…Onanuga Wants government to Implement 2014 Cybercrime Law

…Prof Machara Recommends Fact-Checking for Journalists and Peneral public

…Danladi Bako Says Gatekeeping Must Be Encouraged to Mitigate Fake News.

As fake news spreads in Africa and other parts of the world, media experts have collectively condemned the prevalence of false information, claiming that it is capable of causing social chaos if not properly curtailed.

These claims were made by media experts at the first international symposium, “Harnessing African Solutions to Combat Fake News, Misinformation, and Disinformation,” held on Thursday, July 13, 2023 by the Olusegun Obasanjo Centre for African Studies (OOCAS) in association with the National Open University (NOUN).

The symposium, which was attended by scholars and active stakeholders in the media industry, focused on proactive measures African continents can take to combat fake news, which they agreed is spreading like wildfire and distorting society’s trust in the media.

Mr. Bayo Onanuga

Speaking at the symposium, Mr Bayo Onanuga, a former director of the News Agency of Nigeria and the director of the All Progress presidential council, described the emergence of fake news as a “information disorder,” claiming that the introduction of technology and digital tools such as social media has exacerbated the promotion of fake news in society.

He claimed that the digital space has limited the practice of gatekeeping by media practitioners, resulting in a porous flow of false information in society. “Because we live in a digital age, an age of “information disorder”, where news easily goes viral, faster than the wild bushfire, controlling fake news has become more daunting. Anyone with a smartphone, with Twitter, Facebook or WhatsApp account can become a news publisher. He can originate and spread fake news and misinformation. He can also simply “forward” any so-called news that he comes across and finds ‘shareable’ or ‘fanciful”.

“If many people join in pressing the share button, the news, nay fake news, soon becomes viral and the assumed truth. Experience shows that it takes a longer time, to make a correction and establish the real truth. On the net, facts often don’t matter. Facts are murdered as netizens clout chase for ‘likes’ and ‘retweets’”, he said

Mr. Onanuga urged media practitioners to be professional in their reporting by engaging in fact-finding and reporting information based on evidence to the members of the public, citing recent instances of fake news in Nigeria during the general elctions and the COVID-19 pandemic and its impact on the public.

He urged the government to implement the 2014 cybercrime law and to begin prosecuting those responsible for spreading misinformation. He urged the government to implement the 2014 cybercrime law and to begin prosecuting those responsible for spreading misinformation.

He also recommended that the government spokesperson establish a cordial relationship with the populace by regularly releasing information to the media so they can report factual information. “This will make the purveyors of false information unable to mislead the public with their unverified story”, he said.

Prof Juliet Machara

Speaking on the theme of the symposium, Professor Juliet Machara, the former Dean of the School of Business, Karatina University, Kenya defined the concept of disinformation as “the intentional dissemination of false information with the intent of advancing a political objective Or falso information that is created and purposefully spread with the intention to hide the truth”.

She further explained that “Fake news typically is news, stories, or hoaxes created to deliberately misinform or deceive readers. Moreover, fake news is commonly used to influence people’s views, push a political agenda, or cause confusion. Fake news is news that conveys or incorporates”, while “Misinformation-False or inaccurate information being created and spread accidentally without the intention to deceive or harm”

She also highlighted clickbait, propaganda, bad journalism and other factors that encourage false information that can distort the peace of society. She also that the overreliance of the public on social media has discouraged well-researched stories from professional media practitioners.

Professor Machara also added that fake news is not limited to the African continent, she explained that notable countries like Russia, China and the United States of America have also been caught in the web of false information in the past

Speaking about ways to prevent fake news and false information, the professor recommended media literacy for fact-checking for journalists and the general public. She said “Employ the services of Fact-checking and content regulating Organization most important is that the African countries should insist that these tech giants must regulate content in their platform

“Check the important clues about the source of the story Countering fake news-when communication has already taken place the damage is already done. The best strategy is to control the messaging agenda from the start. Education may, in fact, be our most powerful tool. By giving people the knowledge and ability to spot potential fake news”.

She also called on the African Countries to work together against fake news by setting up a budget to fund the fact check platforms that can enhance the mitigation of false information in the continent.

Dr Danladi Bako

In the same vein, Dr Nasir Danladi Bako, a former director of the National Broadcasting Commission (NBC) and commissioner for information of Sokoto State commended the professional practices of some traditional media by moderating the excesses of the fake news.

He however called for more responsible journalism among media practitioners, adding that gatekeeping must be encouraged in the profession to avoid promotion of the fake news.

Speaking on behalf of Dr Letshwiti Batlhalefi Tutwane, a former lecturer in media law and journalism at the University of Botswana, Professor Eserinune McCarty Mojaye, Director of the Olusegun Obasanjo Centre for African Studies, acknowledged the role of government to curb hate speech which he described as a product of fake news.

Prof Eserinune Mojaye

Professor Mojaye, just like the previous speakers adduced fact checks as the solution to fake news in the media. He added that due to the enormity of the fake news spreading, fact checks should be practised by the public and journalists to create a balanced mitigation to false information.

Reacting to the presentations made by speakers, participants expressed their satisfaction with the event, describing it as a timely symposium for media practitioners and scholars in the field of journalism and communication to curb fake news in the public space.

Gregory Okagbare, one of the participants also suggested that the solution for the Nigerian government through NBC to review requirements for giving out licences to anybody, adding that they must prioritise professional qualification before the issuance of a licence for the establishment of a media house, especially the broadcast media.

However, Jamiu Folarin another participant noted that even though there is a need to regulate the media, the fact-checkers must be given the independence to practice their fact-finding job without any intimidation “Meanwhile, in our advocacy for making fact-checkers to be professional, we must avoid regulations that affect the independence and freedom of fact-checkers”, he said