Fake news a serious threat, say journalists at Asia-Pacific Summit-2018

Top journalists from several countries at a summit here Sunday underscored the increasing influence of social media amid the expansion of Information Technology and agreed in toto that fake news posed a serious challenge to reliability of media.

Heads of media organisations and other top-notch journalists voiced their views on role of media in the context of present challenges before the world, at the ongoing Asia-Pacific Summit-2018 here, and stressed on need for self-regulation while ensuring freedom of expression and practising "clean journalism", on the lines of "clean climate".

Washington Times president Thomas P McDevitt said the influence of social media has grown in this age of Information and Technology.

 

There is no mechanism to verify news and information generated on social media which has led to a growing credibility issue, Mcdevitt said.

To restore media credibility, he said, journalists should should pay attention to social aspects and include 'world peace' as a subject in the new media.

Masahiro Kuroki, president of Japanese newspaper Sekai, said the need for media to work responsibly today was like never before.

While there are some benefits of growing influence of social media, fake news has opened up a plethora of challenges.

Kuroki highlighted the importance of freedom of expression for media and also referred to US President Donald Trump's comments over fake news.

Several media outlets have been at the receiving end as Trump accuses them of spreading fake news.

Senior journalist Alok Mehta said the The Editors Guild of India has formed a code of conduct for newspersons.

He also underscored the expansion of social media and said there was increased need for following journalistic ethics.

Despite every challenges, media needs to follow self-regulation, Mehta added.

Journalists from other media houses echoed similar sentiments, saying the fourth pillar of democracy, as media is widely termed, should act more responsibly.