The good news about having better access to the internet is that Papuan children can now access information more easily. However, it does not come with the pros only. There are also much-unsolicited news and information that needs a double check. Hence, Biak Government invites students to prevent hoax information. That information now spread like a snowball.
Hoax information can be misleading, especially if it links to important information that should be misinterpreted. Therefore, to create awareness about this topic, The District Government of Biak Numfor, Papua, invites residents and young intellectual from students to be aware of fake news or hoax information.
Especially since recently, there are much circulating false information on social media regarding information within the local district government.
How to Filter Hoax Information?
Since false and misleading information is very sensitive, especially for the Papuan, the government is giving journalistic training to university students. Hopefully, the students can distinguish well-written articles from fake ones.
According to Deputy Regent Calvin, through journalistic workshops in Papua, students will learn about writing news, news photos, and videos.
Hence, they can identify any news that does not meet the criteria they learned before. Also, the journalistic training will help them to create more trusted news. One that Papuan writes the actual event instead of getting a second or third party writing the information.
According to Deputy Regent Calvin, through journalism learning workshops for students, students have already gained knowledge about writing news, and photo and video news. As they gain more confidence, they will gain more acute to create information for the future.
The Goal of The Journalistic Training
By having journalistic knowledge about how to prevent the spread of hoaxes, the government hopes that the public can filter the truth of the news before sharing it. It is what Deputy Regent of Biak Numfor Calvin Mansnembra said during the press conference.
Deputy Regent Calvin admitted that the progress of the digital technology era has made it easy for residents to get news information on social media.
Hence, there are many controversies as a result of the misleading news. Moreover, when it comes to sensitive topics like racial or religious news, it can easily spark unwanted chaos. That is something the government does not wish to happen.
The spreading news is in line with the internet technology getting more access in some parts of Papua. Moreover, as a capital city, it is easier to have internet and social media access than other cities. Hence, there are a lot of conditions where irresponsible parties take this opportunity to spread hoaxes.
The participants are students from Universitas Cenderawasih (Uncen) Jayapura, Kampus Universitas Sains dan Teknologi Jayapura (USTJ), and Universitas Muhamadiyah Papua. They are chosen students who hopefully will learn journalistic and how to prevent hoax information.
Moreover, they also invite experienced speakers like Aldo F Mooy (Ketua Relawan TIK Papua), Chatarina Lita (CEO Kabarpapua), and Eveert Joumilena (CEO Lintaspapua.com).
There are also notable speakers like John Yewen (Komika Nasional), Musa Abubar (LIGAKAMPUS), Sakti Karuru (ANTARA Foto), Beatriks Ibo (TV Papua.com), Billy Eliezer Takoro (PACE KREATIF).
The students will learn more about journalism by inviting experienced people as keynote speakers. They also teach the students how to spot hoax information and tell people about it.
By doing so, the Biak Government invites students to prevent hoax information and hopefully will lessen the effect of misleading news from irresponsible parties.
Also, students are more competent in acting as journalists and spreading more news that the Papuan should hear instead. Any followings training will probably reoccur as the follow-up of this current journalistic training.
