*As Delta NAWOJ Chairperson Unobunjo advocates for development of women Journalists
Journalists have been urged to practice responsible journalism and help to stop the trend of proliferation and dissemination of fake news using new media platforms.
Dr. Festus Olise of Department of Mass Communication, University of Benin, Edo State gave the advice in Effurun at a one-day Capacity Building Workshop of Nigeria Association of Women Journalists, NAWOJ, Delta State Chapter.
The one-day capacity building workshop of Delta State chapter of Nigeria Association of Women Journalists, NAWOJ, was in commemoration of Global Media and Information Literacy Week 2022 with the theme: “Nurturing Trust: A Media and Information Literacy Imperative.”
Guest speaker and Lecturer at Department of Mass Communication, University of Benin, Dr. Festus Olise while presenting his paper titled “Fake News Proliferation on New Media Platforms and Threats to Responsible Journalism Practice in Nigeria”, emphasized on the need for journalists to shun the transmission and dissemination of fake news using new media platforms such as the internet, Twitter, YouTube Facebook, amongst others.
Dr. Olise, who noted that the use of new media platforms to spread fake news is a major challenge to journalism practice in the country, advised professionals to practice responsible journalism and new media platforms to propagate accurate, timely and factual news to meet with global best practices.
The guest lecturer also urged the women journalists to adopt fact checking techniques to verify news sources, timely counter fake news report, use new media platforms to propagate positive and responsible journalism, as well as avoid being caught in the web of spreading or promoting fake news.
Chairperson of Delta State Association of Women Journalists, NAWOJ, Comrade Sonia Unobunjo, commended the guest speaker for his lecture which is very timely at this political season in Nigeria.
Comrade Unobunjo reiterated her advocacy for the development of Women Journalists in order to enhance their capacity. She called on practicing Journalists, particularly women journalists, to take advantage of the workshop to improve themselves as no man is an Island of knowledge.
The Delta State Chairperson of NAWOJ also urged practicing women journalists to always work towards fostering the growth of the Association, love for one another and unity of it’s members.
Some participants at the workshop, including veteran journalist, Mrs Itse Igbodje of Delta Broadcasting Service, DBS, Warri expressed satisfaction at the knowledge gathered in the workshop, Mrs. Igbodje encouraged colleagues in the journalism profession to leave up to their responsibilities.
They commended the State NAWOJ leadership for the enlightenment program and want it sustained.
Highpoints of the event were question and answer session, and congress of NAWOJ where issues towards the growth and development of the body, and other matters of concerns for women and children in the society were discussed.
NAWOJ Delta also used the opportunity to advice mother to checkmate their children in the areas of the kinds of friends they keep as well caution them against indecent dressing, use of illicit drugs, cultism and other social vices.
