Posted on November 12, 2020
On 31 August 2020 the Department of Library Services (DLS) hosted the first instalment of the Scholarly Conversations series, themed Academic integrity in the age of misinformation. This series of talks is hosted monthly by the DLS. Over 150 academics, researchers and professional staff attended the session, which was an opportunity to engage in conversations on the issue of academic integrity while appreciating that in academia, research and scholarship, as well as the information eco-system are about conversations, and the digital age provides opportunities to advance scholarly conversations. As information professionals, scholars and researchers, we are also aware that scholarly conversations can be disrupted by information disorders, such as misinformation and other unethical practices, in the way we use information, what information we use and how we share information.
It was an honour for the DLS to partner with the Vice Chancellor of the University of Pretoria, Professor Tawana Kupe, who led the conversation with Ms Marystella Auma Simiyu from the Law faculty at the University of Pretoria. Professor Kupe’s talk, If it is fake, it is not news, addressed the issue of fake news, emphasising that “…we should not normalise fake news. We must call it what it really is: lies, misinformation, distortion and misrepresentation”. He added that fake news poses a risk to academic integrity, socio economic development and democracy. His talk has been published on https://www.up.ac.za/news/post_2919223-if-it-is-fake-it-is-not-news-prof-tawana-kupe-on-the-context-in-which-fake-news-has-arisen as an opinion piece. Approaching the conversation from a different perspective, Ms Simiyu’s talk provided anecdotal evidence that included challenges of misinformation and disinformation, information and social media literacy, focusing broadly on what countries like South Africa have done, the efforts made by the private sector and what individuals can do moving forward.
As a member of the organising team and moderator for the session, it was quite pleasing to note that the webinar was well-attended, well-received and appreciated by participants, judging by the level of engagement with the speakers and the post-webinar evaluation feedback, with one respondent commenting, “Stimulating webinar… food for thought.”
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