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The World Youth Festival Directorate of the Russian Federation has tasked media practitioners from 86 countries of the world to be wary of spreading fake news about Russia, and urged them to engage more with the federation for fact-checking in order not to mislead other citizens across the world.
The Head of International Department of the WYF Directorate, Yulia Motyakina, gave the charge during the week-long All-Russian Youth Education Forum-SHUM which was held at the Kaliningrad region of the Russian Federation from October 26 to November 1, 2024.
According to her, the main reason of inviting media practitioners from across the world for the programme, was to create a society of people who would be brave enough to report and say the truth at all times without any biases.
Motyakina said, “The issue of fake news has caused a lot of problems in the society. A lot of conflicts and political situations were also ignited as a result of fake news. This kind of news negatively influences the people who can not differentiate between issues that are true and issues that are untrue.
“It is really a big problem because those responsible for fake news create stereotypes, misinformation, and distortions that can affect any society.
“So, the essence of this SHUM Forum is to lecture, advise, and encourage the invited media personalities to always ensure to report balanced and accurate news for the general public.”
While noting that a total of 100 foreign participants, including journalists and bloggers were invited to the SHUM Forum in Kaliningrad, Russia, Motyakina said an additional 200 participant resident in the country, also participated in the event.
On his part, the Vice-Presidential candidate of the Action Alliance political party during the 2023 general election in Nigeria, Dr. Emmanuel Chukwuka Johnson urged journalists across the world to be professional in discharging their duties.
Speaking on the topic, ‘Media versus journalism in a rapidly changing world’, the top Nigerian politician reminded that media practitioners have great responsibilities in ensuring the development of any nation, hence the need for journalists to always act as watchdogs of the society.
“I am calling on all media practitioners attending this SHUM Forum in Kaliningrad to start using their professional abilities to adequately report happenings in the society. We want to see reports without any biases. We need to start seeing stories that would make our governments to work for the people.
“In Nigeria, as we approach the 2027 elections, I am hoping to see journalists from several media organisations report the facts without taking sides. This is how we will be able to get the right persons in leadership positions who will take the nation to greater heights,” he added.
Also speaking, the Chief Executive Officer and Founder of GSQ Media in South Africa, Dr. Nonkululeko Patricia Mantula, while giving a lecture on the topic, ‘Journalism in the multipolar world era,’ urged media practitioners to have the special courage to accurately report all issues in the society and to ensure its rapid growth and development.
“Journalists should have the courage to accurately report issues because in the multipolar world, there is no tolerance for bias or divisiveness. We all need to start digging deeper into stories to get our facts before reporting,” she stressed.
Earlier in his welcome remark, the Director General of the World Youth Festival Directorate, Daniil Bisslinger, while speaking on the topic, ‘Pressing challenges of modern journalism,’ lamented that the use of propaganda by media practitioners over the years had negatively affected the society.
Therefore, he called on all journalists to carry out their activities professionally in order not to mislead the members of the public or cause any form of division in the society.
