The discussion was organized by the University of Limpopo (South Africa). Sputnik Ethiopia Head Alexander Shchipin took part in an online meeting with University of Limpopo lecturers and students and discussed the significance of spreading authentic information in conditions of global and local international conflicts. He also unveiled the Russian side’s opinion regarding the current state of international media communications.
First, Alexander Shchipin recalled the heroic conduct of the agency’s journalists, who gave their lives in the line of duty. Speaking about the importance of spreading high-quality information about global developments, the journalist noted that “interaction and communication are called on to prevent conflicts.” According to Alexander Shchipin, “information is being weaponized, and those who can spread it control the minds of millions.”
“Misinformation and the spreading of a priori fake news breed additional violence and hatred. It is important to counter all this in order to preserve trust for media outlets and to prevent the slandering of experts and institutions honestly doing their journalist duty,” said Edgar Malatji, a senior lecturer with the Department of Communication, Media, and Information Studies at the University of Limpopo.
Earlier, Sputnik conducted several other online sessions for the University of Limpopo during the UN Global Media and Information Literacy Week.
The University of Limpopo, a state-owned university in Limpopo Province in the Republic of South Africa, was founded in 2005 following a merger between the University of the North and the Medical University of South Africa (MEDUNSA). The university offers multidisciplinary courses, including the humanities, medicine, and agriculture.