LAHORE: Special Assistant to Prime Minister Fahad Hussain says digital media should be used to stop societal polarisation and that a code of conduct and journalism ethics should be created for the positive use of social media.

Mr Hussain said on the opening day of a two-day international conference on “Revisiting Relationships between Journalism and Society in the Digital Age for Common Good” on Wednesday that the digital age is a reality, but the relationship between journalism and society is deteriorating.

Punjab University’s Department of Journalism Studies and the Institute of Education and Research hosted the conference at Faisal Auditorium.

He stated that journalism is no longer our primary source of information, but that consumers require accurate, thorough, and timely information. He stated that supplying credible information is a barrier that must be overcome in order to conduct a fair analysis, and that there is a need for training for social media users and journalists. He stated that we should use digital journalism to mend our society’s wounds.

Mr Hussain was given the title “professor” by PU Vice Chancellor Prof. Niaz Ahmad Akhtar for his thorough discussion of the topic. He stated that the School of Communication Studies has been reformed and that the departments are actively involved in the field of journalism.

According to publisher Mujeebur Rehman Shami, problems for journalists include a lack of quality journalism, fake news, and the proliferation of social media.He said that the conference would promote unity and strong linkages among the journalism community at the global level.

He said that more measures are needed to promote responsibility and ethics in journalism to provide security, empower, and strengthen the journalistic community.

He said that hostile countries want to spread religious and political chaos through social media, so experts should play a role to tackle the challenge.

Dr Mahmood said that social media is leading to the promotion of all activities in society.

Published in Dawn, February 9th, 2023