(MENAFN- Khaleej Times) Legal systems should be implemented to track publishers of false news and avoid the spread of wrong information to the public, a media personnel said.
Speaking at the Emirati Media Forum on Monday, Nart Bouran, CEO of Sky News, stressed on the toxic environment that false news can create among communities.
He said channels, agencies or publishers of false news must be tracked down legally to avoid further spread of fake news that can impact societies negatively.
"Social media channels should also take responsibility and have regulations to prevent the sharing and spreading of fake news," he added.
Bouran said the public must also be aware about checking reliable sources of news and confirming information before further sharing them. Such awareness, he said, prevents people from falling victims to false news.
In the era of technology and multiple news platforms, Bouran said false news have become a part of the daily newsroom, urging journalists and media agencies to fact-check their information before going live.
He said misinformation sometimes occurs in the process of covering news or sharing it from other sites, especially during breaking news, where the original agency has been misinformed about a certain event.
"An agency uses another source, a credible one, to publish a breaking story or event. If the facts published are wrong, then any outlet which has referred to that source will also carry wrong information," he said.
The second type of false news, are ones fabricated to intentionally mislead and distort a country's image and get certain opinions forward to influence public opinion towards a certain direction.
With the presence of social media that helps in circulating the news faster than ever before, the public and news agencies must work hand in hand and check facts and information before carrying the news further, noted Bouran.
The one-day forum was held to discuss the national role of UAE media and address challenges lying ahead. Ministers and media personalities of local agencies attended numerous sessions and panel discussions throughout the day.
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