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FAKE NEWS: A MENACE TO NIGERIA’S DEMOCRACY
Introduction
The ascendancy of Fake News would seem to have gained momentum since Donald Trump became the occupant of the oral office of the White House. As a defence stratagem, the US President labels any unflattering news report concerning him as Fake News (Calamur, 2017, Bardella, 2018). Politicians of both global south and north, have since leveraged on this labeling to clamp down on any perceived unfavourable News item as fake. However, this is not to canvass, that Fake News as brand or type of Yellow Journalism or Propaganda does not exist. Indeed, Dele Giwa had posited in one of his numerous “parallel snaps” that Fake News, Afahanistainism, Genteel Journalism and Speculative Journalism have always co-existed even before the emergence of the Muckraking Journalism in the annals of American journalism. In its simplest definition or explanation, Fake News is seen by many as co-extensive with Rumour Mongering. Rhetorically, shall we then argue that Rumour Mongering has not always existed in humanity? Therefore this conversation seeks to focus on how and why the Fake News malaise is fast becoming the New Normal of our times. Another impetus for the preponderance of Fake News these days is the growing dependence, if not addiction to the internet prompted communication platforms. Indeed, at the end of this conversation we should coast to a consensus on how to reduce the debilitating role of Fake News in our fledging but potent democracy. Leveraging on the Social Responsibility, Technological Determinism, Disruptive Innovation and Catharsis Media Theories, this conversation employs the qualitative method.
Keywords: Fake News, Mainstream Media, Internet, Gate keeping, Social Media, Menace and Democracy
Definition of words and terms
Fake news: Fake news, also known as junk news or pseudo news, is a type of yellow journalism or propaganda that consists of deliberate disinformation or hoaxes, spread via traditional news media (print and broadcast) or online social media. It is important to address the issue of the post truth politics which is also called post-factual culture and post reality politics is a political culture in which debate is framed largely by appeals to emotion disconnected from the details of policy, and less repeated ascertain of talking points to which factual rebuttals are ignored.
Mainstream Media: they consist of both the print and broadcast media. The definition could also be expanded to include words like terrestrial broadcasting.
Internet: is the suprastruture upon which all other online platform is hosted. With internet the would have been no Facebook, Twitter, Amazon, Google, Yahoo and any other sub structure. In other words, the internet could be likened to the ocean, online platforms like social media sites and other websites to ocean-going-vessels and search engines like Google, internet explorers, Mozilla, Firefox etc are the navigation routes
Gate keeping: According to (Agbanu, 2013) the concept of gate keeping is used in media studies to mean an action within a media organization which involves choosing or rejecting news items for publication or broadcast.
Menace: Google reveals that menace could be a person or a thing that is likely to cause harm, a threat or danger.
Democracy: is a widely conceived as a government of the people by the people and for the people. As the notion suggest, it means that a democratic government must emanate from the people and must represent the public interest. The relationship between elected representatives and the public is better serve through communication using appropriate media the value of communication in a democratic system cannot be over-emphasized; it is hub around which the gamut of the body polity revolves. Communication is the link between the governments and the governed. It is the foundation for any growing democracy; this is to say that no democracy can survive without a minimum of interaction between the government and the governed. This is the link which communication provides and unless the communicative atmosphere of the society promotes efforts to deliberate and reach consensus, no meaningful development will take place (Ekhareafo, 2019) according to Thomas Jeferson who later served as the third President of the United States in democracy dispensations is where the government fear the people and not where the people the fear the government. Indeed, where the government fear the government there is tyranny and when the government fear the people there is liberty.
Background to Conversation
Fake News has become the “enfant terrible” of our present day News Media which has got scholars commentators of Mass Communication pontificating with different perspectives on how its effects and frequency can be stymied without hash consequences for Freedom of Expression and the Freedom of Information.
In their submission, (Ugwuanyi, 2017; Kolawole, 2017 and Stanford, 2017), the Fake News syndrome has gained unprescedment prominence which contrasts sharply with its previous benign rarity. Today, according to the authors, Fake News has become the greatest conundrum bedeviling our polity, while it is not rampant phenomenon on the mainstream media; however it has gone malignant on the social media: No thanks to the internet communication that has bred Citizen Journalism, which has made almost every internet users to become information purveyors. Query: could which information purveyors be rightly describe as journalist
Ugwuanyi (2017) and (CDD, 2018) are of the opinion that for the credibility of journalism and protection of democracy to remain achievable, we must tread softly so that we don’t harm either of them for the other or harm both. There has to be a delicate but functional balancing of actions in our effort to curb / cure the Fake News malaise (Leiffring, 2013). To classify a news report as Fake News is often difficult because the issue of motive or mens rea ought to be proven or ascertained. Lazer, Baum and Benkler (2018) suggest that issues like motive which is the state of the mind of the publisher or the writer of such News should be examined. This could be farfetched as it will lead us into the realms of law vis-à-vis psychiatric examinations.
The water-shed case of 2004, regarding George Bush National Guard scandal that eventually turned out to be a hoax, when the evidence upon which the news report was written was inauthentic. At the centre of this Fake News story were Mary Maps who compiled the story as a journalist for in the employment of Columbia Broadcasting System (CBS). It is recalled however, that Mary Maps had previously won numerous accolades as the news producer after he had exposed the central intelligence agency’s torture programs (Bozell, 2005). The purported non fulfillment by George W. Bush of his military service became a sore issue during the presidential campaign 2004. Subsequently, intensive verification of the story vindicated George Bush. Dan Ruther and Mary Maps, the journalists behind the story had to pay the painful price of exiting CBS when their employments were terminated. Even at that stage it was difficult to establish whether journalists Mary Maps and Dan Ruther could be found guilty of disseminating Fake News. It was difficult because the freedom and the legitimate quest of the journalist to break a story even where the journalist is not entirely sure of the veracity of the story, is at the heart of the concept of Press Freedom (Niklewicz, 2018; Leiffring, 2013). Indeed a journalist cannot always be hundred percent right in assessing the correctness of news story. As a result any law that targets Fake News would have to make provision for proving intent / mens rea or it would end up catching many honest journalists in its crosshairs.
These notwithstanding, Fake News remains a problem. We have seen cases where people have been killed as a result of Fake News (Niklewicz, 2017; BBC, 2018). The American intelligence community unanimously agrees that the spread of Fake News by covert Russian Government operatives to help the Trump 2016 Campaign has remained on the lips of most Americans of the democratic persuasion (Yourish and Griggs, 2018). The Nigerian elections of 2015 were also not left out as the Facebook – Cambridge Analytical scandal led to the revelation that the Goodluck Campaign had also hired the firm (Cambridge Analytica) to influence online discussion about the elections in their favour and against the Muhammadu Buhari Campaign (Cadwalladr, 2018). Then there are trolls. These are real humans who go online with the main aim of causing disruptions to online discussions. Provoking an emotional response from the non-trolls is often the goal of these actors. They play a very important role when it comes to disseminating Fake News online. For example, there are evidence that suggests that over a thousand trolls from Russia help spread Fake News against Clinton (Papenfuss, 2017).the implication of disinformation are that it over heat it over heat the polity and create tensions that are not necessary. We have also seen Governments across the world doing something about it. In Nigeria, there currently sits a bill at the National Assembly that seeks to curb the spread of Fake News and the so-called “hate speech”. These attempts are not just limited to Government but also private corporations.
Over the last few years, Facebook and Twitter have really hit the pedal in cracking down on posts that seem deliberately false or misleading (Gartenberg, 2017). Accounts have been suspended or banned altogether. Politifact and factcheck.org have partnered with Facebook to easily identify and debunk Fake News stories on the social media platform (Newton, 2016). When this is commendable it is still in the realm of Reactive Strategy. A proactive strategy will make our democracy must stable, sustainable and functional. With regards to the actions taken by the Government, there is the need for inputs by journalists and media practitioners as a whole if we are to avoid a situation where the constitutionally guaranteed press freedom will be undermined. In other words, constitutionalism should be our watchword in our quest to deal with the Fake News syndrome it is on this basis that the media practitioner should always consult. Their views, opinions and perceptions of the issue of Fake News must be given as much significance as Fake News itself if we are to come up with an effective solution that properly addresses this issue without trampling on press freedom, taking into consideration Section 22 and 39 CFRN as amended.
Thankfully there are certain developments already that buttress this point. The Centre of Democracy and Development, West Africa, on the 7th of August, 2018, organized a conference that brought Nigerian media experts to discuss ways to tackle Fake News. More of such are likely going to follow.
Statement of the Problem
Ever since the 2016 General Elections in the United States of America, we have seen increased efforts aimed at clamping down on Fake News. From legislation by governments, to stricker gatekeeing by news media and even tighter regulations by social media companies; the aim is geared toward diminishing the potency of Fake News. Unfortunately, especially in the case of government intervention, this has produced an uninternational (or maybe not) consequence – hampering press freedom.
A lot of studies have tackled the issue of Fake News is on form or the other. Many have investigated ways to clamp down on the phenomenon; however, there exists a very conspicuous absence of researchers that try to find ways to protect press freedom from the fight against Fake News. Why this is so an open question, but what seems fairly answered is that fighting Fake News has proven less attractive for truly democratic institutions because of this very problem.
Fake News: An Enfant Terrible that is assuming a cancerous dimension in our effort to grow Democracy in Nigeria
The Social Responsibility Media Theory advocates the raising of conflicts to the plane of discussion. In practice, the media can be used by anyone who has an idea to express but they are forbidden to invade private rights or disrupt vital social structure or interest. Indeed the theory postulates six specific functions for the press (Siebert 1956, Kunczid, 1988). Among such functions are:
To serve the political system by making information discussion and consideration of public affairs generally accessible.
To inform the public to enable it take self determined action
To protect the rights of the individual by acting as watchdog over the government – among others.
To serve the economic system: for instance by bringing together buyers and sellers through the medium of advertising.
To provide “good” entertainment whatever “good” may mean in the culture at any point in times.
To preserve financial autonomy in order not to became dependant on special interests and influence(s).
Considering the first three function of the press the media remains the confluence between the Government and the governed. So if our democracy must grow functional gate keeping that ward off Fake News must be a key element in such success equation. Oboh (2014) highlighted this fact when he exposed and discussed the strong interface between the media and politics. He captioned this situation as The Mediatisation of the Nigerian politics. He identified the leadership problem in most African countries as the inability of their leaders to conduct credible and crisis free elections. The Professor of Mass Communication argued further that these days, media practitioners and to large extent, Citizen Journalists are now much more watchful of the activities of Governments and politician (public figures and public officers inclusive) with the aim of ensuring that peoples of doubtful profiles do not gain access into parliament and allied Government positives. Certainly, Fake News will pose a debilitating disincentive to such pursuits. What is therefore needed is responsible and functional gate keeping policy and effort.
The Emergence of Citizen Journalism: A Catalyst for the Festering of Fake News
The success of the Arab Spring (2010 and 2011) was largely attributed to the death of distance between protesters and agitators enabled by the social media platforms. Our world watched with some level or catharsis the return of democracies to some of Arab countries that were minded by dictators for decades. Unfortunately such usefulness of social media has turned aches in months.
The social media have made it possible and easy to upload and download information and pictures by any citizen who “wields” any internet compliant gadgets. This feat is facilitated by the absence of gate keeping mechanism on the internet platforms. According to (Olise, 2012) quoting (Uko, 2012) the internet can be likened to the glass cup and the information imputed to be water. Such water could be dirty or clean. In other words, the users of internet are the polluters of the glass cup. Fake News has become such easy resort.
It is the slant of this conversation that researchers of the internet technology must come up with algorithms that put in place gate keeping mechanism, if Fake News must be stopped from festering. The invention of the Photoshop technology is also an added incentive that enhances the blossoming of Fake News on the Social Media through the technology of Photoshop, perpetrators of Fake News can manipulate photographs to make stories and situation real and believable.
COMBATING FAKE NEWS THROUGH FACT CHECKING AND VERIFICATION
Fact checking journalism is the act of checking factual assertions is non-fictional text in order to determine the veracity and correctness of the factual statements in the text. It can be done before or after a text has been published. Fact-checking relates more to print journalism, while verification relates to broadcast journalism. It started as proof reading in 1803 but became known as fact checking in the 1920s. There is different be fact-checking and reporting.
Reporting
Fact- checking
What is being said
The accuracy of what is being said
You break news and east good headlines
It is not restricted to 24 hours
You tell a story about an event
Focus on a specific claim in an event
You protect your sources
Reveal the sources
There are elements of fact checking which every journalist must know in order to curb disinformation. Ethnical framework and accountability. Journalists must have obligations to the truth and loyalty to the citizens, they must purse truth which is a canon of journalism. Although politicians may attack the truth, same as religious organization, post-modernists cult in the academia.
Every journalist must evaluate a story before he propagate the story. Be skeptical.
Identify the original source of a story and interview them.
Investigate the networks, the history of a social media account
Research similar events.
These qualities can be learnt when the journalists imbibe the following skills and tools.
Analytical thinking
Attention to details
Quality reading comprehension
Data interpretation
Ability to conduct intent research
Journalists can fact-check by choosing a claim for verification
Identify and verify the original source and content, including location, data and appropriate time.
Find out the source, the identify, the history of the individual, other social media accounts linked to the individual, including videos he or she often upload. Also very the content in terms of date, location. Challenge the source, then write the fact-check on the story.
In summary, disinformation can create security tension that can lead to war. Journalists have a responsibility to protect our democracy by standing for the truth. In the way, agents of disinformation in the political arena will have little to do because the custodians of news and information are up and doing – this is culled from (Ekhareafo, 2019).
REFERENCES
Bardella, K. (2018). With Trump on the attack, Congress must defend free press: CNN. Retrieved from https://cnn.it/2KOnzHr.
BBC (2018). Fake News and Nigeria’s Herder Crisis: BBC. Retrieved from https://ww.bbc.com/news/world-africa-44655148.
Bozell, B. (2005). After words with Mary Mapes, C-SPAN. Retrieved from https://ww.c-span.org/video/?190154-1/after-words-mary-mapes.
Cadwalladr, C. (2018). This revealed: graphic video used by Cambridge Analytic to influence Nigerian election. The Guardian. Retrieved from https://www.theguardian.com/uk-news/2018/apr/04/cambridge-analytica-used-violent-video-to-try-influence-nigerian-election.
Calamur, K. (2017). From Trump’s Twitter Feed to Dictator’s Mouths. The Atlantic. Retrieved from https://www.theatlanic.com/international/archive/2017/12/trump-fake-new-dictator/548414.
CDD West Africa Conference Background Note (2018). Democracy and Disinformation (How Fake News Threaten our Freedom and Democracy). Retrieved from http://cddwestafrica.org./wp-content/uploads/2018/07/democracy-and-disinformaiton.pdf.
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Leiffring, S. (2013). First Amendment and the right to lie: Regulating knowingly false campaign speech after United State v. Alvarez. Minnesota Law Review, 97, 1047 – 1078.
Newton, C. (2016). Facebook partners with fact-checking organizations to begin flagging fake news. The verge. Retrieved from https://www.theverge.com/2016/12/15/13960062/facebook-fact-check-partnerships-fake-news.
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