Eternal vigilance, a knack for doubting and questioning any and every information, as well as asking whether a story can stand the Trust Test are basic ingredients that can save a journalist the embarassment of being an harbinger of fake news, a Journalism Clinic has agreed in Abuja.
Hosted by renowned journalist, Taiwo Obe, and sponsored by Polaris Bank, the journalists cutting across the broad spectrum of Print, television, and the online platforms, brainstormed at the one day event, admitting the bane of the practice today and urged journalists to be on their toes not to fall victim of the fake news malaise.
Obe worked the media men and women through different practical sessions on how to run fact checks using the various digital applications and the good, old methods of beating the streets; and working official and other sources to interrogate information they are daily buffetted with by news sources, pursuing noble and less than noble agenda.
Attendees remarked that the sessions were illuminating and helpful in this era of incidences of fake news.
Osazuwa Igbinoba, Group Head, Abuja Commercial Banking described the theme of the workshop as apt.
According to him, “the theme of this workshop could not have come at a better time. It is indeed very apt: online journalism practice in an era of fake news.
“As bankers, we have had a fair share of fake news which has been on the front burner globally and believe that as members of the fourth estate of the realm, you all owe it a duty to practice journalism responsibly for tte good of society.”
On his part, Nduneche Ezurike, Head, Strategic Brand Management explained that the workshop was the bank’s own commitment to enhance capacity of media practitioners while impacting on responsible journalism.
“It also serves as a direct feedback mechanism with our stakeholders in the media community which the bank values highly”, Ezurike said.