DOPF CONVENTION 2018: War against fake news must be won at all costs – Don

By Abai Francis

Guest speaker at the 2018 Delta Online Publishers Forum (DOPF) Annual Convention and Institution of the Niger Delta Media Hall of Fame/Awards with the theme; ‘Managing Fake News’ which held recently at the David’s Event Centre in Asaba, Delta state,  Prof. Abigail Ogwezzy-Ndisika, a professor and Chevening Scholar in the Department of Mass Communication, University of Lagos, while delivering a lecture on ‘The Role of Online News Media In 2019 Election: Managing Fake News’, said the war against fake news is a war that must be fought and won by all means necessary.

On the role of online news in the general elections, she concluded that, “online media must be at the fore of ensuring that the right narratives are in the public domain. The media must not be used again as the ground for politicians to throw tantrums at each other” adding that “every stakeholder in the media industry must strive to uphold the tenets of the profession.”

Chairman of DOPF, Mr Emmanuel Enebeli, said the body’s collaboration with key players in the media and information sector is to grow the nation’s economy as well as contribute towards achieving a well secured nation.

Part of his statement reads, “We have boosted the economic value of member organisations by initiating a robust discourse cum MoU based partnership, with a London based marketing company, Nylon Marketing, to assist members refine and consolidate the focus of content of their websites in order to position them for adverts placements from both the local and international business community.

 “As such, we are convinced and are in agreement that there must be continuous synergy among all stakeholders that are directly involved in wealth creation, for us to collectively accomplish our desire for a better country,” he added.

Mr Enebeli also called for a collective fight against the menace of fake news, which has become anti people and anti development as well as a tool of abuse,  as he advised the various stakeholders to source for their daily news from recognised online news portals like those that are members of the DOPF operating under the law of the Federal Republic of Nigeria.

Highlight of the convention was the induction of new members into the DOPF and Timi Alaibe, former Managing Director of Niger Delta Development Commission, NDDC, as an inductee into the Niger Delta Media Hall of Fame.

Recipients of the DOPF Award of Excellence were Engr Samuel Adjogbe, Award of Excellence in Project Management and Execution; Mr Patrick Ukah, Award of Excellence in Strategic Communication and Media Management; Barr. Malachy Ugwummadu, Award of Excellence in Defence of Human Rights and Social Advocacy; Barr. Omemiroro Ogedegbe, Award of Excellence in Defence of Human Rights.

Others are; High Chief Felix Anirah, Award of Excellence in Community Leadership; Chief Monday Itoghor, Award of Excellence in Women Empowerment and Development; Hon Engr. Emeka Nwaobi, Award of Excellence in Service to Humanity; and Prince Tony Erewa, Award of Excellence in Small Scale Business Development.