Experts call for media literacy training

A session titled "Role of Media in Promoting Social, Economic and Strategic Stability," was held at the Rabita Forum International (RFI) office in collaboration with the Press Information Department (PID) on Thursday.

During the session Director General Public Relations PID Erum Tanveer highlighted the existence of a government department dedicated to identifying and countering fake news. Tanveer expressed concern over the tendency of mainstream media to highlight negative news, stressing the importance of responsible journalism. "Social media's reality and importance cannot be ignored," she said while comparing the platforms to traditional media. "While mainstream media has gatekeepers to verify content, social media lacks such mechanisms, allowing people to post whatever they like without considering the content's authenticity or societal impact." She advocated for comprehensive media literacy to prevent misinformation from spreading unchecked.

Assistant Professor of Media Studies Mah-e-Darakhshan likened social media to a force more powerful than nuclear power. "Today's youth have easy access to global information but lack knowledge of local information," she observed, recommending seminars and workshops to engage young people in productive discussions.

A correspondent for a foreign media outlet Sidra Azhar Dar criticised the mainstream media for neglecting important issues that are often highlighted on social media. She called for government action to address areas where information is lacking.