THIS morning, (Tuesday) a worrying fake news broke out that the newly inaugurated Governor of Kogi State, Usman Ododo had approved the establishment of the “Office of the Immediate Past Governor” in the state.
According to the ‘sponsored fake news’ the ‘Office of the Immediate Past Governor’ will be domiciled in the Kogi state Governor’s office and the Immediate Past Governor of the state will operate the office daily.
The story, if we can even call it that in the context of media relevance, added that, newly established office will make the immediate past Governor of Kogi state, Yahaya Bello the pioneering holder of the office and will allow him to have day to day access to the running of Kogi state affairs by Governor Usman Ododo.
Our findings reveal that, the story is false, fake and most worrying sponsored by some group of people. It was discovered that, the same people, pushed out another ‘sponsored’ article, titled: ‘Another Wike in Kogi’.
Why some politicians do so much to tarnish the image of other politicians believed to be their opponents is a topic for another day. The rise of such ‘news’ on the pages of newspapers online and print is alarming and worrying.
It is alright for anybody to try to use the media as their propaganda machine but what is especially worrying is the chun of editors willingly used to circulate fake news, libel and falsehood all for the benefit of ‘send your account details’.
This is not a defence for the Kogi state governor, Ododo or a defence for his predecessor, Yahaya Bello. It is in all honesty a worrying cry for an industry.
The fourth estate of the realm going down the slope of dishonesty and mischief. Maybe some ‘colleagues’ don’t understand the damage these stories do to the system and the nation.
Fake news misinforms and misdirects society with severe consequences on individual and national systems. It heightens tension, builds fear and mistrust among people.
Fake news is beginning to make media practice lose its appeal; it challenges the credibility which is the base of journalism practice.
It is time for editors to consciously take back the space by infusing online media practice with traditional and professional competence, to right this alarming wrong.
We must take up the role of speaking against the bastardisation of journalism by this trend. Editors must evolve strategies that will keep journalism in its place as the digital media appears to be moving away from the newsroom to the clouds.
