Fighting Fake News: A Session with Mr. Abdul Latheef Naha, Correspondent of The Hindu

Readers' and Quiz Club organised an interactive session on the critical issue of fake news and the evolving landscape of journalism at PM SHRI Kendriya Vidyalaya Kanjikode. The session, titled "Newsmatters: Fighting Fake News and Media Opportunities," featured Mr. Abdul Latheef Naha, an esteemed correspondent from The Hindu. His vast experience in the media industry made him an ideal speaker to shed light on the intricacies of journalism, the responsibilities of the press, and the challenges posed by the proliferation of fake news.

The event commenced with a warm welcome by Principal Mr. Harilal S, who introduced the chief guest, Mr. Abdul Latheef Naha. The Principal emphasized the importance of understanding the role of the media in shaping public opinion and how crucial it is for students to have a discerning approach to news consumption.

Mr. Naha took the stage and immediately captivated the audience with his deep knowledge of the media landscape. He explained the inner workings of a newspaper, outlining how news is reported, verified, and disseminated to the public. He elaborated on the significant role newspapers play in society.

Mr. Naha shared practical strategies for identifying misinformation in today’s digital age, where news spreads faster than ever. He provided useful tools for verifying news and stressed the importance of fact-checking before sharing information. He emphasised how fact checking is done before publishing any news in the newspapers.

The students were eager to learn about Mr. Naha’s own career as a journalist. He shared his journey of choosing journalism as a profession, explaining his passion for news reporting, truth-seeking, and the role of the media in shaping social change. He highlighted the ethical challenges faced by journalists in the field, the pressures of reporting in a digital-first era, and the responsibility to be fair, balanced, and objective.

The students did not hesitate to engage Mr. Naha with their questions. Whether it was about how to pursue a career in journalism, the rise of social media platforms, or how to discern fake news from reliable sources, Mr. Naha answered every query with patience and clarity. His approachable demeanor and readiness to listen to each question made the session even more engaging.

Miss Agmeya, a student representative, shared her feedback on the session, expressing how enlightening and informative it was.

Mast. Aman Rahman, the Secretary of the Readers' Club, concluded the event by delivering the vote of thanks. He expressed gratitude to Mr. Naha for his time, valuable insights, and thought-provoking discussion.

The session with Mr. Abdul Latheef Naha was an overwhelming success, and it underscored the importance of responsible journalism and media literacy in today’s world.