TECHDIGEST – The Head of Investigations and Fact-Checking at PRNigeria, Mohammed Dahiru Lawal and some selected Journalists in Africa have bagged certificates in “disinformation and foreign influence operation” after a year-long fellowship at the African Academy for Open Source Investigations (AAOSI), in Dakar, Senegal.

The year-long AAOSI fellowship which culminated in a capstone workshop in Senegal was organised by the Washington-based International Center for Journalists (ICFJ) with the partnership and support of Kenya-based Code4Africa (CfA) and African Digital Democracy Observatory (ADDO).

The AAOSI is aimed at equipping journalists across Africa with open source intelligence (OSINT) skills to combat fake news, other information disorder and online influence operations that seek to undermine democracies, public, national, and continental interests.

Recently, Image Merchants Promotion Limited (IMPR), publishers of PRNigeria and Economic Confidential, bagged the Golden World Award (GWA) of the International Public Relations Association (IPRA) in the Crisis Management Category.
The IPRA honours the frontline multi-award-winning integrated communication agency for its publication “101 Fake News on EndSARS” authored by Dahiru Lawal, the 2021 Best Fact-Checker in West Africa.

The book, which exposes a series of Fake News, especially on social media during and after the 2020 EndSARS protests in Nigeria, had previously won African SABRE Award 2022 hosted by PRovoke Media and endorsed by the African Public Relations Association (APRA) at Dar Es Salam, Tanzania.

Speaking on the fellowship, Dahiru Lawal, a multi-award winning Journalist said, “for me, this is not only career impacting and life changing, but it is also an opportunity to use the knowledge and skills gathered towards the growth of our newsroom so that we can contribute our quota to combat fake news and other online inauthentic behaviours.”

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…. Cites Similar Codes in Europe and USA

TECHDIGEST – The Network of Advocates for Digital Reporting (NADIR) has lauded the National Information Technology Development Agency (NITDA) for drafting a ‘Code of Practice for Interactive Computer Service Platforms/Internet Intermediaries’.

NADIR, at a press conference in Kano State, said that the Code of Practice formulated by NITDA will not only strengthen press freedom and maintain the dignity of information but will also curtail fake News and Hate speech in the forthcoming general elections in 2023.

Its Coordinator, Dahiru Mohammed Lawal, while speaking at the conference, noted that online space needs to be made comfortable for everyone to address issues that cause panic in society and infringe on laws.

“This wouldn’t have come at a better time than in the wake of the 2023 general elections when information disorder and illegal contents will have a field day, when businesses are fully transforming into the digital space without paying necessary dues, where indiscretion is premium in virtually all online interactive habits, and online connectivity.

“An unregulated online space remains a recipe for civil unrest and the need for an instrumental that will ensure that our unity in diversity is not exploited for pecuniary gains, while guaranteeing freedom of speech and expression as enshrined in the Nigerian Constitution is incumbent upon all citizens with the interest and love of our nation at heart.

“Certainly, incitements, ethnocentric behaviours that increase tension along with ethnic biases, interreligious incitements, and blasphemy and even secessionist tendencies that threaten security and lead to violence and wanton attacks thrive fatally in an unregulated media space.”

The NADIR Coordinator pointed out that while the Nigerian Broadcasting Commission (NBC) regulates broadcast stations, the Nigerian Press Council (NPC) ensures the maintenance of the highest ethical professional standards in print media. He, therefore, asked “Why should the online platforms, especially social media be free from regulatory scrutiny?

The group also disclosed that other countries have taken stricter and more stringent measures to curtail excesses on online platforms.

“World over, rules and regulations exist to moderate indiscretion to avert recipes for descending into anarchic existence. Very recently, precisely on Thursday, June 16th, 2022, Meta, Google, Twitter and Microsoft agreed to take a tougher line against disinformation including deep fakes and fake accounts under an updated “European Union (EU) code of practice” or face hefty fines – key word being “code of practice.

“More than 30 signatories including advertising bodies have signed up for the updated Code of Practice on Disinformation, as disclosed by the European Commission.

“Curiously, even the United States Government – the self-righteous custodians of free speech – has announced that it was establishing an interagency task force to fight harassment and abuse online.

“The move by the White House came barely four days (on Thursday) after NITDA released its draft ‘Code of Practice’ for Interactive Computer Service Platforms/Internet Intermediaries and Conditions for Operating in Nigeria.

On the socio-economic benefits of the code of practice, Dahiru said that with the digital space already contributing about 18% to the nation’s GDP, compelling big techs to abide by local laws and pay the requisite tax would amount to increased revenue which could contribute to the growth of Nigeria’s economy.

READ ALSO:Finally, NITDA Issues Code of Practice for Online Platforms Operating in Nigeria

“Regulations will promote more local content which in turn translates into massive job creation.
It will ensure the breeding of more corporate and law-abiding citizens who are mindful of our collective sensitivities as a people united in diversity.

“We have been living with regulations in schools, homes, offices etcetera, why must the case of the digital space remain different?

“We must all bear in mind that this commendable move will not only aid the strength of press freedom but will ensure sanity and integrity of information dignity which is fast waning due to activities of influence operations.

“While NITDA has clarified that the code of ethics is a draft, subject to inputs, we wish to urge stakeholders to take advantage and intervene appropriately to have a mutually accepted code of regulations without recourse to the fear of tackling freedom of speech.

“We also urge NITDA to work assiduously in building confidence and trust around what it is doing by continuously involving all stakeholders.

“We therefore wish to unequivocally place on record our unreserved support for NITDA’s Code of Practice,” he concluded.

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TECHDIGEST – The Centre for Crisis Communication (CCC), the National Information Technology Agency (NITDA), and the National Drug and Law Enforcement Agency (NDLEA) have bagged the 2022 African Public Relations Awards in Dar es Salaam, Tanzania.

The annual African PR award, which recognises Superior Achievements in Branding, Reputation and Engagement (SABRE) is hosted by Provoke Media in collaboration with the African Public Relations Association (APRA).

The PR campaigns of the three organisations from Nigeria were undertaken in partnership with a multi-award-winning PR agency, Image Merchants Promotion Limited (IMPR), the publishers of _PRNigeria_ and _Economic Confidential_.

While CCC bagged a trophy for anti-fake news campaigns it executed in partnership with PRNigeria, NITDA and NDLEA received Certificates of Excellence on digital innovation and anti-drug campaigns respectively.

The CCC won in the Sponsorship and Events Management Category for its various campaigns following its presentation of the ground-setting book “101 Fake News on EndSARS” authored by Dahiru Lawal.

NITDA, with the support of the Nigerian Ministry of Communications and Digital Economy bagged a Certificate of Excellence in the Public Affairs/Government Relations category for its campaign on Digital Innovation for Economic Prosperity in Nigeria, with a book of the same title authored by Inyene Ibanga.

Similarly, NDLEA bagged a Certificate of Excellence under the Public Sector/Government category for its campaign on “Share Facts about Drugs, Save Lives.”

Receiving the awards on behalf of his clients, the Chief Executive Officer, Image Merchants Promotion, Mr. Yushau A. Shuaib said his team is humbled for being honoured among the best in the global PR industry.

At least 11 outstanding Nigerian PR firms bagged different categories of the awards, which included four trophies and 20 Certificates of Excellence.

While BHM won two trophies for its campaigns for MTN on its Public Offer and Stakeholder Engagement, Chain Reaction won in the Healthcare category for its campaign for Alpha Mead Health Services.

Other honourees who received Certificates of Excellence included LSF/PR, Integrated Indigo, RED Media, So.Me Solution, Modion Communications, Blanche Aigle Communications, Chenist Communications and AT3 Resources.

Some of the clients of the PR firms whose campaigns won the awards besides those mentioned above such as the Ministry of Communication and Digital Economy, NITDA, NDLEA, Centre for Crisis Communication and MTN, include the Lagos State Government, MTV Base, Access Bank, Wema Bank, JAC Motors, 9mobile, Mastercard Foundation, European External Action Service (EEAS), Mango Nigeria, Zola Electric, Afrilabs and Meta.

While presenting the awards to the recipients, the APRA President, Mr Yomi Badejo-Okunsaya congratulated the winners for making the African continent proud by demonstrating the highest levels of creativity, integrity, and effectiveness in their various PR campaigns.

Also speaking virtual at the award event, the Chairman of the Award Jury, Paul Holmes admitted that there are quality PR campaigns coming from Africa.

Holmes, who is also the founder of Provoke Media, the organiser of the event further said that: “What we have seen over the past few years in Africa is the investment of large multinationals in the continent, but also a wave of African entrepreneurship that has seen local firms across the continent producing high-quality creative and driving impressive media coverage and social engagement for their clients.”

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TECHDIGEST – A reporter with PRNigeria, Mohammed Dahiru Lawal, has missed the opportunity to participate in this year’s edition of the Mandela Washington Fellow in the United States of America after approval of his travel expenses by the US Government.

Reason: officials of both the National Identity Management Commission, NIMC, and the Nigerian Immigration Service, NIS, could not fix a ‘simple’ problem with his international passport, for about three months now.

Lawal, Head of Investigation and Special Projects at PRNigeria, was billed to travel for the fellowship program in May (this month), and quickly set out to fix some ‘issues’ with his international passport in February 2022.

But unnecessary delay in fixing the issue with the PRNigeria journalist’s passport, for over two months and still counting, forced the American Embassy to permanently revoke the fellowship offer they gave him even after providing with other travelling facilities.

Lawal, said the ‘carelessness’ displayed by the officials of NIMC, and NIS have not only ‘traumatised’ him, but also put paid to his trip to the US, for the fellowship.

In a post on his Facebook account, titled: “Workers Day: How NIMC, Immigration Officials Sabotaged my Mandela Washington Fellowship Offer for the United States.” Mr. Lawal, also the author of the best-selling 101 Fake News on EndSARS, said: “The two government agencies ‘refusal’ to issue my International Passport on time, was the last straw that put paid to my anticipated dream trip to the United States, where I was supposed to take residence for 6-weeks of the Fellowship.”

The post, titled, “How NIMC, Immigration Sabotaged my Mandela Washington Fellowship Offer,” reads partly: “Both Washington and the United States Embassy in Nigeria exhibited a great degree of consideration and empathy by severally extending the deadline for submission of my passport for Visa issuance and always called me up from time to time to get appraised.

“But repeatedly I missed the deadlines because of the two Nigerian public service entities, eventually leading to the revocation of my offer for the Fellowship.

“In fact, after receiving the notification of the award from the US Embassy, I got admission for the programme at the Rutgers University, New Jersey… and subsequently received flight ticket for the pre-departure orientation and other documents on the project.

“Though I had received an Award of Excellence from the National Association of Information and Media Studies Students as well as the Campus Journalism Award in 2020, I also won a fellowship with International Centre for Journalist African Academy for Open Source Investigation before I capped it with the Overall West African Fact-Checker on Kwame Karikari Fact-Checking Research Fellowship.

“Therefore, the offer by the government of the United States of America would have been the icing on the cake that will further expose me to the global scale of accomplishment.

“Surprising I initiated the process of renewing my Passport in February 2022 when I was shortlisted for the Fellowship interview.

“First NIS official said that my NIN data did not tally with my NIS data and I have to apply for re-ordering and harmonisation which was eventually approved after over two months of foot-dragging.

“They later claimed that the approval had to be implemented by their ICT “Technical Partners” which I came to understand was run by foreigners – IRIS Smart Technologies.

READ ALSO: NITDA Inaugurates Taskforce On Domain Name Compliance Policy

“The foreigners operating the IRIS system practically run the show in the production of passports for NIS HQ. In fact, NIS staff fidget even at the mere mention of their name. These guys fear IRIS like kilode!

“To cut long story short, IRIS kept my file for two weeks and returned it without implementing, querying that the available documents did not match with my NIN data! Surprised, some helpful immigration officials discreetly verified my NIN data from the NIS database and confirmed it was correct.

“By the time the file was returned to IRIS with a printout of the evidence, they said the NIMC server was down. This went on for weeks without even a ray of hope for a positive outcome.

“Eventually, a very top female Immigration officer who got wind of my predicament waded in and intervened and ordered for my file and boom! They claimed they couldn’t find my file: that it was MISSING.

“How can my file just disappear out of the blues? It’s not only funny it’s pathetic and this makes me feel sorry for such kind of woes many Nigerians have to go through.

“I wouldn’t deny that the female ACG and the public relations unit of the NIS did their best to intervene, but time was limited, and so, a simple issue that would take only a maximum of 1hr cumulatively to correct, took ages and led to the loss/revocation of a golden opportunity.

“This is a manifestation of the rot, ineptitude, negligence, inefficiency and total disregard for the value inherent in our country’s public service. It is a flagrant violation and abuse of not only my human rights but my right and privilege as a citizen of the country I have laboured tirelessly to serve with all my might.

“This is a fellowship that is highly competitive with participants from over 49 African countries taking part.

“It is extremely painful that after excelling in my media and Journalism career, at the verge of my international glory, my own country just fails me… I feel so bad and betrayed by workers in these public institutions!

As I am traumatized and betrayed by public service workers, how can I wish anyone Happy Workers Day in?

Dahiru is the author of “101 Fake News on EndSARS” which won a SABRE African PR Award 2022 billed to take place during the annual conference of the African Public Relations Association (APRA) in Dar es Salaam, Tanzania on May 25, 2022.

Source :  PR Nigeria 

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TECHDIGEST – In continuation of its drive to enhance the capacity of media practitioners in the country, no fewer than 50 journalists and Social Media Influencers in Jigawa State have benefitted from a ‘Digital Journalism and Fact-Checking Training’ sponsored by the National Information Technology Development Agency (NITDA).

The training which was organized by Image Marchant Promotions Limited (IMPR) – Publishers of PRNigeria and Economic Confidential Magazine; in conjunction with Penlight Centre for New Media Innovation with support from NITDA, held at the Manpower Development Institute (MDI), Dutse.

The training exposed participants and other online practitioners to various skills including media ethics, digital journalism and news verification, among others.

While declaring the workshop open, Hadiza Umar, the Head of Corporate Affairs and External Relations NITDA said that the capacity building workshop is one of the core mandates and objectives of the Agency and it was aimed at equipping Journalists with knowledge and skills of Digital Journalism practice in the Digital era.

In his paper presentation titled: “Journalism Ethics in an Era of Global Information Disorder”, former Managing Director of the Jigawa Broadcasting Corporation, Alh. Sabo Abdullahi Guri, charged media practitioners in Nigeria to uphold professionalism and high ethical standards in the discharge of their duties as the fourth estate of the realm.

He noted that the evolution of digital media and related technologies pose a significant threat to journalists and analogue media managers, hence the dire need to mainstream digital technologies in serving the public better as the watchdogs of society.

“The media is governed by standards which oversee its conduct and define its relationship with the larger society,” he said.

He charged the Nigerian Union of Journalists (NUJ) and the Nigerian Guild of Editors (NGE) to checkmate such erosion of standards, especially by some privately run media organizations.

“People cannot continue to belittle our profession just because someone wants to make money,” he lamented.

The Editor-in-Chief of PRNigeria, Malam Yushau Shuaib, charged journalists and online practioners to take ownership and understand the consequences of their actions before going public.

He went further to educate participants on the techniques of digital journalism, social media practices and management of crises in communication.

The PR specialist used the medium to emphasize the need for journalists to acquire knowledge and skills on new-media technologies as tools for effective and efficient practice of digital journalism, charging them to desist from all forms of false information, fake News and hate speeches that could generate tensions among the people.

While taking participants on the topic: “Social Media Management, Etiquette for Journalists and Influencers”, Samuel Adeyemi, Publicity Secretary of the Nigerian Institute of Public Relations (NIPR), Lagos Chapter, warned that journalists and social media influencers should be wary of people that use them to promote pecuniary ideology and agenda.

The Project Manager of Penlight Centre, Dahiru M Lawal, spoke on online media fact-checking, media monitoring and search engine optimization, where he introduced Journalists and social media influencers to basic knowledge of facts reporting, content monitoring on social media and techniques of using digital tools for effective verification of information.

Before presenting certificates to participants, the Media Adviser to Jigawa State Government, Mallam Habib Kila commended NITDA for its various technological interventions and capacity building programmes on Digital innovations across the states of the federation.

Other guests at the occasion included Mallam Habib M. Ringim, SSA New Media and Mallam Ahmed Danyaro, SSA Print Media.

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TECHDIGEST – Social media influencers and Journalists in Kebbi State have applauded the National Information Technology Development Agency (NITDA) for its continued efforts in ensuring that Journalists across the country are equipped with Digital Skills to hone their practice.

The newsmen disclosed this at a Capacity Building Workshop on Digital Journalism and Fact-checking, organized by NITDA in collaboration with PRNigeria, Penlight Centre.

The programme which is also facilitated by Khadimiya Foundation for Justice Initiative and  Brilux Media Consult held at Saffar Guest-inn Conference Hall, Birnin Kebbi.

The Journalists who admitted that the non-professionals mishandling and misuse of Social Media online outlets poses a great challenge to Mainstream Media operations and real practices of Journalism in the present Digital era, noted that training like this will go a long way in building the capacity of journalists and restoring the integrity of the profession.

“I believe everybody that attended the workshop must have gone back home much more than the way they came in. We have been equipped with great knowledge of modern day Journalism and we were also able to meet young resource persons who did tremendously well,” Aliyu Muhammad Hamagan, a Veteran Journalist and Kebbi State Correspondent of Daily Trust Newspaper said.

Appealing to NITDA to make such training a continuous process, Hamagan said, “such knowledge is not what one gathers in a day, but if it’s recurrent we will gather a lot and that will make us better personalities in our chosen profession.”

On her part, Maryam Attoh Muhammad, Reporter from Kebbi Television (KBTV), expressed delight and gratitude for the opportunity noting that she has learnt various news verification skills at the workshop while Murtala Adamu Diri, another reporter with KBTV noted that the workshop is very important particularly in the light of the fact that social media comes with a lot of unverifiable news and verification remains key for information integrity.

Declaring the Workshop open, the Head of Corporate Affairs and External Relations at NITDA, Hajia Hadiza Umar represented by the Project Manager Penlight Centre, Dahiru M Lawal said the capacity building workshop is one of the core mandates and objectives of the Agency and it was aimed at equipping Journalists with knowledge and skills of Digital Journalism practice in the Digital era.

Mrs Hadiza further revealed that the main essence of the training workshop for the Journalists and Social Media influencers was to educate them on the techniques of Digital Journalism practice and non-professional practices that occupied the Social Media space such as false information and fake News, where she called on the professional Journalists to take active measures towards addressing the issues militating against real practice of Journalism.

Presenting a Paper titled; Fake News; “Online Journalism and the Dilemma of Race against time” Dr. Mansur Buhari from the Department of Modern European Languages Usmanu Danfodio University Sokoto, highlighted some non-professional practices currently occupying the space of Social Media such as fake News and false information and how they affect the accuracy and validity of information shared on the New Media.

Also in his presentation, the Editor-in-chief, PRNigeria, Malam Yushau Shuaib educated participants on the techniques of Digital Journalism, Social media practices and management of crises in communication.

The PR specialist used the Medium to emphasize the need for Journalists to acquire knowledge and skills on New-media technologies as tools for effective and efficient practice of Digital Journalism, and charged them to desist from all forms of false information, fake News and hate speeches that could generate tensions among the people.

In his Paper presentation, Project Manager Penlight Centre and author of 101 Fake News on EndSARS, Dahiru M Lawal, spoke on the online media fact-checking, media monitoring and search engine optimization, where he introduced Journalists and Social Media influencers to basic knowledge of facts reporting, content monitoring on Social Media and techniques of using digital tools for effective verification of information.

On his part, the Special Assistant, Media and Publicity, Office of the Attorney General of the Federation, Dr. Jibril Gwandu, expressed his goodwill and charged participants to make good use of the knowledge acquired during the training.

The workshop was well attended by various journalists and social media influencers across the state.

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TECH DIGEST – A reporter with PRNigeria, Mohammad Dahiru Lawal has been selected for the Kwame Karikari Fact-Checking and Research Fellowship as part of the 2021 cohort of fact-checkers to combat misinformation in the Wes-African sub-region.

Dahiru emerged out of the top 26 successful applicants drawn from over 200 applications in The Gambia, Ghana, Liberia, Nigeria and Sierra Leone.

The Programme by renowned Fact-Checking and verification platform, Dubawa, under the aegis of the Premium Times Centre for Investigative Journalism (PTCIJ) is aimed at tackling misinformation and holding political elites accountable for their words and actions while expanding the reach of verified information to grassroots communities.

In her opening remarks during the induction and training excersise of the selected fellows which commenced Tuesday, the Executive Director, Open Society Initiative for West Africa (OSIWA), Aisha Osori, noted that the Programme is fundamental owing to the fact that the world is changing and people have to change with it especially in an era of “misinformation” and “mal-information.”

“We are in a post-truth era, nothing is as it seems and truth has lost its power therefore smashing lies and disinformation with facts are the best defense,” she stated.

Also speaking, Mr. Dapo Olorunyomi, Executive Director for the PTCIJ, said that the Programme will equip Journalists with all the empowerment mechanisms they need to combat misinformation, disinformation and fake news in the digital era.

Earlier in a statement, Dubawa programme manager, Adedeji Adekunle, said in the training faculty for the programme are drawn from a pool of the leading global experts in the field of fact-checking who come with individual and organizational talents which includes Peter Cunliffe-Jones, founder of Africa Check, and current course co-director/researcher at the University of Westminster in the United Kingdom; Youri van der Weide, researcher and trainer at the global investigative organisation, Bellingcat; and Craig Silverman, author, trainer, and the digital editor, at BuzzFeed.

Others are Prof. Kwame Karikari, former professor, School of Communications, University of Ghana, Legon and Chairman of the Board of the Daily Graphic newspaper in Accra; Dr Chido Onumah, coordinator of the African Centre for Information and Media Literacy, AFRICMIL; Kemi Busari, Editor of DUBAWA; Deji Adekunle, DUBAWA Programme Manager; Caroline Anipah, Ghana Programme Lead for DUBAWA; and Dapo Olorunyomi, Executive Director for the PTCIJ.

Dahiru who is also a reporting Fellow with the International Centre for Investigative Reporting, Open Contract Reporting Project (OCRP) is a final year student of the Department of Information and Media Studies, Bayero University Kano (BUK). He is also Managing Editor of Arewa Agenda, a platform of young Northern writers advocating national unity and development.

In December 2020, he emerged overall Campus Journalist of the Year during the annual Campus Journalism and Dialogue Award Organized by Youths Digest. Dahiru also clinched the best features writer of the year (print category) at the same ceremony.

Previously, he had led the PRNigeria team that bursted 101 fake news that were propagated during the EndSARS protest in October last year.

Now in its third year, the 2021 fellowship is christened Kwame Karikari Fact-Checking and Research Fellowship in honour of Ghanaian Professor, Kwame Karikari.

The Kwame Karikari Fellowship is Supported by the National Endowment for Democracy (NED) and the 2021 cohort will run for a period of six months.

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TECH DIGEST – As we join the Globe in marking the World Press Freedom Day again, the recurring contestation have been and still is, if the Nigerian Press is absolutely truly free in line with universally acceptable standards or yardstick.

While we might have recorded some successes from our journey in the military era down to the current dispensation, recent happenings with media colleagues across the country have proven that we still have a long way to go.

It is not in dispute that a handful of media professionals suffer attacks, including harassment and intimidation, arrests, detention, assaults, threats, denial of access and seizure of equipment mostly from politicians and security operatives thereby disrupting them from fulfilling their roles of watchdogs, gatekeepers and agenda-setters for National growth and development.

In speaking the minds of our colleagues, we wish to reiterate that Press Freedom is very essential to our endeavor, it is our enabling environment, it is our fertile ground to thrive, it is the very fundamental core that serves as a pillar for us to deliver on our mandate as 4th estate of the realm while dispensing our duties through the might of our pen and the strengths in our voices and we demand it!

We use this day to renew our call that authorities should not only work hard in allowing the press to thrive freely under the tenets that drives them ethically, but to ensure and guarantee thier safety at all times.

On our part, we use this day to recommit ourselves to the duty that cherish with pride.

To all my Press Colleagues out there, I greet you on this great day. May the pen continue to weild greater might against the sword.

Mohammad Dahiru Lawal
Media Strategist, Development Journalist, Reporting Fellow, Convener Arewa Agenda for Sustainable Development, Coordinator Network of Advocates for Digital Reporting and National Secretary Nigerian Journalists for Climate Action Network (NIJOCAN).

03/05/2021

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TECH DIGEST – American news-based television channel, Cable Network News (CNN), has retracted its initial report, which claimed that troops of the Nigerian Army killed 38 EndSARS protesters at the Lekki Tollgate in Lagos State.

Dubbed “Lekki Massacre” PRNigeria reports that the incident which occurred on October 20, 2020, is fraught of a lot of misinformation, disinformation and fake news to which a lot of reputable local and International Media Organizations were found culpable, including CNN itself and the British Broadcasting Corporation, BBC.

After heated controversy and strategic interventions, CNN has officially backtracked its initial report via a tweet on its tweeter handle which was titled, “Clarification.”

In the “Clarification,” CNN said it did not attribute the death toll to Amnesty International and also failed to say in the report that the 38 persons killed were not just at the Lekki tollgate but across the country during the #EndSARS protest.

Recall that PRNigeria had through its fact-checking initiative on November 18th, unveiled a report on 101 cases of fake news on #EndSARS protests it identified, and which were shared and disseminated on various social media platforms.

The Editor-in-Chief of PRNigeria, Mr Yushau Shuaib, at a public presentation of the findings on the #endsars protest noted that the identified 101 fake news used by social media influencers and some media houses aided the escalation of the initially peaceful protest that turned violent.

In terms of the spread of the fake news items across the geo-political zones, the PRNigeria report revealed that about 52 fake news emerged from South-West, while 19 came out from the South East and 30 from the entire North.

On fake news peddlers, the report discovered that social media influencers constitute about 40% of those who spread the fake news, social media users constitute about 31%, while the media (including local and foreign) has 22%, and Institutions contributed a paltry 7%.

The fact-checking tools deployed to confirm the veracity or otherwise of the identified fake news include the social media users that identified 11 fake posts, Fact-Checking System detected 37 fake news items while the media confirmed the falseness of 53 stories.

The timeline of the dissemination of the fake news items indicates that about 31% of the fake stories were posted on social media between October 3 to 19, 2020 that is pre-Lekki Shootings. On the other hand, 69% of the fake news were shared post-Lekki shootings, that is between October 20 and November 5, 2020

The duo of Dahiru Lawal and Abdulsalam Mahmud, the Project Manager of PRNigeria Centre, Kano and Assistant Editor, respectively, anchored a power-point presentation of the report highlight some of the major fake news reports on EndSARS. Dahiru gave instances on some fake posts shared about prominent Nigerians during the nationwide EndSARS protests.

Pending when the full report will be published and presented to the public in January, PRNigeria had written to critical Media Organizations and Institutions caught in the act of fake news paddling to retract their stories for the sake of objectivity, sanity and integrity of the media which will lead Peaceful Coexistence.

Reacting to the retraction, the Fact-Checking Project Coordinator at the PRNigeria Centre for Strategic Communication, Dahiru Lawal applauded CNN for taking the part of honour calling on others found wanting to fall in line.

He noted that there are other media organizations, public officials and Institutions that the 101 fake news report exposed, expressing optimism that before the full publication is out by next month, they will all tow the path of honour.

“Those who made similar mistakes should come and retract because sometimes retraction enhances their credibility. They should understand that retraction is an honour rather than standing on something that is not their fault.” Mohammad quipped.

By PRNigeria

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