On November 6, few online portals reported fake news over the death of veteran comedian Manoj Gajurel, who is currently admitted to the hospital because of COVID-19. People began to pay their condolences for a “living man.” With no fact check availability, innocent Nepalis posted their sympathies for a person who is doing fine now in the ICU.
The editors of these attention-seeking portals must have no sense of journalism. That’s why they did not hesitate to approve misleading information. This issue is no new thing for countries like Nepal. With access to hassle-free registration, new online portals get registered, and they get desperate to attract the readers.
With fierce criticism, the portals were bound to delete the contents. However, nobody can assure these types of “fake news” will not repeat.
Yellow Journalism and Fake News in Nepal
According to the U.S. Office of the Historian, “Yellow Journalism is a practice started in America. In this practice, misleading and no legitimate news was presented in the newspapers. Instead, eye-catchy headlines were introduced to seek readers.”
Yellow Journalism died in America years ago. But this type of practice is a new thing for Nepali media. With attractive clickbait, alluring titles, online media tries to solicit the average Nepali readers’ attention.
But after the pandemic, there is a surge of manipulating information over social media. Many of these portals have genuinely registered websites—they also contain verified Facebook and YouTube accounts.
Articles are written, videos get published over COVID-19 without proper knowledge and understanding. It is creating polarization in Nepali people. People present false facts quoting as “COVID-19 is a little flu.”
These types of news are dissecting Nepali people and intentionally forcing them to think of COVID-19. As a result, Nepal sees a rise in coronavirus cases after the opening of lockdown.
Lack of Fact Check Policy in Nepal
Social media giant Facebook, Twitter, and video-sharing website YouTube do not have a fact check policy in countries like Nepal. In the English language, misleading articles are now getting checked twice and labeled false in social media.
Facebook and Twitter are now deleting the account, which regulates deceptive news. YouTube is also deleting the videos presenting conspiracy theories like coronavirus caused by 5G or a human-made virus.
However, this facility is not available in the Nepali language. That’s why numerous “news” videos are uploaded on YouTube through different channels with no sense of journalism at all.
Nowadays, anyone can create a YouTube channel, upload a conspiracy theory video, and become a journalist. Sadly, the Government of Nepal or its IT department does not pay attention to these malicious videos. Neither the Government has an interest in doing a tie-up with social media.
Ramon Magsaysay award-winning Indian journalist Ravish Kumar explains,
“News is no news at all, these are false claims. To delete these, a new expert has entered in the market—fact-checking expert.”
Also, Read This Article: How Indian Media Spreads Fake News about Nepal
What Next?
The Government of Nepal should upgrade its centralized IT cell system to remove misappropriate articles and videos. It should recruit a skilled workforce to work. Without any biasness, the Government should ban the portals which intentionally circulate fake news.
The newly appointed informational and technology minister of Nepal, Parbat Gurung, has promised to take action against the media companies which broadcast false claims. However, in the upcoming days, we have to see if he has the guts to do so.
In Conclusion
People should step up and become aware of baseless information available on the internet. They should research twice, thrice to be sure. People should not follow misleading claims which are not from the authentic media.
The government should also act as a parent to protect the innocent Nepali people who do not practice doing research. It should strictly impose a ban on conspiracy theories, fake news content creators. In the end, it will develop a habit of fact-based journalism.