Lots of information we hear on radio, see on television, read on news papers and social media all appear to be true, but sometimes not the real truth.
Fake news which spreads like Wide fire is now seen as a norm in our society.
To curb this menace, the National Assocition of online security news publishers (NAOSNP) organized a day-workshop for media practitioners to train online writers and publishers on the dangers of spreading false information especially in our society; with the theme “Role of media, security agencies in curbing fake news, cyber threat and sundry security challenges: Need to destroy menace before it destroys us”.
Addressing the online writers and publisher, the guest speaker Olumuyiwa Adejobi who was ably represented by the Lagos State Police Public Relations Officer (PPRO) Benjamin Huneyin in his interview stated that fake news have made his job harder.
“Fake news has made my job a lot harder, a lot of times instead of me to focus on more progressive things, am thinking of how to debunked fake news, the time I spend in debunking fake news can be use to attain to complains and other issues”.
On the other hand the supretendent chief command Federal road safety Corp Lagos state, Olabisi Sosunsi urged Online Writers and Publishers to please cross check every information received before sending it out.
“Don’t be the first to break the news, verify it before you break the news, do the right thing, clearify the sources, with this it will help us curb a lot of issues of turning fake news, please always verify your source.”
While a senior media practitioner Oba Adeoye stated 3 ways to tackle it in the news room, ” there are 3 ways we can tackle fake news in the news room, number 1 is training, number 2 is training and number 3 is training, we must engaged in training and retraining of our people from time to time and if you are in doubt, you leave out, there is no award for breaking news, so don’t be in a hurry to break news I team you’re not sure off, check with your source, check with other platforms, how many platforms are carrying the news and also reach out to your own source, if on security, talk with Benjamin Huneyin.
The President of the association Samson Oki, said it is a good thing that we come together and learn from each other so as to identifies our weaknesses, a media workshop is to meet and learn from each other.