‘Be wary of social media risks’

JOURNALISTS and media practitioners have been urged to be wary of challenges, risks and threats that comes with social media.

Livingstone Mayor, Eugene Mapuwo, said that currently, there were so many issues that were affecting journalists in carrying out their day to day duties and that practioners should be wary of social media usage.

The mayor was speaking during the opening of a one-day workshop for journalists and members of civil society organisations oat Sunset Lodge in Livingstone.

In a speech ready on by the deputy mayor, Grandwell Chibamba, the mayor noted that citizen journalism was thriving and attracting attention on a large scale.

To journalists and media practitioners, you need to protect your personal data because today, you have people who steal information about other people online”—

Mr Mapuwo.

Mr Mapuwo said that in view of this, citizen journalists must follow journalism and media ethics to avoid jeopardising the wor of ualified practitioners.

The workshop was organised by Bloggers of Zambia.

“The internet is the future of all economies. The battle for democracy has shifted from the physical spaces where we are but it has gone online where citizens are engaged in the exchange of ideas, opinions and accessing information.

“To journalists and media practitioners, you need to protect your personal data because today, you have people who steal information about other people online,” Mr Mapuwo said.

He said that Citizen Journalism was currently thriving because of the revolution of internet and must be supported but with caution.

The workshop attracted participants from Namwala, Monze, Choma, Kalomo and Livingstone Districts.

The Bloggers of Zambia with support from the National Endowment for Democracy (NED) is implementing a project titled pening the pace’ whose aim is to coordinate a campaign defending freedom of expression online in Zambia.