By Teddy Nwanunobi
Abuja (Sundiata Post) — Worried by the increasing rate of fake news in the country, the Association of Communication Scholars and Professionals of Nigeria (ACSPN), in collaboration with Premium Times and the African Centre for Media and Information (AFRICMIL), will, on Thursday, March 30, 2017, hold its 1st empowerment series in the North-Central zone on ‘Fake News’ and the Demands of Evolving Journalism in the Post-Truth Era.
The event, which holds from 10:00 a.m. to 1:00 p.m. at the Global Distance Learning Institute, Plot 825, Ralph Shodeinde Street, opposite Federal Ministry of Finance HQ, Central Business District, Abuja, is open to journalists (Print, Radio. TV., Online), public relations and advertising practitioners, students, media and communication researchers and members of civil society.
According to a statement released on Tuesday by its Vice President (North-Central), Chido Onumah, dealing with fake news phenomenon requires capacity reinforcement.
“The purpose of this intervention is to equip and create a platform for participants to contribute to the emerging debate about ‘fake news’ as well as the fabrication of news to capture “popular” mood, and how media organisations and journalists should respond to news/information and outright lies from politicians and other influencers in the post-truth era.
“To deal with this phenomenon, it is important to reinforce capacities such as critical thinking, communication competence, comprehension, coding and decoding different types of languages, political knowledge, participation, and general understanding of social phenomena,” Onumah noted.
The keynote address will be delivered by Prof Manny Aniebonam, CEO/President of AfriHub LLC/Global Distance Learning Institute, Abuja.
Lead discussants include: Yakubu Ibn Mohammed, Director-General, Nigerian Television Authority (NTA); Dapo Olorunyomi, Publisher/CEO, Premium Times; Segun Adeleye, Executive Secretary/CEO, Broadcasting Organisations of Nigeria (BON); Olushola Macaulay, National Professional Officer (Communications), UNESCO; Dr. Emman Shehu, Director, International Institute for Journalism; and ace broadcaster, Ms. Lara Owoeye-Wise.
ACSPN was established to advance the scholarly study and practice of communication by promoting and facilitating the pursuit of excellence in academic research and professional practice in Nigeria.
ACSPN Empowerment Series (AES) focuses on addressing gap areas in communication scholarship and practice.
