Legit.ng To Hold Free Webinar For Journalism Students, Enthusiasts

Mary Nnah

Themed ‘A Guide to Media Literacy: The NextGen Best Practices for Ethical Reporting’, the webinar will feature compliance expert, politics/current affairs editor, and award-winning fact checker, Nurudeen Lawal who will discuss the importance of media literacy and share insights on tools and strategies for breaking through the clutter of misinformation in today’s ever-changing media landscape. Discussions will cover the identification of fake news, understanding media bias, and utilizing fact-checking resources.
Speaking on the importance of this webinar, the PR Manager at Legit.ng, Catherine Tomosori said; “With the surge of fake news and the threat it poses to our nation, economy, and relationships as humans, it has become more imperative to seek the truth in the news that we spread online. Since our inception, we have been at the forefront of conveying the truth and advocating ethical journalism.
 
“Now, more than ever, we are resolved to help our over 10 million web users and over 11 million Facebook users stop the spread of fake news by making the media literacy process educative and entertaining. This is why we have embarked on the media literacy campaign to sensitize lovers of the media across Nigeria, and this webinar is part of the campaign.”
She further touched on why undergraduates and recent graduates are the targets of the webinar, and why they should attend. “University students and recent graduates make up a critical part of the NextGen. This audience is more susceptible to misinformation because they are digital natives. They consume more information than other generations and unfortunately, struggle to sieve whatever information they take in.

“Due to the polarization of the media landscape with ‘gist conveyors’, and the unregulated access of social media platforms by several people with destructive agendas, our NextGen audience isn’t shielded from the fangs and consequences of fake news. Hence, for NextGen youths who are interested in journalism or mass communication, this webinar is one of the best decisions you make this year. It is in your best interest to register.”
In November 2022, Legit. ng launched its first media literacy campaign in collaboration with top Nigerian celebrities like Aproko Doctor, Tochi Okechukwu, Tega Dominic, Edache Obe, Giddyfia, among others. The leading digital media company also launched a special microsite that was dedicated to teaching microsite visitors how to fact-check rumors, advocate transparency in reporting, and demand responsible news journalism from the media.

The special microsite also allows users to take a quiz to distinguish between fake and real news, just like their favourite celebrities, after which users can post their results on their various social media platforms using the hashtag #stopthespread. 
The Legit. ng Media Literacy Webinar for NextGen will empower young individuals with an interest in journalism to become informed and active consumers of the media. It will also help them develop the skills necessary to thrive in their media careers.
During the webinar, participants will learn how to critically evaluate news sources and identify fake news; learn strategies for fact-checking and verifying information; learn tips for curating a balanced and diverse news diet, and much more.