Shabbar Naqvi
KARACHI: The Department of Media, Art & Design at Greenwich University organized a highly engaging panel discussion titled "Navigating Fake News in the Digital Era" on Thursday at its DHA campus. The event brought together leading journalists, editors, and media professionals to address the growing challenge of misinformation and disinformation in today's digital landscape.
Held at the university auditorium, the event drew a large audience comprising students, scholars, and media practitioners who participated in meaningful discussions on journalistic ethics, digital literacy, and the evolving responsibilities of the media.
The panel discussion was divided into two insightful sessions.
Session One was moderated by Dr. Sundus Basharat Ahmad, Assistant Professor and Program Manager, International Relations at DHA Suffa University. The panel featured:
o Mubashir Mir, Senior Journalist, Analyst, and Resident Editor, Daily Pakistan, Karachi o Mazhar Abbas, Senior Journalist and Columnist, Geo News and Daily Jang

o Tariq Moin Siddiqui, Bureau Chief, Geo News, Karachi

o Syeda Hoor Shumail, Editor-in-Chief, Pakistan State Time (Digital News Media)

This session focused on the rapid spread of misinformation and emphasized the ethical obligations of media professionals to ensure fact-based, impartial, and transparent reporting.

Session Two, moderated by broadcast journalist Iqbal Jamil, explored the role of digital journalism and media literacy in combating fake news. Panelists included:

o Manzar Naqvi, Editor-in-Chief, The Financial Daily

o Syed Khalid Mehmood, Author, Journalist, Blogger, and Analyst

o Muhammad Nazakat Ali, Chief Editor, KarachiObserver.com

o Ali Asghar, Senior Journalist, PTV Karachi

Speakers shared real-world examples and stressed the need for robust strategies to identify and counter fake news on social media and other digital platforms. They called for enhanced media literacy and joint efforts by media institutions, academia, and civil society to cultivate critical thinking and ensure information integrity.

The event concluded with an interactive Q&A session, during which participants engaged directly with the panelists. In closing remarks, Iqbal Jamil, along with Dr. UzmaQazi and Dr. Sabir Ahmed of Greenwich University, reaffirmed the institution's commitment to promoting responsible journalism and announced plans to continue hosting similar initiatives to support ethical media practices.