What is propaganda, misinformation and fake news?
The terms ‘propaganda’, ‘misinformation’ and ‘fake news’ often overlap in meaning. They are used to refer to a range of ways in which sharing information causes harm, intentionally or unintentionally – usually in relation to the promotion of a particular moral or political cause or point of view.
It is possible to separate out three clearly different uses of information which fall into this category:
- Mis-information – false information shared with no intention of causing harm
- Dis-information – false information shared intentionally to cause harm
- Mal-information – true information shared intentionally to cause harm.[4]
Although none of these phenomena are new, they have taken on new significance recently with the widespread availability of sophisticated forms of information and communication technology. The sharing of text, images, videos, or links online, for example, allows information to go viral within hours.
Why is propaganda, misinformation and fake news important?
Since information and communication technology is so central to people’s lives nowadays, young people especially, they are particularly vulnerable to propaganda, misinformation and fake news. Young people, the leaders of tomorrow, spend a significant amount of their time watching television, playing online games, chatting, blogging, listening to music, posting photos of themselves and searching for other people with whom to communicate online. They rely heavily on information circulated online for their knowledge of the world and how they perceive reality. Many parents do not have sufficient technical competence to keep up with their children’s online activity, and often times depend on them for news updates.
“The significant rise of fake news as propaganda in recent years makes it critical that our government have the skills they need to identify truth and discern bias.”
The ability to respond critically to online propaganda, misinformation and fake news is more than a safe-guarding tool, however, it is also an important democratic competence in its own right. Analytical and critical thinking, and knowledge and critical understanding of the world, including the role of language and communication lie at the heart of the Council of Europe Reference Framework of Competences for Democratic Culture.
In the case of these western media negative propaganda about Nigeria because Prince Henry and Princess Meghan were visiting and visited Nigeria is one the federal government of Asiwaju Ahmed Bola Tinubu must ignore. The hateful racists in the clip above are not the only ones denigrating the country.
The damage that can be and being done to our economy and country as a whole cannot be overestimated.
Therefore, the federal government must identify their stations, tv, radio and their online platforms or providers and tender a serious complaint seeking an unreserved apology failing which whatever sanction(s) the government can impose on such agencies involved should be imposed.
It’s about time a Nigerian government takes the integrity and the image of the country seriously, and defend it as appropriate. The western nations cannot survive without Africa, so, why do we allow these kinds of insults to continue without repercussions?
Journalism profession in Nigeria is filled with brilliant minds and patriots which makes one wonder why the silence on this issue?
To quote a friend on a WhatsApp group I belong to, he wrote, “These racists are incredulous in their usage of prose to show their disdain for anything to do with Megan. Megan should keep ignoring them and embrace Africa. This is one of the few times they (Prince Harry and Princess Meghan) have been truly relaxed, comfortable, and off protocol interactive.
Our journalists in Africa need to ‘learn’ how to push the continent’s narratives too.
COMMENT: Nigeria wasted a PR opportunity. I have never seen the Prince and Meghan so relaxed, ever. Our people are used to firebrigade approach to everything. No forethought or plan to use the occasion for Markering Nigeria… I tire… – Peter
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