The Association of Communication Scholars and Professionals of Nigeria (ACSPN) in collaboration with Premium Times and the African Centre for Media and Information (AFRICMIL) will on Thursday, March 30, 2017, hold its 1st empowerment series in the North Central zone on ‘Fake News’ and the Demands of Evolving Journalism in the Post-Truth Era. ACSPN was established to advance the scholarly study and practice of communication by promoting and facilitating the pursuit of excellence in academic research and professional practice in Nigeria. ACSPN Empowerment Series (AES) focuses on addressing gap areas in communication scholarship and practice.
The event which holds from 10:00am to 1:00pm at the Global Distance Learning Institute, Plot 825, Ralph Shodeinde Street, opposite Federal Ministry of Finance HQ, Central Business District, Abuja, is open to journalists (Print, Radio. TV., Online), public relations and advertising practitioners, students, media and communication researchers and members of civil society.
The keynote address will be delivered by Prof Manny Aniebonam, CEO/President of AfriHub LLC/Global Distance Learning Institute, Abuja, and lead discussants include Mallam Yakubu Ibn Mohammed, Director-General, Nigerian Television Authority (NTA), Dapo Olorunyomi, Publisher/CEO, Premium Times, Segun Adeleye, Executive Secretary/CEO, Broadcasting Organisations of Nigeria (BON), Olushola Macaulay, National Professional Officer (Communications), UNESCO, Dr. Emman Shehu, Director, International Institute for Journalism, and ace broadcaster, Ms. Lara Owoeye-Wise.
According to Chido Onumah, vice president ACSPN, North Central zone, “The purpose of this intervention is to equip and create a platform for participants to contribute to the emerging debate about “fake news” as well as the fabrication of news to capture “popular” mood, and how media organisations and journalists should respond to news/information and outright lies from politicians and other
influencers in the Post-Truth era.”
“To deal with this phenomenon, it is important to reinforce capacities such as critical thinking, communication competence, comprehension, coding and decoding different types of languages, political knowledge, participation, and general understanding of social phenomena,” Onumah noted.
