News

Fake News: A Threat to Societal Peace and Progress:

By Web News 330

By Sola Agboola

Media Organizations must ensure they desist from spreading fake news to enable them maintain their integrity and retain people’s confidence.

The Group Managing Director of Ibadan Media Academy, Mr Yemi Sounde made the submission while delivering a Lecture on ‘” Fake News and Media Integrity” organized by the Department of Mass Communication Dominican University, Ibadan on the consequences of “Fake News” which cannot be over emphasized.

“ Fake News Eliminates Public Trust Fake news makes the public to lose confidence in the media.

Subsequent stories published or broadcast are received with disbelief.

It makes it extremely difficult for people to trust the media.

Dangers of Fake News constitute a “Threat to Peace and Stability in the Society”, Fake news can determine the course of public discourse in such a way that it can lead to chaos and instability”.

Mr Sounde who is the Founder of Yes Academy urged the media to always maintain ethical standards in the discharge of their professional duties by making accuracy, fairness, accountability and transparency their guiding principles, saying media organizations should properly fact check their stories and get their information from credible and reliable sources.

The Media Professional said with the emergence of the new media which has no regard for ethical rules and professional standard in information dissemination, it was pertinent for media organizations to maintain integrity in their practice, whether in the new or traditional media through professional discipline.

“ The rules and ethical guidelines of the job must be strictly adhered to.

More importantly, individual practitioner’s dispositions to the job has a lot to do with the issue of integrity.
Your conscience matters.

What does it tell you to do?

To present the truth as you create and provide content, or to send out falsehood in pursuant and fulfillment of personal interests? Integrity of the media depends to a very large extent on the integrity of the practitioners”.

Mr Sounde who frowned at a situation whereby the cankerworm of fake news has shattered many homes and marriages , political unrest and even preventable deaths decried the enthusiasm of some journalists for breaking news which often lead to publishing of unverified stories.

In an address on the occasion, a Legal Practitioner , Mr James Ajibola called on the media professionals to always verify their stories before publishing to avoid negative results.

Mr Ajibola also suggested stiffer penalties for any journalist found culpable in the disinformation, misinformation and malformation of news.

Earlier the Head of Department of Mass Communication, Dominican University, Ibadan, Dr Ifeanyi Onyike said the Lecture was part of the Institution’s commitment to educate the society about the dangers of fake news and correct the media practitioners on the need to abide by their ethical standards.

Dr Onyike attributed the causes of fake news among some journalists to irregular payment of salaries, poverty and inadequate training.

The Lecture which was one in the series organized by the department of Mass Communication had in attendance many academics and media personalities including former Director New Media, Federal Radio Corporation of Nigeria, Pastor Dare Olorunfemi and former Controller Programmes, FRCN Positive FM Akure Mr Kayode Joseph.

Communication

Fact-Checking Day: Journalists, Fake News & Public

By Web News 902

By Olaolu Fawole

On Tuesday, April 2nd, 2024, the fourth estate of the realm observed International Fact-Checking Day.

A day set aside to remember the roles of journalists in safeguarding the credibility and truthfulness of information in the wake of spread of fake news globally.

Fact-Checking is a necessity nowadays as the world is faced with rapid dissemination of information across social media platforms and through traditional media.

Fake news is a false report of happenings disguised as legitimate news and poses threat to public peace, integrity of individuals and societal harmony.

Examples of fake news are deepfakes, photoshopped images, misleading headlines, selectively edited recordings and imposter websites.

Therefore, to stem the spread of fake news, media professionals, most especially the pen pushers, are trained and armed with tools to counter fake news, also known as misinformation.

Some fact checking tools are Factcheck.org, Snopes, Politifact, Google Fact Check Explorer, Whois, TruthBuzz and Media Bias/Fact Check.

Journalists, who emerged as guardians of the truth, must ensure effective fact-checking of information which include accuracy, objectivity, accountability while abiding by the ethical standards of journalism.

The process of fact-checking involves verification of information before dissemination, giving priority for substance over less important angles in the information, which is expected to guide news consumers towards reliable news sources, critical thinking and media literacy.

With the advent of social media, fake news spreads fast like wild fire, therefore journalists who are gatekeepers should be equipped with fact-checking tools and collaborate with fact-checking organisations to stem the tide.

Regulatory bodies, media establishments as well as journalists unions need to come up with trainings and workshops for media professionals on various ways to counter misinformation.

As the war to end fake news continues, journalists should also leverage on technology to strengthen fact-checking efforts and be bold to openly refute errors.
Journalists, who play indispensable roles in fighting fake news, must be dedicated to unwavering commitment to uphold a democratic and peaceful society.

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News

Shun Fake News – Aniagolu-Okoye Tells Media Professionals

By Web News 432

Professionals in the media industry have been urged to co- regulate the social media and come up with policies that will check the upsurge in fake news, graphic violence and sexual exploitation among others.
The Regional Director for West Africa Ford Foundation, Dr Chichi Aniagolu-Okoye stated this while speaking at the 4th Anniversary Lecture of Penpushing Media in Abeokuta.
Olajumoke Idowu completes the story.


Social media  platforms, including WhatsApp, Facebook, Instagram, Telegram and Twitter have become very important tools in disseminating information and influencing people’s decisions especially as the 2023 election is approaching.
The guest speaker at the lecture, Dr Chichi Aniagolu-Okoye described social media as a catalyst for democracy which must be effectively controlled in the best interest of the citizenry.


Speaking on the theme, social media regulation: Insecurity and Election accountability in Nigeria, Dr Aniagolu-Okoye said  government must be proactive with information on guidelines, monitoring and prosecution of those responsible for inciting violence online. 

Also the 14th Emir of Kano, Muhammad Sanusi  who spoke virtually said the lecture became necessary as there had been an improvement in electoral process especially during the just concluded Osun governorship election and advised Nigerians to be vigilant, ensure sanctity of their votes and guard against vote buying during the 2023 elections.


Other Speakers, including Mr Lanre Arogundade, Police Representative, Mr Olumuyiwa Adejobi and the Founder, Women FM Radio, Mrs Toun Okewale  emphasized the need for media outfits to verify their stories while every individual must be responsible for the monitoring of social media usage.


They called on political office holders, the Independent National  Electoral Commission, INEC, security agencies and the government at all levels to ensure professionalism while discharging their duties and be accountable for their actions especially during the 2023 elections.


Earlier, the founder Penpushing Media, Mr Dimeji Adedeji had expressed joy at the success of the event, adding that the lecture became imperative to checkmate societal ills and insecurity threatening the peace of the country while providing probable solutions the challenges confronting the growth and development of Nigeria.


Highlight of the event was the presentation of post humous awards to professor Oye Ibidapo – Obe as well as the Integrity Award given to a Lagos taxi driver, Mr Mathew Okotie who returned the valuables forgotten in his taxi to the owner.

Olajumoke Idowu 

Politics

Ekiti 2022: INEC Cautions Journalists against Fake News

By Web News 482

The Independent NationaI Electoral Commission says the 2022 Electoral Act will be its guiding principle in the conduct of June 18 governorship election in Ekiti State.

INEC NationaI Commissioner and Chairman, Information and Voter Education Committee, Mr Festus Okoye made this known in Ado Ekiti while declaring open a capacity building organized for journalists in the state.

Mr Okoye told men of the pen profession to familiarize themselves with the new Electoral Act so as to cover the election successfully.

He appealed to them to shun fake news and other acts capable of undermining the smooth and peaceful conduct of the poll.

On their parts, two aides to the INEC Chairman, Mr Rotimi Oyekanmi and Professor Bolade Eyinla reassured the people of Ekiti State that the electoral umpire would not disappoint them on June 18.

Earlier, INEC Resident Electoral Commissioner in Ekiti State, Dr Adeniran Tella who spoke through the Head of Voter Education and Publicity, Mr Femi Akinbiyi said the workshop was put together to equip the journalists with necessary information ahead of the election, urging them to abide by with they learnt at the training.

In his remarks, the NUJ Chairmam in Ekiti State, Mr Rotimi Ojomoyela said a task force had been constituted to fish out any fake journalist in Ekiti State during the election.

Amos Ogunrinde

News

There is nothing like fake news – Raheem Adedoyin

By Web News 1544

Secretary, International Press Institute, Alhaji Raheem Adedoyin has urged journalists to always be ethically upright in their day to day reportage of events.

He made the call while fielding questions from journalists in Ilorin, Kwara state capital.

Alhaji Adedoyin, a former Kwara State Commissioner for Information while expressing worry over the clamours against the term fake news said there was never anything like fake news .

“There is no fake news, people don’t just pay attention to what we learnt in school.
News is news, there is no second hand news, no original news, no fake news.There is a threshold, once you cannot make that threshold, it does not qualify to be news so you can’t have fake news

Unfortunately, as Professionals, we have been helping them to promote that anomaly that something that is not good or false is fake news. Its not fake news because it is never news” Adedoyin said.

The former information Commissioner also expressed regrets on the degree of unprofessional conducts among media professionals .

“We have people who are damaging our reputation in the Industry.You read some stories and ask if the writer ever attended any school of journalism.This is an ethical issue and that is the reason some of us don’t want the government to regulate us” He said .

Speaking on the essence of quality reportage, the Veteran Journalist noted that it was high time the media industry looked inwards and self-regulate for better results.

He charged stakeholders in the industry to learn from other elegant associations to uplift their operations.

“Look at the Nigerian Bar Association, Nigerian Medical Association, if you misbehave,they will withdraw your license and have other sanctions for you.

What do you have in the media for somebody who has disgraced all of us? Nothing.

So,we must look inwards Nigerian Guild of Editors, Nigeria Union of Journalists and International Press Institute, all of us must work together and find a mechanism to regulate the practice of journalism in our country” Adedoyin maintained.

The IPI secretary while imploring broadcast outfits to develop their digital arm to meet up with the new trend of broadcasting, said IPI was resolute to ensure press freedom and stall press repression.

He said the Institute had two specific concerns which bothered on safety and ethics in Nigeria and Africa .

” A lot of countries are going through security problems and it becomes very difficult for journalists to do their jobs.

If you go there you risk your life, if you don’t go, there is no report.

So it is almost a lose-lose situation, both for the Press and the Society.

We are concerned about that and we are trying to provide some funding and advocacy along that line.

On ethics, absolutely no reporting is going on in Nigeria and parts of Africa anymore because we don’t have resources to even pursue stories.
It is the second-hand information you get these days.

Because of the economic downturn, most media houses are not able to service necessary infrastructure that enables good reporting to happen. So, we are wading in there too “Adedoyin submitted.

Adedayo Adelowo

News

PFM 20TH Anniversary : Cleric Advises Journalists Against Fake News

By Web News 927

Media practitioners have been advised to always verify information before reportage.

The founder of Ewa Islam Islamic foundation and Chief Imam Labaika central mosque, Dalute Transformer, Ibadan, Alhaji Ismail Oluwakemi-Akeukewe gave the advice during a special Jumat service as part of activities marking 20th anniversary of Premier FM, 93.5.

Alhaji Oluwakemi-Akeukewe maintained that investigative journalism was essential to avoid circulating fake news.

The cleric stressed that balanced and objective news items would unite Nigerians and avoid chaos in the society.

Alhaji Oluwakemi-Akeukewe prayed for protection and constant promotion of management and members of staff of the Federal Radio Corporation of Nigeria, Ibadan National Station and celebration of impactful years as flagship in broadcasting.

In a remark, the General Manager, Premier FM, 93.5, Ibadan, Alhaji Bashir Omotoso expressed appreciation to Ewa Islam foundation and prayed for sustained partnership with the Islamic organization.

Members of FRCN staff at the Jumat service included the chairman, Muslim Media Practitioners of Nigeria, MMPN, Oyo State, Alhaji Ridwan Fasasi, the chairman, Nigeria Union of Journalist, FRCN, Ibadan, Alhaji Nafiu Busari, the chairman, Premier FM 20th anniversary planning committee, Mrs Doris Adeniyi.

Shefirudeen Nasirudeen

News

Commissioner Charges Journalists on Factual Reportage in Ogun

By Web News 603

Journalists have been charged to always verify information at their disposal before publishing to put an end to fake news and injuring the trust of the audience.

The Ogun State Commissioner for Information and Strategy, Alhaji Abdulwaheed Odusile gave the advice in Abeokuta while closing a two day workshop for Health Reporters organised by the International Press Center, IPC with Support from United State Consulate General Lagos.

Alhaji Odusile stressed the need for Journalists to always be factual in their reportage as the society relies so much on them for truth and Accurate information of events around them. 

He added that as members of the fourth estate of the realm, Reporters  must avoid reports that would set the nation on fire, create fear and panic in the mind of the listeners and readers.

The Information Commissioner gave an assurance that the State Government would continue to assist journalists to do their job with prompt and adequate release of Information about government activities and policies.

Modupeola Sobukonla 

Security

Kebbi Gov. Warns Social Media Influencers on Dangers of Fake News

By Web News 985

Social Media influencers in Oyo state and Nigeria should desist from fanning the ember of discord that could ignite crisis and disunity in the country.

Kebbi State  Governor, Abubakar Bagudu stated this in Shasha Ibadan as the leader of Nigeria Governors’ forum delegation to Oyo state following the clashes which occurred between indigenes and settlers in the market resulting in loss of lives and properties.

The delegation which earlier held a meeting behind closed doors with governor Seyi Makinde over the incident also paid an on the spot assessment to Sasa market and the palace of Serkin Sasa and baale of the Sasa community.

Other governors on the team are Abdullahi Ganduje Kano, Bello Matawalle, Zamfara, and Abubakar Bello, Niger state.

The team which include Deputy Inspector General of Police Zone 11, security heads in Oyo State, Special Adviser to Governor Makinde on Security,Fatai Owoseni,chairman Advisory Council, Sen Hosea Agboola, and former speaker,Senator Monsurat Sumonu were received warmly at the palace of Serkin Sasa.

Radio Nigeria observed that there was heavy presence of security in strategic places within and outside the market with aerial survellance by the Nigeria police force.

Speaking on behalf of NGF at the palace of Serkin Sasa and the house of Baale, the leader of the delegation and the Kebbi state governor, Atiku Bagudu said the unfortunate incident was against the reality of the country’s nationhood .

Governor Bagudu while admonishing the warring factions to sheat their sword pledged the readiness of the Nigeria Governor’s forum to support governor Makinde in bringing succour to the victims of the ugly incident.

On his part, Governor Seyi Makinde gave an assurance that his government would ensure that justice is served on all the victims of the crisis that erupted between Hausa and Yoruba residents of Sasa Market of Akinyele Local Government, Ibadan.

Governor Makinde equally stressed that government would not relent in exploring all avenues in ensuring peaceful coexistence of people in the state.

Earlier, the Chairman Council of Arewa and the Serkin Sasa, Alhaji Haruna Maiyasin who spoke in Hausa sued for peace attributing the crisis to misunderstanding between the ethnic groups in the market. 

The baale of Sasa Community, Chief Akinade Ajani said the hausa community have always be a good neighour pointing out that unscrupulous element were behind the incident.

In an interview with Special Adviser to the governor on Security Matters, former commissioner of police RTD, Fatai Owoseni said with the level of deliberation and understanding that ensued thereafter, and the peace talk with youths from both sides, it was hopeful that peace and unity would reign in Sasa henceforth.

Iyabo Adebisi

Iyabo Adebisi

Security

Herdsmen Attack: Wole Soyinka’s Son Calls Viral Video Fake

By Web News 1300

Son of the Nobel laureate, Professor Wole Soyinka, Olaokun says the purported video on social media that his father’s residence in Abeokuta was attacked was not true.

According to a astatement issued by the former Ogun state commissioner for Health Soyinka stated that it was true that cows did stray onto his land, but there was no attack or attempt to enter his father’s residence.

He stated that the video been spread was a disinformation which is dangerous.

Dr. Olaokun Soyinka concluded that the fake news could cause crisis adding confusion to the already tensed situation in the country.

Meanwhile, Ogun state Commissioner of Police, Mr. Edward Ajogun who visited the residence of the Nobel Laureate for on the spot assessment has also debunked the attack story.

Speaking at the residence with newsmen, Mr. Ajogun confirmed that three cow owned by a Yoruba herder did strayed into to Professor Soyinka’s compound and both the cow and the herder are currently in police custody.

It had been reported on the social media that Professor Wole Soyinka’s residence was attacked by herdsmen which had raised some nerves before the story was debunked.

Wale Oluokun

Lifestyle

Fake News: Osun CP Solicits Support of Mainstream Media

By Web News 1111

The Commissioner of Police, Osun State, Mr Olawale Olokode has solicited the support of Radio Nigeria and other traditional media to fight the scourge of fake news.

He made the call in his office, when he received the management team of Radio Nigeria Gold FM Ilesa, who paid him a courtesy call.

Mr Olokode noted that considering the irreparable damage fake news often caused in the society as recently experienced in Nigeria, it was imperative for all hands to be on deck to combat the menace.

The Police Commissioner commended Radio Nigeria for its role as the true flagship of people oriented and development broadcasting in Nigeria for more than four decades.

He said the dynamic nature of the human organization had also given rise to the emergence of new wave of crime which underscored the need for collaboration among all security agencies, including registered vigilante and Hunters group.

Mr Olokode maintained that the task of policing could not be that of police force alone, but that of all security conscious and peace loving citizens.

The Osun Police boss appealed to Nigerians to negate their wrong perception about the police, saying the police remains friends of the people.

Earlier, the General Manager of Gold FM, Ilesa, Mr Adedamola Tinubu saluted the police for some of its gallant efforts at preventing crime, maintaining Law and order despite the very terrible attack on its men and formations in the wake of the #ENDSARS protest.

Mr Tinubu who sympathized with the Nigeria Police over the incident, encouraged officers and men of the force not to be deterred by the carnage, noting that policing is not just a profession, but a divine assignment.

He called for improved collaboration between the Osun Police Command and Radio Nigeria Gold FM in the area of information dissemination.

The Gold FM manager, who maintained that Radio remained an indispensable tool in the fight against crime, assured that station’s door was opened to the police anytime and every time that the need arose.

Click to listen

Adenitan

News

Ensure Balance Reportage:Ayinde Soaga

By Web News 656

Journalists have been challenged to wrestle social media space with charlatans using the platforms to spread fake news and misinformation.

The immediate past General Manager of Nigeria Television Authority, NTA Katsina, Alhaji Ayinde Soaga, disclosed this while speaking on “Journalism in an era of misinformation” at the memorial lecture of the former General Manager of Ogun State Broadcasting Corporation (OGBC), Mr. Diji Akinhanmi.

The veteran journalist noted that if professional journalists allow quacks to continually dominate the social media platforms, more harms would be done to the profession and the Society at large.

Alhaji Soaga noted that quacks have hijacked the social media spaces and exploited it to turn out half – baked, unverified and fake news to the detriment of the society and journalism.

He submitted that professional journalists should at this time dominate the social media space with ethically oriented reports in order to stem the tide of misinformation.

Stakeholders who spoke at the memorial lecture described Mr. Diji Akinhanmi, who died a year ago, as a thoroughbred professional, efficient and distinguished journalist.

The President of Abeokuta Club, Mr. Tokunbo Odebunmi noted that the late GM touched lives of both the old and the young in journalism profession and beyond.

He advised journalists to emulate the late Akinhanmi’s virtues of responsible journalism practice.

Wale Oluokun

Lifestyle

Journalists Need To Be Ahead Of Rumour-Mongers – FRCN ZD

By Web News 1254

Sequel to the havoc wrecked by fake news in the country, journalists have been challenged to upgrade themselves to be a step ahead of rumour mongers in defense national peace and unity.

The Zonal Director of the Federal Radio Corporation of Nigeria, FRCN,
Ibadan National Station, Alhaji Mohammed Bello gave the challenge
during a gala night that climaxed of management meeting organised in
his honour at Upper Springs Hotel, Iwaraja, Osun State.

Correspondent, Isaac Haastrup completes the story.

Isaac Haastrup

News Analysis

Claims in Viral YouTube Audio About President Buhari’s Death Lacks Credence, Misleading

By Web News 6023 2

On October 24th, 2020, an audio was posted on YouTube. In the audio were voices of two men with one of the voices making some claims while the other was interviewing him.

The twenty-eight minute audio has garnered over eight hundred and ninety two thousand views, twelve thousand Likes, three hundred and sixty views and over four thousand comments.

The narrator who appeared to be responding to the interview made a number of bogus statements capable of fracturing the fragile Peace in Nigeria.

Nigeria at the moment is still struggling to gain balance from a lot of crises that followed #Endsars protest.

He gave account that Nigeria’s President, Muhammadu Buhari died in a New castle hospital on February 19,2017

“I will be giving you specific details, President Muhammadu Buhari died on the 19th February 2017 in Freeman hospital, New Castle. He died as a result of heart disease which Nigerian presidency failed to disclose. On 19th of February, I was in London. By the special grace of God, I am a journalist, I work with one the Nigerian broadcasting station, and I covered the event in London. You know Muslims don’t embalm, so on the 20th, he was flown to Saudi Arabia where he was buried where Aishat Buhari put on white attire.

I have the video, I have the photograph and everything, on the 23rd of February I was in Ethiopia where the African Union held a minute silence for President Muhammadu Buhari.

On 28th February Queen Elizabeth wrote a condolence letter to the Nigerian Government ‘’

He also claimed that National Broadcasting Commission suspended his broadcasting station for reporting the death of President Buhari, he made claims that the former chief of staff to President Muhammadu Buhari, the late Abba Kyari, former governor of Lagos state Bola Tinubu had attempted to pay him off not to report the alleged death of the President.

He made many other bogus claims.

Opinions from the comment box revealed that many people believe the content of the audio. Following reactions are extracted from the comment box:

  1. 1.“This Information is very Correct, I remember in 2017 where the Africa Union Hold a Minute of Silent I can remember this if not for any other thing. I was watching that Broadcast from Dubai,  I can remember. This Man is Correct, we Nigerians have to wake up like seriously”
  • 2 “I could remember when president Trump called him a lifeless person and since that time, Buhari stopped travelling to the USA, there is something behind it.”

In the same vein, some people did not believe the content of the audio as captured in their comments:

“This guy cannot even lie. A drop out claiming to be an international journalist. If they wanted to keep it a secret, why will they invite or even allow you to cover the burial when you are a nobody. You can only fool some. You are not even qualified to be an international: photographer talk more of a local journalist.”

“Listen to his English, compare it to any qualified journalist, qualified enough to even cover such high level activity and you have yourself a cheat SCAM. He’s just riding on the wave of the current happenings. “

“OGA SHARE YOU EVIDENCE MAKE WE REST. UNTIL YOU DO SO YOUR POINTS ARE BASELESS. HIT LIKE IF YOU AGREE’

Findings:

The author throughout the audio pointed to many claims with reference to dates and specific location but never at any time produced evidence to back any claim. He claimed to have covered the President’s death in New castle hospital but never produced any video or photo to the effect.

The entire claims appeared to be concocted considering how he claimed he covered the event from the hospital in Newcastle to Saudi Arabia where he alleged that President Buhari was allegedly buried.

He identified a telephone number he believed is owned by Bola Tinubu but said he would not disclose that of the Vice President Yemi Osinbajo for security reasons. An argument which appears flimsy.

He again contradicted himself by saying NBC suspended his broadcasting corporation because he published the story but again said he was suspended because they knew he had all the information and was ready to broadcast.

The audio reveals both the speakers had rehearsed the script as the man (interviewer) kept interjecting to guide the man (interviewee) who claimed to be an international journalist.

At the beginning of the audio, the speaker implored people to follow him on a twitter handle which he spelt out as Borismoro. On the quest to fact check the audio and its content. Three twitter accounts are linked to the name.One is @BORISMORO. Account information shows that he joined in October, 2020, with 1,651 followers, thirty one tweets and following 7. Findings revealed that all the tweets and comments are anti-Government. Again the account was created in October, 2020, the same month the audio was released.

On the other twitter account @BorisMoro3, also created in october with 3,162 followers, following 7 and 51 tweets. Again, all the tweets are all directed to the Nigerian government.

Both twitter handles and the third account, @BorisMorox with 298 followers, following 19 and 59 tweets. All the accounts were created in October 2020, the same month the audio was posted on youtube and the contents of all the handles have the same pseudo-journalistic tilt.

Analytically ,there are evident contradictions on the twitter accounts. For instance the location on @BORlSMORO, one of the accounts linked with the name, the location is The united Kingdom, different from the description on @BorisMorox which puts the location at Nebraska, USA.

Nine minutes into the audio, the man who claimed to be an international journalist said the broadcast media outfit he was working with was suspended by the National Broadcasting commission, the body vested with the  responsibilities of, amongst other things, regulating and controlling the broadcasting Industry in Nigeria because the commission knew he covered President Buhari’s burial. Meanwhile, scope of the commission is not to sanction a yet to be broadcast piece but to act on any unhealthy broadcast.  

Again, sixteen minutes into the audio, the speaker claimed he was suspended from the media outfit, an account which differs from the previous claim that the media establishment was suspended.

A critical examination shows that the audio is riddled with incoherent claims intended to misinform Nigerians.

The claimant has failed to provide any evidence to back his bogus claims, he  failed to identify himself in any manner, neither his name nor that of his establishment was disclosed.

He failed to fulfil primary obligations of 5Ws and H in mass communication despite his claim to be an international journalist.

Three twitter accounts linked to the description he left in the inciting audio, actually shared contents of similar thoughts but can not be tracked with any emails or names.

While location on @BORlSMORO states United Kingdom the other claims united state.

Rounding off the audio,the interviewer said:”we want to be killing them slowly,slowly a lot of people are saying we should bring the video, we are not going to that at this point…” while the respondent was inciting Nigerians by calling for a revolution .

The round off of the session revealed that the intention of the audio is to incite the country against the government.

Conclusion

The entire audio is found to be misleading and has failed to meet the test of validity, hence it is flagged as false.

Adedayo Adelowo

News Analysis

Curbing Fake News

By Web News 786

No doubt, various parts of the world have at one point or the other faced challenges connected with misinformation and disinformation.

Experts and even some state-actors refer to mis or disinformation as “fake news, this means that not all news on social media is accurate and objective.

On the severity of misinformation, what readily comes to mind is the second world war and the Rwandan genocide.

Interestingly, misinformation and disinformation triggered both events. 

Perhaps if citizens had attempted to fact check information made available to them, crisis that erupted afterwards would have been reduced if not avoided.

Unfortunately, Nigeria, Africa’s most populous country is becoming a bee-hive of misinformation and disinformation, with social media as the main culprit.  

In November 2018, the British Broadcasting Corporation, BBC, in a report showed that Nigerians usually fall prey to fake news because they are concerned about “not falling behind on the news” and being informed, among other reasons.

There have been instances of inflammatory false claims and assertions being dished out through social media channels and other sources of information. 

It is noteworthy that promoters of fake news have ulterior motives which include social, political, ethnic, and religious ones, while some do it for fun or popularity.

Fake news has resulted in stampeding the uninformed public into unpatriotic and destructive actions, especially as it happened in the protest against the alleged police brutality known as #ENDSARS.

Although the #ENDSARS protest was planned to be peaceful, along the line, fake news came, feeding the public with false information about people’s perceived dispositions, especially prominent Nigerians.

This resulted in attacks on such individuals, their property and family members.

The ripple effects of the #ENDSARS protest on the economy, security of lives and property, infrastructure and the nation’s image and democracy cannot be quantified.

What is most troubling is that the protests have been fuelled largely by fake news believed by the unsuspecting members of the public.

It is worthy of note that all information is not automatically authentic; therefore, people should ensure to read, digest, verify and ask questions to prevent the consequences of consumption of fake news by the people.

The senate may need to revisit the suspended social media bill and prescribe punishment for conveyer of fake news to serve as deterrent to others.

It is also important for government communication channels to be faster and more pro-active to mitigate the impact of fake news .

The world and Nigeria in particular should find ways to reduce devastating effects of fake news by intensifying fact-checking programmes across the media landscape.

 Adedayo Adelowo

Religion

Peddlers of fake news should face the law – Cleric

By Web News 816

District superintendent of Assemblies of God church Oyo state, Rev Amos Folarin, has advised the youths to shun all forms of violence in driving home their demand.

Rev Folarin made the call while speaking with Radio Nigeria on the prevalent insecurity occasioned by ENDSARS protest in the country.

The cleric who described as unfortunate, the preventable loss of lives during the protest and subsequent lootings, said it was high time they gave peace a chance.

“They should not go violent because it doesn’t pay anybody. It was a sad thing to lose many of them during the protest, and I want to say categorically that so far they have done the right thing, and people are listening to them, we are not ready to lose anyone of them again.

We all saw their movement of television, everything was going on well, until hoodlums hijacked them.” He said

Speaking on dangers of fake news, Rev Folarin noted that the media space had been dominated by unverified and inciting news items capable of causing national disunity calling on government and media establishment to ensure training and retraining of media professionals to promote professionalism in journalism

” it is disheartening that every profession now has fake people. There are fake pastors, doctors, nurses and journalists, but journalists should be realistic and be objective about the information they are giving to the public”.Folarin said.

The cleric however submitted that peddlers of fake news should be made to face the wrath of the law and as well advocated sanitization of journalism profession.

Reverend Folarin while emphasising the need for Christians to fervently pray for Nigeria encouraged Christians to participate fully in politics.

He added that beyond prayers and motivating other people in politics,Christians should get involved in politics from grassroots to gladiatorial levels.

Adedayo Adelowo

Lifestyle

Have we been downplaying the damage of Fake News?

By Web News 819

No doubt, various parts of the world have at one point or the other faced many challenges. Some of such challenges connected with misinformation and disinformation cut across all the continents of the world.

Experts and even some state-actors refer to misinformation or disinformation as “fake news”, although some feel that this characterization waters down the relevance; this is because of the politicising of the term by the American President, Donald Trump. And while the global menace initially ravaged the first world countries, second and third world countries are now often confronted with the challenges posed by misinformation or disinformation.

On the severity of misinformation, what readily comes to mind is the second world war and the Rwandan genocide. Interestingly, misinformation/disinformation triggered both events. 

Prevalence in the motherland

Unfortunately, Nigeria, Africa’s most populous country is becoming a bee-hive of misinformation and disinformation, with social media as the main culprit.  

There have been instances of inflammatory false claims and assertions being dished out through social media channels and other sources of information. 

It is noteworthy that promoters of fake news have ulterior motives which include political, ethnic, and religious ones, while some do it for fun or popularity.

One of the recent fake news that went viral recently was the rumoured death of the immediate past governor of Oyo State, the late Senator Abiola Ajimobi, one week before his eventual death.

The news got many Nigerians confused and put professional media outfits on their toes to seek and find the truth.

The world and Nigeria in particular should find ways to reduce devastating effects of fake news by intensifying  fact-checking programmes across the media landscape.

Undeniable Need

Regarding the 1994 Rwandan genocide and its one million death toll,  there were charges that news about the fatalities was orchestrated through the media. Perhaps if citizens had attempted to fact check the information made available to them, the carnage could have been reduced if not avoided.

Similarly, misinformation associated with the prevailing Coronavirus pandemic has led some people to abuse substances, resulting in poisoning.

Some cases have even resulted in death.  For example, the recent death of Nigeria’s first-ever female combat helicopter pilot Tolulope Arotile has provoked a public outcry on suspicion that the young lady was murdered.

A reaction by Bayo Oluwasanmi on Sahara Reporters dated July 17, 2020, claims that assassins sponsored by terrorists murdered Arotile. It also suggests that the incident is a ploy to wipe out  from the Nigeria Air Force representatives of a particular nationality.

Such claims, if not fact-checked, could trigger social and political problems in a multinational federation.

That a preliminary investigation report eventually released by NAF indicates that a friend killed the deceased in a road traffic accident has illustrated the importance of fact-checking and digging deep into sources to rule out unverified claims, lest they result in a national crisis.

It is, therefore,  imperative to bear in mind that many write-ups are not always objective.

Some tips 

Here are some means to fact check your information.

  • You should always verify all sources of information. Doing so will help identify the “Who, What, When, Where, Why and How.” When such queries receive answers, then the authenticity of the piece of information could be ascertained;
  • Reversing image search is an application that helps to find out when and where a picture has been previously used. This application is handy for various images being circulated on social media;
  • Tineye can be used to identify manipulated images;
  • Identifying fake websites may require you to check the URL of the site and also probe the credibility of the content.         

Conclusion

Note that all information is not automatically authentic; therefore, ensure you digest only the credible ones to enable you to be a source of valid information and stall the tide of fake news.

Adedayo Adelowo

Lifestyle

Veteran Journalist Canvasses Govt. Proactive Action Against Fake News

By Web News 742

A former South-West Bureau Chief of the Punch newspaper, Mr Olalere
Fagbola wants the government to strengthen the media to get rid of fake
news in the society.

Mr Fagbola who was a  guest lecturer at a two-day mini programme planning conference organized by Gold FM, Ilesa, said, the social media had bequeathed powers to individuals who were ignorant of theethics of journalism.


                       
                   

News

Lifting of ban on public gathering is fake news – Oyo Govt

By Web News 982

.Oyo State Government has described as untrue news circulating that Governor Seyi Makinde has lifted the ban on public gathering in the state.

A statement by the Special Adviser to the Governor on Media and publicity, Mr Jide Ajani disassociates government from a fake press statement presently in circulation, referencing some Executive Orders allegedly issued by the Executive Governor of Oyo State, His Excellency, Engineer Seyi Makinde.

According to the statement, the individual who signed the statement is one Adeniran Adenuga, who assumed the title of ‘Special Adviser on Media and Publicity to the Governor.

The statement says the fake news is not from Governor Makinde’s Media Office and the so-called Executive Orders are false in all materials particular.

It reiterates that there is no lifting of the ban on public gatherings including churches and mosques.

The statement therefore urges member of the public to treat the statement as fake news and another handiwork of enemies of the state.

Iyabo Adebisi