By Maureen Okon
Mr Michal Cygan, the Ambassador to the Republic of Poland, says the mass media is important in the fight against disinformation in every society.
Cygan said this at a Journalists’ Meeting on Disinformation organised by the Polish Embassy in Abuja, in partnership with the Female Journalists Network of Nigeria.
The theme of the event was “Bridging Perception Gaps: Combating Misinformation, Disinformation, and Fake News for Stronger Nigeria-Poland Relations”.
According to the envoy, disinformation and misinformation do not know one language, as they cut across all languages of the world to create harm.
He said that the media could effectively check them because of the different available mediums to reach large audiences.
He said that it was imperative for the media to have such meetings and trainings as they would help to fight disinformation in both the Polish and Nigerian societies.
The envoy said that the impact, and the responsibility of the media to set agenda in the society was the tool that can be used to combat disinformation.
Jibrin Ndace, the Director-General of Voice of Nigeria (VON), said that across the world currently, misinformation had become a major challenge to national cohesion, diplomatic engagement, and public confidence.
According to Ndace, for countries such as Nigeria and Poland, which are committed to democracy, transparency, and mutual cooperation, truth and accuracy in the information disseminated are essential building blocks for stronger ties.
“At VON, our mandate is to present the authentic Nigerian narrative to the world, strengthen national identity, and promote understanding between Nigeria and the global community.
“This responsibility has become even more urgent as false narratives continue to spread faster than verified facts.
“We, therefore, prioritise fact-based reporting, digital literacy, and stronger partnership that support responsible journalism,” Ndace said.
He commended the “central role” that female broadcasters play at VON, adding that women are at the heart of the organisation.
“They lead key departments, serve as directors, drive major editorial and administrative decisions and external broadcasting with professionalism, courage, and creativity.
“Their leadership is a testament to the strength and excellence of female media practitioners in our country,’’ he said.
He said that VON broadcasts in multiple languages, including English, French, Arabic, Kiswahili, Hausa, Yoruba, Igbo, and Fulfulde.
“We soon start broadcasting in Mandarin and Portuguese after all necessary things have been put in place,” he said.
He said that the multilingual approach ensured that they engage diverse audiences across Africa and beyond while promoting cultural understanding and strengthening Nigeria’s global voice.
Prof. Okey Ikechukwu, Executive Director, Development Specs Academy, said that the digital revolution has transformed the global information landscape.
Ikechukwu said that states now communicated through formal diplomatic channels and media eco-systems with unprecedented speed; wherein there is information overload, which makes misinformation a major source of worry.
He said that the truth had become a problem, as governments are increasingly relying on sundry media content.
“The result is that media diplomacy, which always relied on careful messaging, is now faced with an eco-system wherein truth competes with manipulated information and viral half-truth.
“Media diplomacy that builds global legitimacy using traditional forms of media has been expanded with the rise of social media, where citizen journalism and real time information flows.
“Governments now use Twitter, Tiktok, and other platforms to issue policy statements and engage global audiences, by making the very technologies that enable speedy media diplomatic engagement also enable the global spread of misinformation.
“The policy to rescue misinformation is to treat truth as a form of soft power which will give the states some media leverage from the angle of credibility,’’ he said.
He said that using truth as a soft power would help to safeguard the integrity of international relations in an era characterised by misinformation.
He said that it would also help to promote accuracy, accountability, and public trust in the current era of disinformation and misinformation. (NAN)(www.nannews.ng)
Edited by Kadiri Abdulrahman
