NBC urges FG to promote news literacy, professional journalism

National Broadcasting Commission is seeking intensified efforts by the Federal Government towards promoting news literacy and strong professional journalism in Nigeria.

NBC Director-General, Ishaq Modibbo-Kawu, who made the call at the 2019 Annual World Human Rights Day in Lagos, identified fake news and sophisticated disinformation campaigns as challenges in a democratic system.

Modibbo-Kawu, represented by the Lagos NBC Zonal Director, Dr Chibuike Vincent, said with growing debates on how to address the issue without undermining the benefits of digital media, it has become important for all stakeholders to work together to solve the problems.

The NBC boss encouraged the Government to promote news literacy, while calling on the news industry to provide high-quality journalism to build public trust and correct fake news and disinformation without legitimizing them.