The launch of the'' Dismis initiative'', a campaign focused on combating fake news, Ofwono Opondo, Executive Director of the Uganda Media Centre, addressed the challenges posed by the shifting media landscape.
Opondo emphasised the role of traditional media, which he described as having “a little bit of gatekeeping,” a system that ensured quality control and fact-checking.
He contrasted this with today’s digital media, where barriers to content creation and distribution have largely disappeared.
According to him, the rise of mobile digital media has allowed anyone to publish and share content, making it easier for false narratives to spread unchecked.
“In traditional media, we used to have a little bit of gatekeeping, but that has gone away in mobile digital media. We also have democracy which has nourished people of ill intent,” Opondo stated.
The ''Dismis campaign'' aims to combat misinformation and raise awareness about the dangers of fake news. Opondo’s remarks highlighted the need for greater responsibility in digital spaces, urging for efforts to balance the benefits of accessible information with the challenges posed by malicious actors in the digital media sphere.