DAGUPAN CITY, Pangasinan—Presidential Communication Operations Office (PCOO) Secretary Martin Andanar urged campus journalists here to fight fake news.
Andanar told some 80 campus journalists from different schools in this city on Thursday that the first step to do away with fake news is by ensuring that their source of information is a bonafide news organization .
“Do you know that media entity or not? Check its website and dig more information about it”, he said during the Youth for Truth Forum held at the North Central Elementary School in Bonuan Gueset here Thursday.
Andanar also asked students to verify the information they gathered from a media entity, whether it is truthful or not, before sharing the information in their social network platforms.
“You have to ask or vet the information. Ask whether it is true or not, to avoid disinformation. Only when you have verified that it is factual then you can share”, Andanar said.
He also encouraged them to share this learning, on identifying and preventing fake news from spreading, to their classmates back in their respective schools.
Andanar explained to the students the ill effects of disinformation to the democracy of the country.
He cited, as example, a possible scenario on the upcoming barangay and Sangguniang Kabataan elections.
“For example, a candidate in SK, who is qualified for the position, falls victim of disinformation, wherein false accusations against her have spread immediately in the social media resulting in her defeat in the polls over an unqualified candidate. The fact that she lose weakens the electoral process because of disinformation,” Andanar said.
He then emboldened the youth to join the government’s advocacy against disinformation.
“Hence, all of us, not only the adults but also you, young people should join us in the fight to eliminate, win against disinformation”, Andanar said.
Andanar has been assisted by Mayor Belen Fernandez during the event, which coincided with a basketball shoot fest at the North Central Elementary School Thursday afternoon. (PNA)
