Abstract:
This study examined how Nigerians understood fake news. It took a qualitative
approach, conducting in-depth interviews with 30 journalists to determine their
understanding of fake news and explore how media literacy can help combat
fake news. The sample was purportedly drawn from Nigeria’s six geopolitical
zones to ensure representativeness. Gatekeeping Theory and Public Sphere
Theory were used to better understand how journalists use their professional
role of vetting information and releasing only credible information to the public.
The analyzed data show that social networks facilitate the spread of false news
more than mainstream media. The findings also show that fake news spreads
due to factors such as time constraints, clickbait, user-generated content, and
competitiveness. Media literacy is important because it serves as the foundation
for being an informed and critical thinker; thus, the study recommends, among
other things, that media outlets evaluate and cross-check their sources, as well
as encourage politicians and government officials to be cautious in their choice
of words, as they have the potential to spread rapidly and incite violence.
