Press Council’s Phathiswa Magopeni on UJ ‘truth and untruth’ roundtable
The UJ Library and UJ Higher Education Media Services today host a roundtable titled ‘Speaking the Truth by Understanding the Untruth: Addressing Fake News and Disinformation in South Africa and the African Continent’.
Among the panelists is Phathiswa Magopeni, Executive Director of the Press Council. The others are freedom of expression expert Anton Harber, award-winning Kenyan science and investigative journalist Mary Mwendwa, South African National Editors’ Forum (SANEF) Executive Director Reggy Moalusi, and Christina Chan-Meetoo, Senior Lecturer in Media and Communication at the University of Mauritius.
The facilitator is UJ School of Communication Professor Ylva Rodny-Gumede, who is also Head of the Division for Global Engagement.
While misinformation is a global issue, the African context presents unique challenges. These include political disinformation during elections and governance crises, health misinformation – particularly during pandemics and public health emergencies – and social media manipulation, where digital platforms are used to spread false narratives.
There is an urgent need to understand how misinformation is perceived in order to counter it
By bringing together experts, journalists, academics and policymakers, this roundtable will explore ways to strengthen truth, enhance public trust in information and build resilience against the growing threats of fake news and disinformation.
The opening remarks will be delivered by Vice-Chancellor and Principal of UJ, Professor Letlhokwa Mpedi.
