tawandamusarurwa
Online Reporter
THE mainstream media has been urged to diligently play its role of keeping the public informed and to protect persons with disabilities from misinformation.
The call was made during a fact-checking awareness programme held by Signs of Hope Trust (SOHT) and the Media Institute of Southern Africa (MISA) Zimbabwe in Harare on Thursday.
In an interview with The Sunday Mail Online, SOHT director Ms Samantha Sibanda said there is need to invest in inclusive information dissemination.
“Mainstream media should be more active on the ground, covering various issues in a timely manner.
“In this era of social media, news circulates very fast, so if the mainstream media is slow, the subject matter will be wrongfully reported and this will have more harm on persons with disabilities who may at times find it difficult to verify facts,” Ms Sibanda said.
She said all media houses must have inclusive reporting and invest in promoting good writing skills, sign language and the production of visuals.
Ms Sibanda added that the mainstream media should flag fake news on social media.
“There is a need for the mainstream media to have social media platforms where people can verify facts.
“They must leverage on emerging technologies and platforms to continuously share credible information,” she said.
MISA Zimbabwe’s Ms Buhle Tshabangu-Moyo said fake news has been negatively affecting people with disabilities for too long.
The surge in internet usage has seen an increase in fake news, cyber-bullying, hate speech and misinformation.
These issues are further exacerbated for persons with disabilities who have limited access to online information.
Tinaye Agere
Online Reporter