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Tag: fake news

  • Fake News: Editors to set up fact-check desk in newsrooms

    Fake News: Editors to set up fact-check desk in newsrooms

    • EU, NGE task media professionals on misinformation, disinformation

    Nigerian editors have agreed to set up fact-check desk in their various newsrooms as a measure to tackle fake news, misinformation and disinformation.

     Rising from a one-day workshop organised by the European Union (EU) in collaboration with the Nigerian Guild of Editors (NGE) in Lagos on Thursday, the editors said that having Fact-Check Desk would help media organizations verify news hints, with the view to publishing only accurate information.

     Other key decisions taken at the end of the workshop include: Media organizations should organise trainings for their newsroom managers and line editors on fact-checking.  That the Guild should set up disinformation counter groups across its zonal structures, ahead of 2027 general election.  Media organizations should collaborate and reach out to each other to verify information.  Media organizations should look at the quality of their Online Editors to ensure that experienced and well grounded journalist man the position.  The Guild should use other of its bigger platforms to address issues bordering on fake news, misinformation and disinformation. 

    Speaking earlier at the workshop, the European Union Ambassador to Nigeria and ECOWAS, Mr Gautier Mignot and the NGE President, Mr. Eze Anaba, said that newsroom managers should acquire the skills and tools for fact-checking as a way to arresting fake news, misinformation and disinformation.

     Mignot said that the EU was taking a multi-pronged approach to address the threats posed by misleading information, which he described as a “danger to democracy and public trust.”

    According to him, “The European Union is actively working to combat disinformation and promote media literacy, with fact-checking playing a crucial role in these efforts.

     “Our choice of collaborating with the Nigerian Guild of Editors on this programme is part and parcel of this general effort.

     “We recognise the critical role of editors as the last line in the gatekeeping process. The editor is ultimately responsible for what is pushed into the public space as content.”

    The EU ambassador warned that the spread of misleading information – whether unintentional or deliberate, posed a threat to democratic governance and public trust.

     Citing a July 2024 European Parliament Report, Mignot noted that 85 per cent of people globally worry about disinformation’s impact, while 38 per cent of EU citizens now see it as a threat to democracy.

     “For media professionals, particularly editors, the implications are far reaching because misleading information erodes not only the credibility of the message, but also that of the messenger and the institution”, he state. “If we want to remain credible and reliable, we have to fact-check to ensure that the information we spread is accurate. “

    Mignot noted that advancements in technology had made it easier to generate and disseminate deceptive content that is increasingly difficult to distinguish from factual information.

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     He drew attention to Nigeria’s unique challenges, referencing a 2020 report by the Centre for Democracy and Development (CDD), warning that disinformation had exacerbated long-standing ethnic and religious tensions in the country.

     “Although what the report describes as Nigeria’s big, strong, unimaginatively creative, but invisible rumour mill has always been there, it points out that both falsehoods and accurate information can now spread faster and in a multitude of formats, including text, audio, images, memes, and videos, all thanks to technology,” Mignot said.

    Despite the challenges, the ambassador argued that the evolving information landscape presented an opportunity for traditional media to reclaim its relevance.

    He said: “Media must remain reliable, they must be fact-checkers and make sure in particular that the research for the scoop does not beat the research for the truth.

    “A literate public is much more empowered to be able to assess the information they are exposed to, identify sources they can trust, and make well-informed decisions, participate in debates and shape policies that affect them.”

    Mignot outlined the EU’s ongoing efforts to counter these threats globally, including the European Digital Media Observatory (EDMO), the Rapid Alert System (RAS), and the EUvsDisinfo platform.

    “We support fact-checkers and researchers working to debunk disinformation and foster collaboration among them. Our previous work with Nigeria’s foremost fact-checking platform, Dubawa, is an example,” he said.

    Other interventions cited by the ambassador include direct training support for Nigerian journalists, including visits to Europe and Ukraine, and active engagement with students and civil society organisations.

    In his welcome remarks at the workshop, President of the Nigerian Guild of Editors,

    Anaba, described the workshop as timely and critical, while highlighting the dangers of fake news and misformation.

    “The deliberate spread of false information, whether through disinformation, misinformation, or fabricated news, not only undermines public trust, but also threatens social cohesion, democratic governance, and national security,” he said.

    The NGE President expressed hope that the gathering would serve as a platform for building collective capacity to identify and combat false narratives.

    “It is our hope that through informed discussions and shared insights, we will strengthen our individual and institutional capacities to identify, counter, and prevent the spread of false narratives,” Anaba said.

    The EU/NGE workshop for editors had two resources person: Three topics were treated at the program by Mr. Azu Isiekwene, Senior Vice Chairman/Editor-in-Chief, LEADERSHIP Newspapers and Dr. David Ajikobi, Executive Director, Africa Check.

    The resource persons treated such topics as: “Principles of Fact-Checking: Understanding the Role of Editors in Fact-checking And the Principles of Accuracy, Fairness, and Transparency;”  Identifying Misinformation and Disinformation: Analyzing Examples of Misinformation, Desinformation and Fake News” and “Fact-Checking Tools and Resources: Overview of Fact-checking Tools; Analyzing Complex Fact-checking Scenarios.”

    The training highlighted the dangers of misinformation and disinformation in today’s digital age.

    It identified the impact of misinformation as  damage to credibility of media organizations, distortion of reality and threat to democracy.

  • Life in the time of fake news (2)

    Life in the time of fake news (2)

    The lifespan of a lie can be quite elastic depending on how intricately it is woven. Some can be buried for years, but in the age of social media it can be brutally short.

    That is why I am often confused as to the motivations of purveyors of fake news who know they can be found out in a matter of minutes or hours.

    While the creators have their dubious agenda, those who spread the lies – especially online – probably do so with some advantage in mind.

    Desperate bloggers and website owners who want to attract traffic to their sites would push out the most sensational of stories without subjecting same to the most basic journalistic tests. Even when there are rebuttals that soon expose their lies, they lack the basic decency of acknowledging they goofed. They carry on posting more garbage like nothing happened, just because there’s no consequence for their impunity.

    The more excitable amongst us – especially those who are convinced that Nigeria is the worst country on earth – can’t wait to post the latest bad news as validation of their beliefs. They are only too glad to share their garbage with gullible hordes who have become bad news junkies. So what, on the surface, looks like a manifestation of extreme insanity, clearly has method to it.

    These days the internet, especially social media, has become a sea of lies. It’s not just swimming with barefaced bull, it’s the headquarters of ignorance. Headlines lie, photos and videos tell even bigger lies. The wicked and mischievous can lift a photograph from five years ago and use it to drive a story in a similar context today. The reader would swear he saw the pictures with his own eyes until a rebuttal knocks him back to reality.

    Beginning with the election campaign that threw up Donald Trump as US president, fake news has become a multimillion dollar global industry relentlessly deployed for political ends. Nigerians, quick to pick up on global trends no matter how diabolical – have not been slow to jump on the bandwagon.

    During the 2023 general elections it seemed there was a competition by liars to outdo themselves on social media. Perhaps anticipating the impact that the phenomenon could have in determining the outcome of the electoral contest, then Minister of Information and Culture, Lai Mohammed, launched a campaign against fake news. It was a non-starter that was quickly brushed aside by malevolent forces who thrive best in polarised environments such as our

    The inauguration ceremonies at federal and state levels following the polls provided another fertile ground for fake news merchants to wreak their usual havoc. While the lies exposed the levels of bitterness and hate in our society, they also made for hilarity just imagining what the mischief-makers were trying to achieve.

    Seventeen months after that bitter electoral contest, and smack in the middle of a cost of living crisis, the purveyors of lies and ignorance appear to have gotten second wind. Everything and everyone is fair game. Truth has become stranger than fiction. The fictive is the new normal. People just want to believe a lie: it appeals to their need to expect the worst. It feeds their self-pitying side. And boy, in today’s Nigeria, the pity party is in overdrive.

    Here are a few examples from different areas of national life showing that whatever values we once held dear are being swept aside by this strange malaise.

    Ever since he unleashed his economic reforms, delivering in the process a cocktail bitter medicine a society long run on impunity has been gagging on, he’s become everyone’s whipping boy. Everything he does must be thrashed by the embittered. Imagine how all hell was let loose by his decision to take a two-week annual leave in the United Kingdom.

    We were told it was unheard of that a country’s leader would holiday in a different land. When is the British Prime Minister coming to vacation in Nigeria, some asked mockingly. You could argue about the wisdom of taking a break at this period, but only the ignorant would say the president cannot take a break in another country.

    Former British Prime Minister Rishi Sunak whilst in office took a break in California, United States. One of his predecessors, Theresa May, favoured the Swiss Alps. David Cameron enjoyed exotic climes like Ibiza, while Tony Blair once took his break in Barbados. Even the famed Iron Lady, Margaret Thatcher, found time to unwind in Corsica. The list is endless.

    From the ignorant to the downright mischievous. We’ve seen recently how anyone who’s ever come within breathing distance of disgraced rap mogul, P. Diddy, have had their reputation thrashed with insinuations about untoward conduct – especially of the sexual variety.

    One of Nigeria’s biggest musical exports, Burna Boy, found himself at the receiving end when some influencer called Speedy Darlington, suggested his Grammy win was down to services rendered to the embattled American hip hop star. An unamused Burna promptly got him clamped in detention for defamation. It took a video of his accuser’s mother weeping and begging mercy for her only son to melt the heart of the singer. From the the sorry look on the face of the poster, it didn’t appear like he had anything to back his wild allegation, save for a desperate craving for notoriety.

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    Respected General Overseer of The Redeemed Christian Church of God (RCCG), Pastor Enoch Adeboye, found himself in the eye of the storm recently after innocuously apologizing for having said non-tithers won’t go to heaven. By the time his comments went viral, they came out as though he had renounced tithing as doctrine. The old man was forced into a second round of clarifications within days while the online hordes celebrated like they just bagged an almighty scalp.

    There’s nothing wrong with having a discussion or debate about Christian doctrine. But there’s everything wrong with twisting the words of a man you disagree with just to malign him. There’s everything wrong with twenty and thirty-year-olds hurling insults at an 80-year-old over an argument, the fundamentals of which they have little grasp of.

    From one senior citizen to another. In the last few days, social media has been awash with reports that Pastor Shyngle Wigwe, father of the late and lamented Access Bank GCEO, Herbert Wigwe, had filed suit demanding 25% of his assets in a dispute over the execution of his will.

    Again, once the reports went viral, not many took time to consider whether this sort of demand was something the 90-year-old cleric and retired civil servant, would be involved with. They took to pontificating and passing judgment on the man and his family; others lectured on how the deceased banker should have taken care of his extended family to avoid the unseemly public fight over money.

    It turns out it was all fake news. Pastor Wigwe has denied the claims with grace and challenged the righteous army on social media to visit the court registry to confirm the true picture. In the meantime, who pays for the emotional damage done to the family?

    We take our last example from Ondo State where the governorship election to pick Rotimi Akeredolu’s successor would be holding in a matter of weeks. Predictably, the contestants are deploying everything to win. Governor Lucky Aiyedatiwa found himself having to fend off abuse allegations after a doctored video of his lookalike went viral. It certainly wouldn’t be the last of such attacks before voters go to the polls.

    For all their entertainment value, fake news represent a cancer that can tear a volatile multi-religious and multi-ethnic society like ours apart. Such reports can trigger devastating damage that rebuttals that come hours after cannot mend. Even worse, those who act on the strength of the initial account may never get to read the denials.

    Aside being a clear and present danger to our collective security, fake news erode trust in an environment where people desperately need to trust one another and those who govern them.

    That is why the government – executive branch and legislature – must make the fight against fake news a priority. The key challenge remains how to fashion checks that can overcome the blackmail that they are an attempt to circumscribe free speech. The traditional media, especially, has existential reasons to be part of this effort.

    Those who generate fake news and those who gladly spread the poison should be made to pay a steep price. It is the least we can do to stave off tragedies somewhere in the future.

    • This piece is an updated version of an article published in The Nation on June 2, 2019.
  • Sokoto: weaponisation of fake news

    Sokoto: weaponisation of fake news

    By Tahir Ibrahim Tahir

    Fake news has become so weaponised today and it is practically taking over the media space of both conventional and online media. The presence of online and social media have made it so potent that in a matter of seconds, fake and concocted news take over the media space.

    The gullible public hops on it and it is shared endlessly. It’s potency and viral strength drowns any other source of information and it is accepted as the truth. It is more than a herculean task to counter fake news and give detailed or truthful accounts of events already marred by fake news.

    This fake news industry is sadly not limited to Nigeria or Africa alone, it has become a worldwide phenomenon and even the present build up to the American elections has both democratic and republican campaigns manipulating fake news to their own benefits. Headlines are set up as click baits, cornering readers to accept the fallacious headlines without even reading the contents. Most times the contents of the click baits are as damaging as the headlines. It is only safe for one to make clear judgements over a news item after 48 hours, as numerous other versions spring up. 48 hours also gives enough time for the subject or object of the fake news to put issues or matters more clearly.

    I’ve seen how damaging fake news can be from the recent face off between Sokoto state govt and the opposition PDP. The opposition pushed a viral story about the govt awarding a contract of 30 billion for street fencing. The media space was agog with castigations and even abuses, as to why such a bogus contract for street fencing when the populace is wallowing in poverty.

    Shouldn’t it be invested in agriculture and youth employment? The Sokoto govt was ‘beaten’ to a pulp from both online and offline commentary. Lo and behold, the state govt produced the award letter of the fencing contract. The amount? N866 million naira. How do you take the public’s mind off the 30 billion earlier spewed around? The damage has been done already and the earlier 30 billion which suits the narrative of the opposition takes centre stage.

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    This is coming just a week after another contract controversy in the state. This was over the World Bank/Sokoto Acresal project which was awarded at 1.2 billion. Yes the Governor did not cover the entire items covered by the programme, and this gave the opposition another avenue to malign the govt over frivolous spending. The World bank project is a universal project which is carried out in all the states.

    The costs are the same. The opposition went viral with the news that 1.2 billion was expended in the repair of boreholes. No matter how hard the state tried in correcting this fake news, it’s efforts kept being drowned by public outcry and the opposition’s dance over the incorrect information making the rounds. The state tried to explain that solar motorised boreholes were constructed with perimeter fencing, and an additional shelter belt in 25 different locations. But it was almost like crying over spilt milk, the damage had been done. The 30 billion fencing news came just at the back of the borehole controversy, clearly in an effort to ride on the heat of the public ire generated by the World bank/ Sokoto state govt Acresal project.

    A former adviser of the Federal Govt when to press with the news that 69 billion dollars of Nigeria’s stolen funds is stashed away by an individual in various banks. How? What was Nigeria’s total oil revenue in the last administration’s tenure? So Nigerians have perfected the art of throwing bogus figures to gaslight the public into believing the narratives they intend to sell. The said adviser had fallen out with the former administration and he was relieved of his duties. What way to fight back? Create fake and incriminating information about the previous govt. The way the media space, especially online media, are allowed to run the space with fake and concocted news items leaves much to be desired.

    It has to be regulated properly. One’s right to free speech should not infringe on the rights of the next person, not to talk of abusing, denigrating or incriminating them. Public opinion is usually in adversity to the way govt policies and programmes are run. Public opinion is therefore gullible and ready to be taken for manipulation.

    Sokoto is having a hard time putting out the proper records out there, especially with a hardline opposition that is manipulating the media space. So it has to change it’s approach towards handling the scourge of fake news trying to consume it.

  • Journalists urged to uphold ethics, shun fake news

    Journalists urged to uphold ethics, shun fake news

    To mark World Press Freedom Day, QNET has appealed to journalists to uphold the ethics of their profession in the discharge of their duties.

    It also appealed to media practitioners to shun fake news which it said had worsened with the advent of social media.

    The regional general manager of QNET Sub-Saharan Africa, Biram Fall, made the appeal during a virtual workshop, stressing the need for easy access to accurate information to enable individuals to make informed decisions.

    According to him, QNET thrives on the principles of transparency and public access to accurate information.

    He noted that this principle improves trust and strengthens relationships, and it is crucial for facilitating the free flow of information, which is essential for a vibrant press.

    He said: “In today’s digital age, where misinformation and fake news abound, putting out factual stories becomes even more critical to combating misinformation and promoting public trust.

    “At QNET, transparency is one of our core values, and we firmly believe in the public’s fundamental right to access accurate information.

    “We recognise the pivotal role of the media in disseminating information and we acknowledge that press freedom is essential for ensuring that accurate information is freely available to the public”.

    Fall added that QNET would continue to support initiatives aimed at safeguarding press freedom by promoting ethical journalism and sponsoring forums for discussing these crucial issues.

    “In an era rife with misinformation, ensuring access to reliable information is more important than ever for combatting misinformation and fostering public trust.

    “At QNET, transparency isn’t just a policy; it’s a practice. We are committed to the fundamental right of the public to access accurate information, recognizing that transparency builds trust, strengthens relationships, and enhances accountability. We acknowledge the indispensable role of the media in achieving this.

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    “As staunch advocates for press freedom, QNET supports initiatives that enhance transparency, openness, and accountability within the media landscape. We are dedicated to creating an environment where accurate information thrives and is freely available. We will continue to champion these values and seek partnerships with media houses, community leaders, and regulatory bodies. Our goal is to foster a media environment that supports informed decision-making and upholds the integrity of information”, he added.

    The guest speaker for the webinar, Chinenye Anuforo, underscored the significance of press freedom, describing it as the cornerstone of a healthy society.

    She highlighted how journalists act as vigilant watchdogs, ensuring accountability from those in power and facilitating open dialogue on critical issues. She emphasized that press freedom empowers individuals to challenge norms and exchange ideas freely.

    Acknowledging the diversity of Nigeria’s press, Mrs. Anuforo praised the collaborative efforts of various stakeholders in advancing press freedom. She lauded the provisions of the Nigerian Constitution, particularly Section 39, which guarantees freedom of expression and forms the foundation for a robust press environment.

    Anuforo commended independent regulatory bodies like the National Press Council for safeguarding journalists’ rights and upholding ethical standards in journalism.

    She recognized the role of initiatives such as the Freedom of Information Act in promoting transparency and accountability by granting journalists access to public information.

    While acknowledging the challenges faced by journalists in their pursuit of truth, Anuforo urged governments and media stakeholders to work towards ensuring an enabling environment that promotes press freedom and strengthens democracy in the country.

    She said: “This journey of press freedom is ongoing. We must all – the government, media, and citizens – work together to uphold the existing legal framework that protects freedom of expression, strengthen the independence of regulatory bodies like the NPC, and promote responsible journalism that is factual and balanced.

    “By fostering this collaborative spirit, we can ensure that Nigeria’s press continues to be a beacon of truth and a catalyst for positive change.”

  • Minister advocates for global standard in fight against fake news

    Minister advocates for global standard in fight against fake news

    Minister of Information and National Orientation, Mohammed Idris, has advocated for global standards in the fight against fake news 

    This is as the minister also urged media practitioners to self-regulate the media space, explaining that it would help remove the misinterpretations that usually follow government actions.

    According to a statement by Suleiman Haruna, Deputy Director, Press, Federal Ministry of Information and National Orientation, Idris was quoted to have disclosed an audience with the Country Representative of UNESCO, Abdurrahman Diallo.

    The Minister urged media practitioners to take the lead in sanitizing the media space to reduce the impact of fake news.

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    The minister noted that the media should self-regulate its space rather than the government, which might be misinterpreted as oppression. “With each fake news, online media loses credibility more.”

    He also commended UNESCO for being at the forefront of fighting misinformation and disinformation and for its effort to develop global standards for regulating social media.

    He said this is important because countries can domesticate it and won’t be seen to be gagging the press.

    He also called for the promotion of community radio as part of the inclusive society’s mandate of UNESCO. That will bridge the information gap as citizens will have avenues for expression and feedback.

    On the newly approved Category 2 International Institute of Information and Media Literacy, he commended UNESCO and called for support in its establishment.

    He commended UNESCO for approving a Nigeria office and called on them to continue to use Nigeria as an expert hub for the African region.

    Earlier, the Country Representative of UNESCO, Abdourrahmane Diallo, had congratulated Nigeria on its election into the Executive Board of UNESCO, describing this as a milestone and a confirmation of Nigeria’s position among member states. He promised to continue working with the ministry in media and information literacy, media independence, and media inclusion.