By
Jawati Friday
Journalists in Adamawa State have been charged to fact check their information before disseminating to the public.
The General Manager, Radio Nigeria, Fombina FM, Yola Alhaji Dahiru Garba Mohammed gave the charge during a workshop organized by the Nigeria Association of Women Journalists, NAWOJ in Yola Adamawa State.
In his paper presentation titled: Combating Disinformation Amidst Challenging Economy in a Digital World, Alhaji Dahiru Garba Mohammed explained that it is necessary for journalists to rise above their personal biases and arm themselves with skills to differentiate between facts and fictions.
According to him Journalists must consider source, check the author, check supporting sources, check date and confirm the authenticity of the information before use.
The General Manager, Radio Nigeria Fombina FM emphasized that Nigeria also needs social media regulatory bodies that will regulate social media content and protect their users from fake news and harmful messages.
He therefore urged journalists to use their social media handles to combat fake news through fact checking.
In his address, the Zonal Vice President of Nigeria Union of Journalists Zone E, Comrade Zare Baba, explained that the workshop was timely, stressing that it will guide journalists to do more in combating misinformation and disinformation in the country.
He therefore congratulated NAWOJ for organizing the workshop for women Journalists to enhance their professionalism.
Also Speaking, the state NUJ Chairman Comrade Ishaka Donald Dedan urged Nigeria Association of Women Journalists to continue to do more and be Ambassadors of the union as Journalists.
The State Chairperson NAWOJ, comrade Rose Anthony Elishama said the workshop is part of a week- long activity marking its one year anniversary as executives of the association in the State.
