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Professor Audrey Gadzekpo, Dean of the School of Information and Communication Studies at the University of Ghana, has urged mainstream media to position themselves as authenticators of true news versus fake.
He said that since social media was so engulfed in fake news, traditional media, radio, television, newspapers and cable should become reference points for authentic news.
“The way that traditional media can be relevant will be to position themselves as those to whom people come to check whether a news story is true or not,” said Professor Gadzekpo at the launch of World Media and Information Literacy Week (MIL ), organized by Penplusbytes, a non-profit organization in Accra.
MIL week, commemorated annually in October, allows media stakeholders to review and celebrate the progress made towards achieving media and information literacy for all.
The theme of the MIL celebration for the year 2020 is: “Resisting misinformation: Media and information literacy for and for all”.
Professor Gadzekpo expressed concern that, often, the traditional media also reproduced fake news that was displayed on the social media platform without verification, to the detriment of the public.
He said that traditional media professionals, therefore, should be experts in media and information, and warned that: “We are in the era of ‘disinformation’, there is ‘disinformation’ and therefore it is important that the traditional media show you are the guardians of truth and facts ”.
However, he admitted that some traditional media houses were already doing their best to report credible and truthful news.
Professor Gadzekpo reminded the media of the upcoming presidential and parliamentary elections and recommended that journalists do well to stifle fake news and be able to sensitize the public on how to discern what was the truth, as well as educate them to exhibit appropriate behavior. to transmit falsehoods and harmful information.
Jerry Sam, Deputy Executive Director of Penplusbytes, said that under the auspices of UNESCO and with the support of DW Akademie, Penplusbytes had partnered with the Ghana Institute of Journalism, the University of Ghana and the Ghana Commission for UNESCO to organize a series of events to commemorate MIL Week 2020.
He said activities would include workshops and seminars, webinars, online discussions and social media campaigns that would last from October 23-30.
Sam explained that the week-long activities would also provide an opportunity for stakeholders to discuss how to properly inform the public about the coronavirus pandemic, as well as how to ensure peaceful elections in December.
Ms. Juliet Amoah, Executive Director of Penplusbytes, said that MIL week activities are contributing to Target 4.7 of Sustainable Development Goal four, by ensuring that all students acquire the necessary skills to promote sustainable development.
“All of these are in jeopardy from the volume of misinformation that has evolved from the COVID-19 pandemic, which has been dubbed, disinformation,” he said.
Ms. Abena Benewaa Fosu, Project Manager, MIL at the DW Akademie, expressed her concern about the proliferation of disinformation within society and how that posed a danger to people around the world, especially during the COVID period.
He said a study conducted in countries, including Ghana, had shown that three-quarters of 15-25 year olds owned a smartphone, while more than 70 percent reported connecting with mobile phones and using FaceBook and WhatsApp weekly. .
He said that the Akademie believed in information literacy for everyone and everyone and therefore would continue its partnership with Penplusbytes and other important stakeholders to build the capacities of more youth in Ghana to become critical users and creators of media information. ”. leaving no one behind. “
Abdourahmane Diallo, UNESCO Country Head and Guest of Honor, said this year’s celebration was the 10th to be marked globally, adding that the 2020 theme highlighted opportunities and linkages to address the infodemic gap.
“The 17 sustainable goals resonate with this goal of MIL as an enabler of civic engagement,” he said.
He indicated that when citizens were equipped with MIL, they acquired the competencies, were informed, engaged and empowered.
“They are able to understand the dangers of misinformation, as well as the spiral of hatred and exclusion.”
“Untruths and misinformation have proven to be deadly and have caused confusion over personal and political choices that save lives,” Diallo said.
It argued that MIL was at the core of freedom of information and expression, helping citizens understand the role of primary and other information provided to critically evaluate content and make informed decisions as users and producers of information and content. media.
He said that professional journalists were therefore needed to inform society well about important issues and other events.
Mr. Diallo congratulated Penplusbytes for leading the process of ensuring that journalists and citizens are well equipped to discern true news from false news, and for contributing to the MIL and building peace in the country.
