World Communication Day: Church Condemns Fake News, Calls For Fasting

A call has gone to all media practitioners in Nigeria and the world over to avoid fake and negative news, because they are antithetical to the human and societal development.
The National Director of Social Communications, Catholic Secretariat, Abuja, Rev. Fr. Michael Umoh gave the advice during a recent ceremony marking the 2025 Catholic World Communications Day, held at Corpus Christi Cathedral, Port Harcourt Diocese.
Rev. Fr. Umoh told his audience to ensure that they always verified their reports before going to press with them. He said that rather than help, fake news destroys individuals and the society.
He called for a declaration of “media fasting”, and “check your media diet” by media people. The Theme of the Day was, “Share With Gentleness the Hope that is in your Heart”,.
The Chairman of the occasion, Dr. Francis Chukwudifu, identified lack of communication as a major problem with society.
He challenged the Church to record all homilies, noting that good homilies cool failed hearts. He deprecated unnecessary playing of secular music, and the spread of fake reports by internet.
The Catholic Director of Social Communications, Port Harcourt Diocese, Rev. Fr. Dr. Ikokwu Onwunchekwa, urged media practitioners not to be carried away by hearsay but critically examine information uploaded to them.
“To address the challenges of communication today, we must recognize that the media can be both a help and a hindrance. While it can enable people to share their stories and stay in contact with distant friends, it can also become a way to avoid listening to others and fill every moment of silence,” he explained.
Rev. Dr. Onwunchekwa stated that the greatest challenge facing all today, is to learn once again how to talk to one another, encouraging all to support one another and become agents of hope.
Vice Chairman of Nigerian Union of Journalists, NUJ, Rivers State Council, Comrade Kelvin Nengi, who represented the Chairman, commended the Church for the celebration of the Day.
He appealed to the Church to continue to support the media, and praised the Church for all it has done, and has been doing, and prayed God to bless the Catholic Church.
Nengi urged the parents to see how they can leverage on the message to redirect the attitudes of their children to ensuring that they curb the influence of social media on them.
The Chairperson of Nigerian Association of Women Journalists, NAWOJ, Rivers State Chapter, Mrs. Susan Serekara said NAWOJ is dedicated to improving the welfare of women journalists.