Estimated reading time: 11 minute(s)
Experts have cautioned media practitioners against promoting fake news and engaging in abuse of social media content.
The experts spoke on Monday in Abeokuta, at the Eddy Aina annual dialogue and 10th year anniversary of Coded media .
The event was organised by the Chairman and Chief Executive Officer of Oodua 99.9 fm Abeokuta, Victor Eniola Mark as part of activities to recognise the contributions of a media icon, Eddy Aina .
Speaking on a topic, “Social Media incursion into global communication space is overarching : is the demise of radio and television imminent” at a panel session, moderated by a professor at the Federal University of Agriculture, Abeokuta, Prof. Helen Bodunde , the experts agreed that the advent of social media is a blessing to the media industry.
The experts who shared their thoughts at the panel session, were ; former Chief Press Secretary to ex governor of Ogun state, Otunba Gbenga Daniel , Dare Folarin ; a former Zonal Director, Federal Radio Corporation of Nigeria, Ibadan Zonal Station, Mrs Bolatito Joseph ; a Nigerian actor , Nkechi Blessing Sunday ; former General Manager News and Current Affairs at Raypower, Mrs Funke Fadugba and a communication lecturer, Sade Adebimpe.
Making her submission, the Nigerian actor ,said “Social Media tools also involve Instagram, Facebook, Twitter, they are always the first to disseminate information and I believe that in the nearest future most people will not use the television and radio except for those in grassroot areas.”
Folarin said “social media is not an invasion because when we see it as an invasion, it is a negative connotation but may be for those who meet it at the middle of their age sees it as an invasion but it is not an invasion.
“For Instance, we say Social media is an over aching, is it cumulating, if yes, does it have any positive effect on getting information to the public.
We are meant to understand that the only thing that is permanent in life is change, we notice that in radio and television, since 1932 have been responding to changes but then the traditional media will always be there since it works in dynamism, so, traditional media will not actually fade away, it will always be there.”
Most people now intend to source their information from facebook, Instagram because they believe now that these social medias give them first-hand information before they hear it in the television or in the radio.
Fadugba said “We should not see it as an incursion but, as an invasion which is a platform that can be used to promote content.”
Joseph submitted ” I think it is very important to verify information very well before we publish it. Giving information without verifying it, is as good as giving out poison, so as not to give the public poison, verification is important.
“Another thing we consider as credible journalists is the ability to verify, there is every tendency that a journalist is meant to verify his story which makes his information to be authentic and credible. The tendency not to verify a news as a journalist should be very narrow. know the authenticity and the credibility .”
While recapping the submissions made so far by the panelists , Prof. Bodunde said “in other words, as journalists, we are supposed to be diligent, up and doing to avoid carrying fake news because it is very disastrous for radio and television to carry fake news. So, it is advisable to check the credibility of your content as a journalist.
“In creating a content, as much as possible, we must own the content, owning the content means that whatever the substance of what you have created, you must be able to stand responsible to the content, so, when you create your content that you can share your content, don’t share people’s content without verifying the credibility of that content.
“The issue of verifying your story brought us to the rudiment of newsgathering which is gatekeeping, today, we no longer practise gatekeeping, nobody is doing gatekeeping any longer, the essence of gate keeping is the ability of making sure that credible content are disseminated.”
Estimated reading time: 1 minute(s)
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