Media experts have warned that the rise of citizen journalism and digital technologies is increasing the risk of misinformation and disinformation in the media space.
The warning was given on Thursday at a symposium organised by Open African Tribune in the Lekki area of Lagos.
The event, themed “Citizen Journalism in the Age of the Algorithm,” examined how artificial intelligence, algorithms and social media are reshaping how news is produced and distributed.
Speaking at the event, the Editor-in-Chief of Open African Tribune, Naakuu Paul-Birabi, said the forum was organised to help journalists and the public better understand how information spreads online and how narratives are formed on digital platforms.
He noted that while citizen journalism has broadened participation in news gathering, it also poses risks if accuracy and verification are ignored.
According to him, “Citizen journalism has expanded participation in news production, but it also increases the risk of misinformation if verification is ignored.”
He added that “algorithms now shape what people see, so journalists must prioritise accuracy and verification.”
Also speaking, the founder of the Foundation for Investigative Journalism, Fisayo Soyombo, said journalism should not be measured by popularity or virality but by its commitment to truth and public interest.
“Journalism should not be judged by virality but by its commitment to truth and public interest,” he said, warning that “the moment popularity becomes the metric, misinformation gains ground.”
In her remarks, the Director of Programmes at News Central, Tolulope Adeleru-Balogun, emphasised the importance of verifying information from multiple sources before publication.
She noted that social media should serve as a tool for gathering information rather than replacing professional journalism, saying, “Social media is a useful tool for gathering leads, but it cannot replace professional journalism.”
Nigeria Info OAP and Moderator of the Panel, Maryann Duke Okon also stressed the importance of media literacy among audiences, noting that citizens must learn to critically evaluate the information they encounter online.
