Experts Stress Significance of Responsible Journalism to Counter Fake News

News Desk

Rawalpindi: The phenomenon of fake news and misinformation has rapidly increased in our society ever since digital media has supplanted mainstream media. Therefore, it is our duty to seek facts and provide authentic information to the public to reduce the risk of spreading misinformation and fake news, said Senior Journalist and Analyst Javed Rana.

He was speaking at a seminar organized by Accountability Lab, a non-profit organization based in Islamabad, at Rawalpindi Press Club on Friday. where speakers discussed the key drivers and impacts of fake news and disinformation upon society, especially on the youth. The event was chaired by Rawalpindi Press Club Incharge Shakela Jalil. The seminar was organised by the Accountability Lab Pakistan at the Rawalpindi Press Club.

“With the massive growth in the digital media induorganized flow of information has increased. A single piece of information is presented in a hundred different ways by different social media influencers; and since many people follow such influencers, they quickly accept the credibility of the news without knowing it,” said Shazia Mehboob, a print and digital media journalist. She affirmed that it is the duty of responsible journalists to provide factual information to the public and educate them about media literacy and the right to information.

Senior journalist Javed Rana said that people, especially the youth, have the urge to know what is happening in the state and tend to believe whatever they see on social media. Senior journalist Shakela Jalil informed that the concept of fake news and misinformation is old. But social media and the internet have increased this fake news and misinformation trend.

“It’s very important to secure our youth from the negative effects of fake news, misinformation and disinformation,” she added. Many journalists from different print and electronic media outlets attended the event.