National Wire About Nigerians, Nigerian Business and Other Stories
By: Okosun Dennis
As “who is who” in the media industry, paramilitary agencies, private security organizations and captains of industry gathered in Lagos on Wednesday during the National Association of Online Security News Publishers (NAOSNP) media workshop, one central issue that dominated discussions, was the growing trend of fake news churned out by some journalists.
Peddling and publication of fake News has been a disturbing trend in the social media, raising a disturbing concern on what agenda media practitioners, especially bloggers and online journalists are setting, hence they have been cautioned them to fact check their reports before releasing it for public consumption.
They added that such practice was at variance with the ethics of journalism as such unfounded and fake news have the potentialities of causing war or affecting our democratic ethos.
The theme of the workshop: “Role of the Nigerian Media and Security Agencies in curbing fake News, Cyber Security, and Sundry Security Threats,” was presented by Mr. Oba Adeoye, a versatile media guru and founder, JournalismNG.
According to him, the proliferation of social media platforms serve as conduit pipes for fake news to thrive, adding that it has become a commonplace for individuals and group to have access to the public space and post false information that are unverified which has caused so much social unrest amidst negative repercussions.
He called for collaboration between the media and security agencies to mitigate fake news, threats and ensure the safety and security of Nigerians.
“Nigeria, like many other countries, is faced with the challenge of dealing with fake news, cyber security threats, and other security threats.
“Cyber security threats, such as hacking, phishing, and ransomware attacks, are becoming more prevalent in Nigeria, with individuals and organizations falling victim to these attacks – terrorism, kidnapping, and armed robbery – which have been a major concern for the security agencies in the country.
While emphasizing the importance of discouraging fake News to thrive, Adeoye recommended that journalists should fact-check information before publishing, confirm from “the source of the information, looking for evidence to support the claims, and being aware of any potential biases,” before publishing.
In his welcome remarks, President of NAOSNP, Samson Oki said the danger orchestrated by fake news was difficult to fathom hence the need to caution journalists to guide against misleading members of the society.
In his keynote address on “Curbing Fake News, Especially In Nigeria’s Online Media Space, Dr. Kunle Hamilton, Media Consultant, FrieslandCampina WAMCO, reminded journalists on the danger of fake news and hate speeches and how it fuelled the catastrophe of the infamous Rwanda genocide in 1994 and 2nd June, 2023 in Nigeria where two Vloggers (male and female) deceived members of a restless community in Oke Ira Nla, Ajah with fake news published on Facebook that led to massive looting and burning down of the Overcomers Parish of the Celestial Church of Christ.
Alluding to seven core types of fake news, Dr Hamilton noted that with the help of social media, thousands of bloggers and vloggers who have no idea or are oblivious/ignorant of the “inverted pyramid structure or basic rules of news writing” have bestrode the internet enabled mass media space.
“In this cut throat race to publish, a lot of Online News Publishers, rush to publish bad news and bad grammar with their smart phones while in transit in taxis, buses and trains.
“When you operate in the business
of professional journalism, but you are not formally trained to do
so, you can become a catastrophe to the profession. You will lack
both the ethics and decent techniques of the profession,” he emphasized.
However, the Deputy Commander Narcotics, (Demand & Reduction) DCN Titilope Ogunluyi, in her summation observed that the media as a very powerful organisation has the pen that can set the country ablaze if not properly and responsibly deplored when reporting.
“The media is powerful and can use their pen to destroy the world, as a result, they are held with repute hence they must give accurate reportage.”
Describing drug abuse as a global menace, she noted that they are using a holistic approach to fight it as such, “we are calling for a synergy with the media and other organizations to reduce drug use and peddling to the barest minimum.
“The role of the media in tackling drug trafficking cannot be overemphasized. Drug abuse is a chronic sickness and the suspects are victims of their habits. The media should help us propagate it that these abusers are not criminals but need care and rehabilitation to come out of drugs. We should use our medium to add values to these victims of drug abuse so that they can come out of it as we sanitize Nigeria.
“They are all over the place – neighbourhood, family members and friends – let’s show them love and encourage them to come out of it,” DCN Titilope Ogunluyi reiterated.
Also speaking as a representative of the Force Public Relations Officer, CSP Olumuyiwa Adejobi, the Lagos State Police spokesperson, SP Benjamin Hundeyin called on journalists not to be in a hurry to break news stressing that every fake news item released and found to be untrue has damaging effect on the fabric of the society.
Whether the traditional or new media, he advised practitioners to always confirm their story from source, urging them not to publish untrue stories that can set the country on fire.
Similarly, Superintendent Olabisi Sonusi, Public Education Officer, Lagos Sector Command, Federal Road Safety Commission, admonished journalists to verify news stories from their source stressing that they shouldn’t be in a hurry to break news that would turn out to be false.
However, the panelists affirmed and admonished members of the Fourth Estate of the Realm not to misinform members of the public in order to drive traffic and attract readership to their blogs which is against the ethics of journalism and, thereby undermining the implications such a fake reportage could cause the entire society or the individual involved.
Notable personalities that attended the one-day workshop held at the LCCI Expo and Conference Centre, Alausa Ikeja were, Dr. Kunle Hamilton, Media Consultant, FrieslandCampina WAMCO; Dr. Cynthia Greg, Managing Director, Safety Signatures; Mr. Damilare Adewusi from Domestic and Sexual Violence Agency; Mr. Matthew Obiazikwor, Head, Communications and Brand Management, Unity Bank Plc, Mr Richard Amuwa, Executive Producer, Security 24/7 on Radio and Television and other notable media personalities.
Major supporters included First Bank plc; Access Bank plc; Unity Bank plc; Friesland campina WEMCO; CWay Water; Federal Road Safety Commission (FRSC); Nigeria Police; Zeniths Sports & Haggai wear; Dangote Group; Mountain of Fire and Miracles; Lagos State Traffic Management Authority (LASTMA); Nigeria Security and Civil Defence Corp (NSCDC); Lagos State Domestic and Sexual Violence Agency and National Drug Law Enforcement Agency (NDLEA).
