Hyderabad-based NGO Confederation of Voluntary Associations (COVA) has begun a new project #CHECKIT to address and counter fake news in order to sensitize and educate people to delink the perceived legitimacy of all printed word and broadcasted messages, and also to verify veracity before accepting and forwarding messages to others, especially on social media.
Partnered with faith groups, educational institutions, newspapers, TV channels and organizations working with communities to leverage their outreach to thousands of people on a regular basis to propagate about the phenomenon and dangers of fake news, the project seeks to encourage people to speak and publicize decoded statements, photos, videos etc., and share them to expose fake news.
#CHECKIT’s one-day training programme was inaugurated by K Srinivas Reddy, editor, “Telangana Today”, and Sister BK Anjali from Brahma Kumaris. While highlighting the present scenario in India, Srinivas explained how media is tackling the issues of fake news and how as an individual, everyone should feel accountable for the information they pass onto others.
Anjali spoke about the need for restrained behaviour by following three simple ethical rules to prevent misinformation: Do not lie, do not backbite and do not say negative things about anyone.
Also present, Nalini Raghuraman, political economy advisor at the British Deputy High Commission, Hyderabad, emphasized the need for involving youth in spreading awareness in countering fake news. She said that the issue of fake news is of high priority in these times and the British Deputy High Commission was happy to partner with COVA on this initiative that connected people from different occupational backgrounds including religious leaders vide the #CHECKIT programme.
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