By Zvikomborero Machirori
Media information consumers are worried by the increase in fake news being paddled by media organizations sayings it has become a scourge that regulatory bodies need to deal with.
Speaking during a Media Roundtable discussion on Sly Media Tv, internationally renowned author and filmmaker Tsitsi Dangarembga said there is need for some regulations of media organizations to ensure that they do not misinform people with impunity.
She however, is against government control of the media “Power always has to have parameters so I think it is important for parameters to be set, not narrow parameters but parameters that give the media enough room to do their work properly”.
Speaking on the same programme, Chairperson of the Zimbabwe Online Content Creators Toneo Rutsito said the media should be allowed to regulate itself to allow it to operate independently.
“In defense of the media space we need to make sure that each and every media house has got that independence to be able to decide what is right content”.
Another panelist, Ranga Mberi said fake news is detrimental to the government, opposition political parties and more-so on the country’s economy.
“Fake news is dangerous to everyone and its important to fact check every piece of information you get. All over the world, websites that peddle fake news are the most read and this is also a factor a Zimbabwe”.
Media analysts and monitors attribute the increase in fake news to the appetite to misinform citizens by political parties and media houses alike.
Some also say citizen journalism has immensely contributed to the increase in fake news.
