Media Foundation for West Africa, has held a one-day training programme for journalists from the five northern regions aimed at equipping them with the skills necessary to combat disinformation and misinformation in the media landscape.
The training is the maiden which forms part of a series to be organized in Greater Accra, Ashanti, Western and Eastern to cover all the sixteen regions of the Ghana funded by U S Embassy.
Media managers, producers, show host and influence were carefully trained specifically on mis/disinformation, hate speech and malinformation and their tendencies in the upcoming 2024 election.
Mr Benjamin Alexander Davis chairman of departments of multimedia Journalism, school of Global Journalism and communication, Morgan State University in USA explained how malinformation has affected the fortunes of candidates in an election.
During the lecture he he expressed his worry about what he describe as digital colonization especially with the fast emerging of 5G internet spectrum, artificial intelligence and social media influence.
Mr Davis is of the view that they are actually been misapplied which is affecting the effectiveness of the mainstream media in terms of information delivery.
But was quick to say he believes radio will continue to maintain it status interms of information delivery to the public.
Addressing the media Dr Kojo Impraim said they have monitored over 30 media houses across the sixteen regions which he expressed his disappointment over the actions some host on their intemperate commentaries and therefore called for decorum as their actions has a tendency to cause electoral violence.
Dr Kojo stated that the training was timely by urging the selected media houses to support preach peace with the knowledge acquired .
The expected call on the public is to see the election as democracy to build a country adding that if you lose you accept and if you win bring everyone together for peaceful co-existance.
Source: yagbonradioonline