.
According to him, as an organisation with clear knowledge of the potency of putting wrong information on digital platform, it is unacceptable to engage in fake news propagation .
” Rwanda went into an existential conflict due to wrong information management mechanism in era where there was no digital media activity. This will help us understand what could happen with the wrong information in an era with social media, where information is passed around with as much rapidity as the speed of light”
The essence of this is to ensure that media managers, handlers, influencers and sundry skilled men and women in the digital media value chain, see it as a point of duty to discharge their duties in a way our peace and sanctity are not deflated ”
He urged journalists to be on guard to save the country from being plug into further crisis resulting from fake news.
Speaking at the event , South East zonal vice president of Nigeria Union of journalists (NUJ) Comrade Emma Ifesinachi described fake news as agent of Violence and intolerance. He appealed to Journalists to report responsibly in the forthcoming general elections to save the nation of crisis.
According to him, every journalist has a duty to protect the country from crisis. He said that journalists should be concerned about national interest than personal interest.
Also speaking, Mr Frank Chukwuebuka ,a journalist advised that journalists most at all time adhere to ethics and compliance with the code of the regulatory agencies.
According to him, engagement with political actors journalists should not be just for a routine but most show commitment to fair play in reportage.
He said that given the power of media ,the NUJ should lead in the aspect of fighting fake news from members.
