Members of The Cameroon Community Media Network (CCMN) in the Northwest region, have been cautioned to fight against Hate Speech and Fake News, Disinformation and Misinformation.

This was during an extraordinary meeting that held on Saturday February 6 2021, at the conference Hall of City FM radio Ntairikon Bamenda.

Preciding over the meeting, the National Coordinator for CCMN Rosaline Akah Obah, who doubled as a facilitator in the event, encouraged both peace journalists and civil society organizations (CSOs) in Bamenda, to always fact check before disseminating information, as a way of fighting hate speech, disinformation and misinformation.

CCMN NW Coordinator facilitating topics during the meeting

As journalists and CSOs, checking the authenticity and credibility of a news source, is a very important way to tone down on the level of hate speech violence in our society. “The effectiveness of fake news is primary, due to its ability to mimic real news to seem flexible…’ Obah Rose quoted Pope Francis.

She added that mitigating hatespeech needs several awareness campaigns “hate speech in our society entails oganizing anti-hate campaigns, campaigns that can educate and create awareness about misinformation, dangers of misinformation and disinformation.”

The coordinator also cautioned journalists on how to write stories related to hate “when someone is a victim of hate speech, let us try to tailor our reporting and guide those victims towards where they can seek for support. Let us avoid killing the messengers of hate, but focus on the message, or attack the problem. Also get persons to edit your scripts to ensure that they are hatefree…” She said.

The meeting was attended by over 30 peace journalists and members of civil society organizations in the northwest region, whose presence were applauded by the national coordinator for haven braved all odds to answer present in the meeting.

By Nai Vonna