Fake news, a cancer straining relations among nations
Information and Broadcasting Minister Hon. Dora Siliya has observed with concern that fake news has managed to strain relations between Politicians and the Media, relations among nations and a loss of trust by citizens in honest Journalism.
Presenting a National statement at the Just ended Global Media Freedom Conference co-hosted by the UK and the Canadian Governments, in the United Kingdom on Thursday, Ms. Siliya applauded the two countries for their initiative to work together to defend Media Freedom and improve the safety of Journalists.
“Like many countries represented here, traditional Journalism in Zambia is being disrupted by New Media especially anonymous online publications and Citizen Journalism that have gained massive popularity. The growth of this new type of Journalism has not necessarily resulted in better journalistic practice. Most of our internet-based platforms are marred with poor and dishonest reporting, commonly known now, as fake news,” she said
Most of our internet-based platforms are marred with poor and dishonest reporting, commonly known now, as fake news,” she said
Ms. Siliya said the challenge posed by fake news is a World phenomenon and nations should stand together to defeat it.
She said all nations, big and small, rich or poor need national and cross border legislation to address the lacunas in the management of technology platforms mostly owned by the private sector that are being used to spread the fake news.
“Domains of most online platforms are domiciled in one country where they pay taxes, yet their reach is global. Some form of revenue sharing with platform providers seems to be the long-term solution to serve the underserved as countries like Zambia have no choice but to introduce a tariff to sustain investment in optic fibre,” she said.
Ms. Siliya gave examples of fake news that was reported in the media “last December, there were many internet-based stories and newspaper publications, believed by many of our Citizens, purporting that the President had fallen ill and had been evacuated to South Africa-It was all fake news. Again this year, we had publications about the Vice President having died, and once again, it was fake news.”
“We are also reminded of an incident, when Prince Harry visited Zambia in November 2018. It was reported by a UK tabloid that Mehgan could not travel with him for fear of catching the Zika virus. That was fake news because we all know that Zambia is not on the WHO Zikas list nor anywhere near the Zika virus affected region. Even though the Tabloid rendered a clarification, following Governments complaint, the fake news had already gone viral, posing a risk to our tourism industry,” she said.
She said last year, various local and international publications reported that Zambia had mortgaged its Public assets including the Public Broadcaster as collateral for Chinese loans, but firmly told the conference that it was fake news.
This is according to a statement released by First Secretary for Press and Public Relations at the Zambia High Commission in the United Kingdom Mrs. Abigail Chaponda.
Wasn’t Dora asked by Ms Patricia Scotland, as Commonwealth SG,how far they have gone with the national dialogue process she initiated and/or facilitated between President Edgar Lungu and HH after his treason trial?
ZNBC and PF government interference has killed journalism in this country
That’s what happens when you starve other areas of news. All the national media reports is Lungu, PF, and Lusaka. Thanks to face now there’s Mongu times, Barotse Broadcasting news, Lukulu FM News etc. These report local news and that matters more than being told Dora was in London.
This was very poor and sad representation of the facts, but a true reflection of how the PF flip-flopped from the champion of free media when they were in opposition, to oppressor of the media once in power. Dollar Sillier was on the defence, no positive statements.
The simple truth of the matter is that armed with the internet and a smart phone, every citizen is a potential journalist. Citizen journalism is here to stay and Dollar Sillier has made it very clear that she is not prepared to keep up with the times, but to wallow in the past where tyrannical governments controlled the media 200%. Days are numbered…………
Look at Dora with chi head dropped to the side, fuccking PF bootlicker way of greeting started by that useless Sakwiba.
Greeting gesture has to be FIRM with head and eyes straight.
These things …Jah!
“…..Some form of revenue sharing with platform providers seems to be the long-term solution to serve the underserved as countries like Zambia have no choice but to introduce a tariff to sustain investment in optic fibre,” she said
This woman is busy telling shameless lies..no wonder they are being clobbered by their own cadres ..Bo Lubinda was given a good beating by the very monsters they have created called cadres.
@Nostradamus the world does not have one culture so we can’t greet each other the same way. Europeans greet each other the way you ve defined but we Africans, when we are not imitating Europeans, have different ways of greeting
UPND insulters, let the insults roll
Iwe chi Jere,
chiikaala, what has opposition has to do with Dora a journalist? Dora said the same in that sleepy cabinet, that she is tired of Sunday Chanda’s representation of PF government. Nobody listens to facts of Dora’s ministry. Nobody believes ZNBC because of the likes of Social media directors like Sunday Chanda.
UPND lost elections because of those dog watchers yes.
My party is closed, am now independent from Zambians.
dora you’re showing your ignorance about social media…”Zambia has no choice but introduce tariff” lol, good luck with that. it seems that’s what you guys know best, taxes and various silly tariffs
welcome to the new age. yes there’s some fake news, but that’s not all that has come on the scene. the days of govnt having a strong hold on medial outlets have long gone and your can’t reconcile that. you want to put a muzzle on Zambians and keep on feeding them garbage as you hide the realities
fusekeni!
Maaa nadabwa but that’s a good comment @ Mukolwe.
Dora is already drunk she dropped me a selfie.
Remember not to drive after or while drinking alcohol.
Drink local beer!
Things are changing. If you want to remain safe do the right thing and stop wasting time reading online fake news and U-5 publications
Madam
$$$
@Its politicow continue wallowing in stale news from fake politicians with fake promises who only win through fake election results known as rigging.
Online media is here to stay stop making silly utterances there in London…everyone knows that to combat it you simply have to accountable and transparent.
Look at her in the photo with hideous wig on top of her head…what do our women see in those things ….imagine if African men wore wigs
Jay Jay I don’t have to imagine. I just go to our courts
Can you imagine if the only news we had was the government papers which are forever singing praises to Lungu and his cronies.We would never have known about FIC. Dora move with the times-sticking to 1980 methodologies wont work in this day and age
Just look at Daily Mail on Facebook …they are so obsolete.. forever biased they dont even hide it with rural news or business news but you will be surprised that these people are not even paid.
It will do well for the Minister to find ways of living with Online Publications. She can not do away with them. Fake news comes about when the authority hide information. The solution is to enact the Access to Information Bill and not to statutory regulate the media. With free flow of information there will be less half baked stories. Actually there is no fake news. There is no smoke without fire. Fake news was invented by Mr. Trump.
Dora for President
How many of u have listened to ZNBC news of late and hw many of u have read news online. am sure ur guess is as good as mine ZNBC 0 online news 10000
Maybe if journos are free to ask lungu and his gang any questions concerning the nation, we would not resort to online news
…….not those pre loaded questions lungu posses for on a airport runway
Because governments the world over are fond of telling lies which gives birth to online news which then gets tainted with fake news.
If the headline news everyday is Mataware this, Lungu that, Jameson there and Chagwa apa, no wonder journalism in Zambia is collapsing! It’s just the embarrassment too of being represented by such a deadhead at such faras. And I hear she travelled with her Congolese boyfriend on government expense. And those legs, has she contracted elephantiasis???
There’s no longer a culture to sustain traditional journalism here and this calls for its redefinition
Only oppressive corrupt governments or leaders call online publications as fake news. The guilty are always afraid
She is just a PF whore and as long as she is rubbered she will say anything
These wigs are really now turning our women into clowns, look at this Dorah Silit, mwati olo mbeba ???? sianga bisame mu shatini ili pa kalukobo ka mwine Chipata sure!!!
You seem to have forgotten the clowns we call judges. They wear white people’s hair
Dora – I THINK WHAT YOU MEAN TO SAY IS THAT THE PF’s BRAIN WASHING ON ZNBC AND IN THEIR NEWSPAPERS I.E TIMES AND DAILY ARE BEING FRUSTRATED BY ONLINE MEDIA WHO SEEK TO TELL THE CITIZENS OF ZAMBIA THE TRUTH !!!!!!!!
Journalism in Zambia is being disrupted by those who close media houses.
Is it fake news that Dora Siliya urinates in bed when she is drunk? It was Chisha Folotiya who gave the story to news papers. Where is the fake news?
You seem to have forgotten the clowns we call judges. They wear white people’s hair