Fake news is when false or misleading information is presented as news. Fake news often aims to damage the reputation of a person or entity, with the intention of making a profit, either financial gain or emotional motivation. Fabricated news that is baseless but presented as being factually accurate is best described as “fake news.”
Misinformation in the media is not new; historically, it has been with us since the development of the earliest writing systems.
The spread of fake news on the internet is now a global issue, and this confrontational subject demands rapt attention. The invention of the internet gives its users the power to share and read information from their comfort zone, and the model of journalism started to change with the rise of the internet.
The digitization of news has challenged traditional definitions of news. Online platforms provide space for non-journalists to reach a mass audience. The rise of citizen journalism challenged the link between news and journalists, as non-journalists began to engage in journalistic activities to produce journalistic outputs, including news. Citizen journalists were initially confined to blogging. Eventually, social media offered a wider platform for non-journalists to engage in journalism.
However, having a smartphone and cheap data does not qualify one as a news reporter. Journalism is a professional job that requires adequate learning and training. A graduate of an unrelated course cannot simply pick up the journalism job because of his or her writing skills and access to technology without proper orientation and training.
Journalism is no longer exclusively the province of professionals. A professional is someone who has had training in his or her specific field. An individual is not allowed to practice medicine unless certified by a duly recognized medical school. Lawyers, chartered accountants, and, to some extent, barbers and beauticians have to acquire certificates that recognize their competency. There are laws and ethics of the profession that practicing and bona fide members must respect.
Most platforms in Nigeria have been accused of sharing fake news, frauds all over the internet in the names of celebrities, politicians, organizations, and raising false alarms. In fact, people always fall victim to fraud and scams because someone somewhere is using fake information to defraud. It continues to occur, and we should be aware and take action to help ourselves and others.
Of course, journalists are often forced to publish first and verify information later due to competition for attention and exclusive news, while bloggers sometimes share unverified news for competition and to generate traffic on their websites. I acknowledge that most people in Nigeria hardly verify the source of information before sharing and believing such information, thereby being fooled, misled, deceived, and harmed.
To combat this phenomenon, the government should work hand in hand with the media to curb fake news and avoid tension in our society. The government and media bodies should organize media literacy programs and provide reliable media outlets that are dependable. Media and information literacy campaigns are the administration’s response to the disinformation and misinformation plaguing the digital landscape. Bloggers should be regulated to ensure accuracy and fairness.
Moreover, it is time for news media to adhere more closely to professional standards and ethics, to refrain from publishing unchecked information, and to distance themselves from information that may interest some of the public but is not in the public interest. This publication is, therefore, also a timely reminder that all news institutions and journalists, regardless of their political leanings, should inadvertently and uncritically spreading disinformation and misinformation.
Journalism also needs to proactively detect and uncover new cases and forms of disinformation. This is mission-critical for the news media and represents an alternative to regulatory approaches to ‘fake news’. It encourages responsible journalism and discourages fake news.
Separate facts from opinions: we need to develop our critical thinking skills by distinguishing actual facts from someone’s opinions. Help one another and be cautious when sharing, searching, and posting. Educate others and encourage your friends and family to verify before sharing. We can all play a part in promoting responsible information sharing. The function of news is to signalize an event; the function of truth is to bring to light the hidden facts. News deals with accuracy – information is verified before it is used. Confirm different sources before sharing information and do not believe it until you verify. By doing this, you can be a role model for others and contribute to a more informed society.
Let us be a generation that stands for truth and accuracy. Together, we can build a society that relies on verified information.
* _Ayinde, Toluwase Rachael is a 200-level student of Mass Communication Department, Ahmadu Bello University (ABU), Zaria, Kaduna State._
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