By Fadlillah Abdallah
Ahead of the 2023 general election scheduled to hold on February 25, 2023, the Sokoto state government has organized a one-day capacity-building workshop for public relations and information officers focused on the use of new media in election reporting and identifying fake news.
The workshop, organised by the state Ministry of Information in collaboration with Multiverse Media, with a theme: “Uses and Impact of New Media in Election Reporting,” was designed to equip information and public relations officers in Sokoto state with the skills and knowledge they need to navigate the evolving media landscape and communicate effectively with the public.
Opening the workshop, the Commissioner of Information and Societal Reorientation, Akibu Dalhatu, said it is imperative for information and public relations officers to get educated on new media, adding that participants should be ready for digital knowledge.
“It’s a promise, this is the beggining of it all. You should be ready to learn modern skills for your jobs. I will also be happy to see you apply the new knowledge that you learned today on your work.
“The state government should benefit from what you have learned. The state government, through the ministry will continue to provide capacity building workshops as well as working tools to enhance your work,” Dalhatu said.
“As Information and Public Relations Officers, you should try to do what you are employed to do. You should work for the government that pays you.”
A seasoned journalist, Abdallah el-Kurebe, presented a paper on “Basic Ways of Identifying Fake News,” which covered different methods of identifying and verifying information to avoid spreading fake news.
According to him, some of the techniques include fact-checking, cross-checking information with other sources, and assessing the credibility of the source.
“Identifying fake news is particularly important in today’s media landscape, where the proliferation of social media platforms has made it easy for false information to spread quickly.
“It is essential for information and public relations officers to be able to distinguish between real news and fake news and to educate the public on how to do the same.”
“Some basic ways of identifying fake news include checking the source of the information, verifying the facts with other reputable sources, and watching out for sensational or misleading headlines,” el-Kurebe told participants.
The second presentation, Communication and New Media (CNM) presented by Umar Dan-Anini focused on the use of technology and digital media to facilitate communication, and information exchange, and how new media platforms like social media have affected the way journalists report on elections.
The paper discussed how social media can be used to disseminate information and track election results, as well as potential pitfalls and challenges associated with relying on these platforms.
“The use of new media in election reporting is also very relevant given the importance of fair and accurate reporting during election cycles.”
“New media tools, such as social media platforms and live streaming technologies, can offer new opportunities for journalists, public relations professionals, and information officers to cover elections and engage with their audiences in real-time.”
“It is important to use these tools responsibly and ethically, ensuring that they don’t contribute to the spread of misinformation or bias in reporting.”
