The Start Times media company has joined calls by the United Nations Educational, Scientific and Cultural Organization (UNESCO) to combat misinformation and disinformation during this Coronavirus pandemic.
In a press release sent to newsrooms on Thursday, the organization which boasts of over 10 million subscribers noted that they hope to leverage on their online presence to help the UN body achieve its course of ensuring that young people use their creativity and innovation to combat the same.
“UNESCO’s launch of the campaign under Media and Information is designed to encourage young men and women to identify and leverage their creativity and innovation to combat mis- and disinformation on COVID-19.
In support of the campaign, StarTimes Media has leveraged on its online presence calling for increased attention and participation across its over 10 million followers. To further promote the best works of the campaign, access to the Top 10 winners’ videos is now available on StarTimes ON, the streaming video APP used by over 20 million users across Africa,” read part of the statement.
“To join the campaign against fake news on COVID-19 is part of the long term collaboration with UNESCO, we hope to further contribute to the local cultural development in near future. As a leading media group operated in Africa, we understand the responsibility to communicate true messages in time as we leverage on our network resources to reach the majority of the population.” said Luis Lu, the vice president of StarTimes Group.
The company also noted that the COVID-19 pandemic did not only present a health challenge but also opened an avenue for distortion of information especially across the media channels that has sadly affected even our mental health.
“The campaign against Dis- and Mis-Information on COVID-19″ provided a platform for the creative interpretation of the importance of authentic information regarding the pandemic,” the statements concludes.
