UNAIR NEWS – In the era of massive information and communication technology development, the are also massive fake news.The impact of technological development allows everyone to spread information, anytime and anywhere.But for a specific interest, a piece of fake information or commonly called hoax appear.So, how to avoid fake content, and how to recognize it?
To answer the question, 51动漫 held a talk show titled “Hoax VS Precise Journalism”, at the Airlangga Convention Center, Campus C UNAIR.The talk show invited two speakers or experts in their field.There was Budiman Tanuredjo as Chief Editor of Kompas, and Suko Widodo, Head of UNAIR Information and Public Relations Center.
The viral hoax content was caused by the majority of people who want to be first.As Budiman said, this tendency triggers the spread of hoax content because it is not verified first.
“People often want to be the first toshareand first to retweet.Because they want to be deemed resourcefulwithout looking at the facts whether the contents true or not, ” said Budiman.
Responding to the hoax that is widely spread in the community, one of the principles held by Kompas Daily is not to raise the issue that is viral in social media.Because, according to Budiman, issues developing in social media can be deliberately created without being supported with actual facts.
Meanwhile, to avoid news containing hoax, Kompas uses precise journalism method.To cover the election of Jakarta, for example, there are nearly 1000 people involved.470 of them were stationed in six administrative districts / cities to conduct research.
“The journalists do not only interview and communicate with the sources.But they also conduct research in the field, survey, and it is financed by the R & D (research and development) of Kompas, “said the alumnus of the Nuclear Reactor Technology Department.
So, why Kompas Daily bother so much effort and cost for it all?Budiman replied, “The goal is to verify the information so it is close to the truth for the public,” he said.
First, Budiman continued, Kompas Daily wants to serve the reader with correct information and it does anearly warning system. The result was significant.Budiman said that, 1.5 months before the tsunami in Aceh happened, Kompas Daily had issued a prediction of tsunami and it happened 1.5 months later, there was a tsunami in Aceh that killed thousands of people.
How to detect authenticity of an image?
There are memes or images spread in the public with controversial content which bring discord. Budiman said that we should check the authenticity of the images. Google image made it possible for us to check whether such image is authentic or fake.
If it is authentic, we should check again where the photo was taken, when, and in what context.Because, the images often uploaded for specific purpose and it disregards the real facts.
“Do not believe information in social media entirely.Because in social media, the finger moves, not the brain, “said Budiman.
Meanwhile, Suko Widodo revealed some facts.One of them, mobile phones distribution in Indonesia has reached 120 percent more than the existing population.It means one person is likely to have two or even more smart phones for himself.
This fact proves that the phones have become the basic needs of today’s society, along with a variety of applications that exist in the smart phone, one of them is social media.In this era, continued Suko, mainstream media including Kompas Daily is still used as a reference in analyzing news.
“Mainstream media is still referred because it has responsibility,” he said.
Students as academics who have knowledge above the average ordinary people, must have quality reading material.They do not only read but they also choose what they read.“Precise journalism is the answer,” he said.
To all the participants, he ordered not to be easy to deliver anything that is not well understood.
“Know what you are saying.Do notsharewhat you don檛 know.And not everything you know canbe shared, “he concluded.
Author: Binti Q. Masruroh
