A media expert has urged secondary school students practising journalism to verify information before publishing or sharing it with the public, warnin...
A media expert has urged secondary school students practising journalism to verify information before publishing or sharing it with the public, warning that spreading unverified information could undermine public trust and responsible journalism.Speaking during the launch of a Media and Information Literacy Centre at Juba Day Secondary School on Thursday, the President of the Union of Journalists of South Sudan (UJOSS), Oyet Patrick Charles, said accuracy and verification are essential principles that aspiring journalists must uphold.Charles cautioned students against relying on information circulating on social media and other platforms without first establishing its credibility. He encouraged them to develop the habit of fact-checking and confirming information through reliable sources before publishing.He said publishing false or misleading information could damage public confidence in the media and contribute to the spread of misinformation.Charles urged the students to uphold professional journalistic standards, including accuracy, fairness, impartiality and accountability, as they develop their reporting skills.The newly launched Media and Information Literacy Centre is expected to provide students with opportunities to strengthen their understanding of the media, improve access to information and acquire practical skills in identifying credible sources and distinguishing facts from misinformation.A journalism student at Juba Day Secondary School welcomed the initiative, saying the centre and its training programmes had helped learners understand the importance of producing accurate and verified information before sharing it with the public.The student said the facility would strengthen their knowledge and practical journalism skills, preparing them to become more responsible information producers.The establishment of the centre comes amid growing concerns about misinformation as social media platforms make it easier for users to create and circulate information without proper verification.The initiative is expected to promote media and information literacy among young people, equipping students with critical thinking skills to assess information, identify misleading content and encourage responsible communication within their communities.
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