Proper remuneration of journalists will curb the spread of fake news and misinformation, as well as foster development in Africa.
Catholic Bishops in Africa, under the auspices of the Pan-African Episcopal Committee for Social Communications (CEPACS), made the call at the weekend ahead of the Golden Jubilee Celebration of CEPACS in Lagos.
The conference is billed to hold on Sunday and Monday in Lagos.
The president of the CEPACS and the Bishop of Oyo Diocese, The Most Reverend Emmanuel Badejo, who bemoaned the negative impact of fake news, stressed that the media shaped the culture of the society.
He, however, said with better pay and capacity development, the menace would be curbed.
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The CEPACS president stated that the Catholic Church had remained positive about the media as a “gift of God” towards ensuring social justice and spreading of the gospel.
Badejo explained that the Golden Jubilee celebration was an opportunity for the Synod to appraise milestones recorded in promoting communication excellence across Africa.
Also, the communication coordinator, Association of Member Episcopal Conference of Eastern Africa (AMECEA), Fr. Andrew Kaufa, said the church had trained over 200 persons in the area of communication.