Disinformation or what many around the world dub as “fake news” and the subsequent demonising of the media, have created a political and pedagogical poser for not just members of the media, but for professors who are tasked with teaching would-be millennial journalists. The current climate for the news industry is synonymous to a thunderstorm, with the convection being the calamity of the “Fourth Estate” as “Fake News.”
Add the unpredictability of social media, and it becomes the perfect storm. In order to quell this tempest, journalists must ride out the storm and steady the ship through adhering to the fundamental principles of the profession. In turn, journalism professors must be vigilant at teaching media history, literacy, and ethics while underscoring excitement for the profession. It is a daunting, yet surmountable task. But even before a discussion of journalists quelling the storm against disinformation, we cannot ignore the dire situation facing journalists in Africa and other continents around the world. Journalism is under attack and in unfortunately too many instances that is literal– journalists themselves are under attack.
According to UNESCO, on average, every five days, a journalist is killed for bringing information to the public. These attacks are often perpetrated in non-conflict situations by organised crime groups, militia, security personnel, and even local police. That makes local journalists among the most vulnerable.
The report also says these attacks include murder, abductions, harassment, intimidation, illegal arrest, and arbitrary detention.
While these types of attacked are not common in America- this is not breaking news here.
While in Lagos I have had the pleasure of meeting 25 or so working journalists on the local, as well as national levels from PUNCH, Channels, TVC to CNN, AFP and the Associated Press. From this group, at least four of them shared with me incidents of detention and intimidation. While the incidents shook them, each one returned to the job, to continue their work. The United Nations has a Plan of Action to combat crimes against the press which addresses six areas: academic research; standard-setting and policy-making; awareness-raising; monitoring and reporting; capacity building; and coalition building.
This complex crisis is one of the focal points being addressed during official World Press Freedom Day events in Addis Ababa Ethiopia with this year’s recognition being organised by UNESCO, the African Union Commission and the Government of the Federal Democratic Republic of Ethiopia.
Several global journalism organisations have online safety kits for journalists who cover stories in dangerous territory. This was a focal point for a virtual conversation I had last year with 30 investigative journalists in the Democratic Republic of Congo as well as during my visit all across South Africa for Media Freedom Week last October. It is a complex situation that creates a complicated conundrum for journalists who must at times decide between their stories and their personal safety.
Meantime, America is in unheralded territory. In the US, journalists have been coined as the “enemy of the people” and arbitrators of “fake news.” While the relationship between the President in the press has traditionally been a “frosty one,” the recent verbal attacks have led to increased incidents of intimidation and sometimes even violence against journalists by citizens. In fact, Black female journalists have been blatantly disrespected just for doing their fundamental role- as defenders of democracy and freedom fighters of the First Amendment. One of these journalists, Abby Philip, was a panelist at a forum at Howard University sponsored by the Howard University Association of Black Journalists- which took place before the most recent events. During this session, in which the journalists shared their experiences of covering the White House, Philip underscored her commitment to doing her job with integrity, while trying to block out the other “noise” from the naysayers.
Let me be clear– journalists are not the enemy of the people; we are the advocates for the people. Yet the constant barrage of the term “fake news” is apparently having an impact on the public’s perception of the industry.
A 2017 survey by the Pew Research Center shows Americans have only moderate trust in most news sources. Former deputy secretary of state for the Obama administration, Antony Blinken, says, “In times of crisis, credibility is an American president’s most valuable currency.”In this regard, some may say that America’s currency is worthless, but the press’ role is more priceless than ever. We as media professionals must put a renewed effort at being a Smart Journalist in the Era of “Fake News.
When I conduct media workshops, I begin with an exercise that asks the participants to complete the following sentence: I regard the media as….
The choices are: fair and balanced journalists; vulchers; fake news; and people with jobs in the industry. In every case, I receive responses for each choice except– “fair and balanced journalists.”
Last year on World Press Freedom Day, I was honoured to take part in a virtual panel at the studios of the US Department of State in Washington. That panel was focused on ways in which people can detect “Fake news.”
My basic advice: be skeptical, consider the source, check the URL, look at the byline and quotes, review the photo. Be a curious journalist- question everything. Today there are websites dedicated to separating fact from fiction and even for quizzing readers to see how savvy they are at detecting such information. At Howard we have a site called Truth Be Told that dispels tropes and stereotypes about people of colour.
Even with these measures in place, we know that a tweet can become world headlines before a spell check is even conducted and a rant on a blog post may be repeated as a lead story on a newscast, without the news outlet doing its due diligence. The need for focused fact-checking and balance in telling both sides of the story, and doing so with great accuracy, is more important now than ever before- especially for journalists. A surprising fact- when it comes to identifying fake news, millennials know better.
When journalism students leave the university they should understand why journalism is so deeply woven into the fabric of this county and the world, and they should be compelled to tell the stories of those whose voices might otherwise not be heard. There is a reason that journalism was first referred to as the Fourth Estate. We are to hold the government accountable and keep the public aptly informed. Despite the challenges, naysayers, and name-callers, journalism students should be excited to add their names to the noble profession when embarking on their careers. To my fellow brethren in academia-where you provide much needed research, are a former practitioner or both- stay committed to your vital role at producing the next generation of responsible and ethical reporters, producers, editors and multi-media journalists. And to my fellow journalists—continue to fight the good fight. Ride out these turbulent waves. A new day is dawning, and someone has to steer the ship! Journalism is a calling. Today let’s collectively renew the calling.
Prof. Thomas teaches at Howard University Department of Media, Journalism and Film
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