Advertisement

Responsive Advertisement

#EndSARS: Why we’ll not spare CNN for spreading fake news - Federal Government

#jaiyeorieThe federal government has promised to punish News of Cable Network, CNN for conducting unverified information from the controversial Lekki Toll Gate protest. He also vowed not to spare any media organization, both domestic and international, that tried to set Nigeria on fire with an unverifiable report. Minister of Information and Culture, Alh. Lai Mohammed took a vow on Friday at a stakeholder meeting with Nigeria Broadcasting Organizations (BON) held in Abuja. The minister reacted to a controversial report by the American cable news network, CNN, which he said accepted his letter of complaint and promised to investigate the same merits.

He accused CNN of spreading fake news by switching casualty figures at Lekki Toll Gate  so casually without a credible source, hence, its decision to write a letter to CNN asking it to use its own internal mechanism to probe its investigation. 

Mohammed insisted that “the use of unverified videos and the non-adherence to the basic tenets of journalism have combined to land the international broadcaster, CNN, in trouble”, saying that the station had been caught in the web of fake news and disinformation, after it relied heavily on videos it took from social media for a supposed exclusive investigation on the incident at the Lekki Toll Gate on Oct. 20th. 

He also stated that the station was found to be inconsistent, adding that “after tweeting, without a shred of evidence, from its verified handle on Oct. 23rd that soldier killed 38 peaceful protesters at the Lekki Toll Gate on Oct. 20th, the same station now said only one person was killed – after a month of its investigation.” 

His words: “It is baffling that an organization like CNN will rely on unauthenticated videos to carry out an investigation 

“More worrisome is that an international broadcaster like CNN will switch casualty figures so casually without a credible source. 

“This is why we have written a letter to CNN asking it to use its own internal mechanism to probe its investigation. 

“We have received an acknowledgement of our letter, saying the letter has been referred to CNN’s Editorial Team. 

“We await the outcome of their probe, but that’s without prejudice to whatever we may decide to do as a government. 

“We will not sit by and allow any news organization, local or foreign, to set Nigeria on fire with irresponsible and unprofessional reporting. 

“CNN did not have a reporter or cameraman at the Lekki Toll Gate on the night in question, yet it emphatically reported a hoax story.

📎 COMMENTS 👀 ☝️👆👈👉✍️🤳 DROP YOUR OPINIONS

Post a Comment

0 Comments