2019: Experts caution Journalists against fake news, hate speeches

Journalists have been warned against the circulation of fake news, hate speeches and to adhere to the journalism ethics in their reportage to avoid crises during the 2019 general elections. This warning was given at a three days workshop which was organised by the British Council (BC) and Managing Conflict in North-East Nigeria (MCN). The […]

Journalists have been warned against the circulation of fake news, hate speeches and to adhere to the journalism ethics in their reportage to avoid crises during the 2019 general elections.

This warning was given at a three days workshop which was organised by the British Council (BC) and Managing Conflict in North-East Nigeria (MCN).

The two organisations trained twenty journalists in Adamawa at Duragi Hotels Yola.

Tagged “Training of Media practitioners on conflict sensitive communications and selection reporting”, the training was aimed at supporting state and community level actors and institutions to enhance their capacity to manage conflicts in order to reduce the incidence and impact of violence in the North East of Borno, Yobe and Adamawa.

Chairman MCN Adamawa chapter, Abdulkadir Bello Ahmed reiterate that the program was planned to enhance knowledge and practice of practitioners operating through online/ electronics and print media towards adopting a conflict sensitive approach in their engagement with the public.

Mr. Bonat Tagwai a resource person, described fake news as a “completely false information, photos or videos purposely created and spread to confuse or misinform”, saying the action was dangerous to the society.

He therefore called on journalists, social media users to facts check before disseminating information.

A resource person, Laurat Abdulsalam cautioned journalists to be careful in managing their programmes, urging them to shun unethical behaviours.