E-Media Department Organizes a Session about Rumors and Fake News

The E-Media Department at SEU organized a session entitled "Fake News and its Impact on Media in Light of the Corona Pandemic Crisis". The session was held online, and the speakers were, associate professor of media at King Saud University, Dr.Fahd Altayash, and Editor-in-Chief of The Independent Arabic newspaper from London, Mr. Adwan Alahmari. The moderator was head of E-Media Department at the University. Dr. Shaker Althiabi.

The session discussed many topics about rumors and fake news from academic, scientific, and professional aspects. It also talked about the most important reasons that help spreading and exchanging rumors, in addition to practices that enhance the presence of rumors and the essential role of media and media departments in raising the awareness of the community to avoid rumor transmission.

The speakers assured the importance of getting information and news from its official sources and following up the official media channels of government agencies, asking everyone not to transmit news, pictures and visual materials that are posted in social media until they validate it through technical verification programs. The speakers also stressed the importance of controlling chaos in the spread of large numbers of unreliable news accounts in social media. In addition, they assured the importance of surveillance agencies' role in governing and monitoring what is posted in social media and holding violators accountable for broadcasting false information without verifying its sources and authenticity.

The session also addressed the importance of moral responsibility of social media users and journalists in checking the credibility before spreading and the essential role of universities and scientific associations in providing distinguished scientific products and useful research in this field.

From his part, Dr. Shaker Althiyabi, the Head of the Electronic Media Department, assured that the department at Saudi Electronic University has organized this meeting out of its mission and its social role. Also, it has held everything that would educate the society members, especially in the field of media, which is one of the critical areas in light of the vast spread of social networks and the massive flow of information, especially at the current time of corona pandemic. The importance of protecting society from the spread of rumors and false news, and benefit from the experience of the government entities, like the Ministry of Health which provides accurate and correct information daily.

At last, he thanked his Excellency the Rector of SEU, Prof. Ibrahim Almuaqel, for his support to hold such sessions and seminars in all scientific university departments. Also, he thanked the guests Dr. Fahad Altayash and Mr. Adwaan Alahmari, for their participation and the informative session that was provided to enrich media students and all interested, he indicated that the meeting was fully recorded for display on the university's social networks.