Journalists cautioned against the dissemination of fake news: NUJ.

Journalists have been advised to strictly adhere to the codes of ethics of their profession in the discharge of their duties to avoid spreading fake and unverifiable facts as news to members of the public.

National President, Nigeria Union of Journalists, NUJ, Mr Chris Isiguzo, gave advice at the 2023 College of Arts and Social Sciences Public Lecture entitled “Rethinking the Social Media: Fake News and the Death of the Gatekeeper at Igbinedion University Okada, Edo State.

The NUJ president, the guest speaker at the 2023 College of Arts and Social Sciences of the university, urged Journalists to always stick with the profession’s ethics.

He stressed that care must be taken to cross-check facts and do away with information that could cause mayhem and undermine the country’s peace, unity and development.

Mr Isiguzo appreciated the positive role of social media in mainstream media but noted with dismay the way fake news had dominated social media space.

He explained that, unlike the mainstream media, where there are gatekeepers to check the spread of fake news, there are no gatekeepers to carry out such responsibilities on social media.

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He, therefore, cautioned that there are consequences for infractions for anybody caught in the web of fake news to defame anybody or use seditious statements capable of causing mayhem in the country.

The NUJ president recounted several recent fake news that dominated media space and urged mainstream media not to be in a hurry to publish unverified stories, all in a bid to be the first to break a story.

Journalists cautioned against the dissemination of fake news: NUJ

Speaking on what the union was doing under his watch to curb the spread of fake news, Mr Isiguzo said the union under his leadership had encouraged the setting up of the National Media Complaints Commission, and the league also played a prominent role in the revised code of ethics which was last reviewed in 1998.

He explained that the code of ethics would guide journalists and social media influencers to know their rights and be more professional. He further warned that mudslinging and blackmail should not be mistaken for investigative journalism.

Earlier, Vice Chancellor of the University, Prof Lawrence Ezemonye, said the university had been using the college lectures every year to examine topics of national and global significance to generate ideas for policy direction, make critical interventions in the national discourse, and set agenda for development in all fields of human endeavour.

Represented by the Deputy Vice-Chancellor, Prof Ralphael Adeghe, the Vice Chancellor remarked that the topic was to provide an intellectual platform to address the issue of fake news associated with new media and social media.

Also, the Dean of the College of Arts and Social Sciences of Igbinedion University, Doctor Blessing Oligbi, said she was impressed that the college was always at the forefront of promoting the university’s mission to enhance human advancement.

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