Students urged to play role in preventing fake news

LAHORE: Punjab University Vice Chancellor Prof Dr Khalid Mahmood has said that in the present era, it is very important to provide awareness to prevent false and fabricated news and for this purpose, young students can play an important role.

He expressed these views while addressing a seminar on Media Literacy organised by PU Department of Development Communication Studies in collaboration with Urban Unit P&D Government of Punjab at Al Raazi Hall on Thursday.

On this occasion, Chairperson Department of Development Communication Studies Dr Ayesha Ashfaq, Manager Communication Urban Unit Maimoona Arslan Bhatti, Senior Journalist Wasif Nagi, anchorperson Ajmal Jami and a large number of students were present on this occasion.

Dr Khalid Mahmood, in his address, said that Punjab University has produced big names in the field of journalism. The policy makers must know how important global media and information is. He said that some time even highly educated and high-ranking people share wrong news without thinking about its consequences. He said that censorship or controlling mechanism is failing miserably in stopping fake news. He said that students must participate in politics so that the country could get better leadership. He said that it is the responsibility of teachers to highlight and promote intellectual thinking in the students. Wasif Nagi said that over 60% of the country's population uses the Internet day and night, and in such a situation, the role of educational institutions and media became very significant.

Dr Ayehsa Ashfaq said that according to the contemporary digital requirements, it is necessary to make our students information and media literate. It is the need of the hour that our students must know how to analyses critically and click wisely to identify fake news and misinformation in Pakistan. Maimoona Arsalan said that the people should learn to choose the right communication platforms regarding their rights and duties.