Stakeholders from the media, security agencies and other sectors have called on media practitioners to eschew sensationalism, falsehood and fake news in their day-to-day activities.
They all condemned fake news describing it as capable of disrupting the peace of the society and triggering violence.
The stakeholders spoke at the one-day human capacity building workshop organized by the National Association of Online Security News Publishers, NAOSNP.
It was themed:’ Role of media security agencies in curbing fake news, cyber threat, and sundry security challenges: Need to destroy menace before it destroys us.’
Speakers at the event included frontline journalists Dr. Kunle Hamilton, and Oba Adeoye, Force PRO, CSP Olumuyiwa Adejobi, Head of Corporate Communications, Unity Bank, Mr Matthew, Representative of the NDLEA, Lagos Command, Mrs Titilope Ogunluyi among others.
Oba Adeoye in his presentation bemoaned the proliferation of the social media news platforms “where people throw out all manner of information.”
While he defined fake news as misinformation presented as news, he stated that they come in various forms such as fabricated content, misleading content, false context imposter content and manipulated content.
Oba Adeoye noted that it became imperative to check fake news in order to protect lives and property of the citizens, because according to him “fake news can incite violence especially if they contain ethnic or religious bias.”
He also noted that fake news could truncate the nascent democracy in the country if allowed, advising journalists to check the source of their information thoroughly before publishing such information.
On his part, journalist cum Public Relations practitioner, Dr Kunle Hamilton blamed the upsurge in fake news in the media to the emergence of “untrained bloggers and floggers.”
While he frowned at the grave danger they posed to the journalism profession, he advised those concerned to go and acquire the necessary training required to function effectively and professionally.
On his own part, the Force PRO, Olumuyiwa Adejobi was not happy with the way Nigerians
had profiled Nigerian policemen as brutal and non-friendly.
Adejobi who was represented at the event by the Police Public Relations Officer,Lagos State Police Command, SP Benjamin Hundeyin said people post all manner of videos involving policemen, deliberately leaving out some aspects of what really transpired.
“In some of our investigations of such videos, we have discovered that those complainants who put out some of these videos deliberately leave out areas that indict them, and start recording from where it favours their case.
“This is quite wrong, and we need to check this,” he said.
While he also said fake news could lead to attacks and deaths, he raised the alarm on the trend whereby established media houses also publish “fake news”.
Adejobi who regarded the media as a veritable partner, called for collaboration between journalists and the security agencies.
The Head Corporate Communications, Unity Bank, Mr Matthew who also noted that the incidence of fake news should be checked, called for thorough training and the need for objective and fair reportage.
The Representative of the NDLEA, Lagos Command, Mrs Titilope Ogunluyi dwelt on the need to eschew stigmatisation and discrimination of drug addicts, stating “they are part and parcel of the society.”
She described drug menace as a global threat, and she equally called for media cooperation to stop the menace.
The speakers commended NAOSNP for always organizing such workshops which address germaine issues in the society and proferring ways out of the menace.
Other highlight of the event was the presentation of awards to the Speakers and organisations which are in sync with NAOSNP vision.
