MNU students hold forum to stymie spread of misinformation

Students from the Media and Public Relations degree have taken the initiative to hold a forum yesterday at Maldives National University (MNU) in order to explain how to ascertain the accuracy of information and increase awareness amongst students.

At the panel discussion for the "No Cap, Just Facts" campaign, explanations were given to participants how to distinguish between intentional spread of misinformation, decrease of misinformation spreading amongst school graduates and the unintentional spreading of misinformation by college/university students. 

The forum was inaugurated by the Minister of Homeland Security and Technology Ali Ihusan, with him stating that taking the initiative with such a campaign is the beginning of a step in the right direction.

The minister said that the damage that can be done through misinformation can be greater than the damage caused by real incidents.

As per the minister, it would take a year to share something with 100,000 people in the past. However, it takes just a second to achieve that these days, said the minister.

"In the past, the one year that it takes to spread information to 100,000 people needs the same amount of time to explain its reality, to correct the information and to tackle it. Now, if someone wants to tackle any information upon receiving it, it has already spread," said Minister Ihusaan at the forum.

The minister noted that the law provides a good opportunity in facilitating the acquisition of information, and emphasized the responsible use of that right.

The Dean of the Faculty of Arts Asim Abdul Sattar stated that as the state of the world changes, the courses being taught at universities need to see changes as well.

In that same vein, Asim said that the previous Journalism course that was being taught to educate journalists saw changes and is now the Media and Public Relations course.

He stated that learning what is taught at universities, making use of it in a practical field and doing things that further benefits the community is a need.

"The communication campaign is being conducted in order to apply what they're learning into practical experience that will allow them to benefit the community through their actions," said Asim. 

The panel discussion went on for an hour and a half, with the information being given by ExCo Member of the Maldives Journalist Association (MJA) Mohamed Mahil, Women in Tech Maldives founder Aiesha Adnan, visiting lecturer Ahmed Afru Rasheed and former Legal Director of the Information Commission Aishath Isha.

Around 80 students from various schools in Male' and students from various MNU courses attended the forum.

A lucky draw was conducted where a student won a laptop at the forum as a prize. The laptop was won by Ahmadiyya International School Grade 12 student Aishath Azha Ahmed.