By Chantelle Muzanenhamo
Journalists in Matebeleland South have been urged to prioritize fact-based reporting in the face challenges of the digital era, with the Minister of State for Provincial Affairs and Devolution, Hon Albert Nguluvhe, highlighting the pervasive threat of misinformation and its potential negatively impact on the society.
Speaking on World Press Freedom Day Celebrations in Beitbridge, Minister Nguluvhe emphasized that the core purpose of the day is to promote free, independent, and fact-based journalism. He urged media professionals to ensure that correct information gets to the intended recipients without having been tempered with.
“Fact based journalism and reporting should stand in as a counter to the increase in fake news, which, unfortunately, travels faster than the correct information,” the Minister stated.
He further emphasized that the rapid spread of incorrect and fake news online necessitates a renewed commitment to accuracy and ethical conduct within the media profession.
“The rightful conduct is on demand now than ever before in the history of mankind,” Nguluvhe added, pointing to the ease with which unverified information, such as false reports of accidents or premature death announcements, can circulate and cause harm.
The Minister argued that such instances demonstrate the critical need for journalists to operate with a strong moral and ethical compass.
“Today, I call upon media practitioners to rebrand themselves individually and the entities that they represent and align with the order of being guided by fact and not fiction or hearsay,” Nguluvhe stated.
In support of the Minister’s message, one of the panelist speakers, Zimborders Consortium General Manager Nqobile Ncube, spoke on the importance of fact-based reporting and media literacy in the digital era.
Ncube detailed the crucial role facts serve in journalism, explaining that they help in correct information sourcing, planning, and highlighting social challenges and the need for interventions.
“Fact-based journalism is the bedrock of a well-informed society. Without it, we risk being misled by narratives that lack truth and can ultimately undermine public trust and progress,” Ncube stressed
The call to action from both Minister Nguluvhe and panelist Ncube underscores the growing urgency for journalists to uphold the highest standards of accuracy and ethics in an increasingly complex media landscape, where the fight against misinformation is paramount to maintaining a well-informed and stable society.