| Abstract: |
This study investigated fake new and development communication: challenges of
information integrity in the age of new media. The four specific objectives of this
study were to: ascertain knowledge level of journalists in Ebonyi State on fake news
prevalence in the age of new media, determine the major types of fake news that
exist in this age of new media, ascertain how fake news affect development
communication and information integrity in the age of new media and find out ways
of upholding information integrity in the age new media for effective development
communication practice by the journalists in Ebonyi State. The theoretical
framework of this study is Social Responsibility Theory (SRT). Survey research
method was used and a population size of 296 registered and practicing journalists in
Ebonyi State was adopted. The entire population of 296 was adopted as sample size
due to its small and manageable size while multi-stage sampling technique was used
to administer questionnaire as was instrument of data collection. Data collected
were analyzed with simple percentage using simple descriptive method. The results
revealed that: there is high level of fake news spreading in this age of new media, the
different types of fake news are false/deceptive stories, misleading stories,
slanted/biased stories, manipulated stories and humour/satire stories, fake news
affect development communication and information integrity in this age of new
media are by misleading public trust, public opinion/perception, betrayal of
confidence and obstruction of information flow, consumption and gratifications and
the ways of upholding information integrity in this age of new media for
development communication practice are through fact-checking mechanism, improvement on new media education/literacy, regulatory measures and rebuilding
new media for development. Based on the findings, this study recommended that:
New Media experts should collaborate with the government to continue public
awareness/campaigns against the prevalence of fake news, initiate anti-fake news
framework to checkmate and halt all forms or types of fake news, reposition new
media to achieve information integrity and development communication and
involve of more research for new media system for development communication in
Ebonyi State and beyond. |
