By Pita Ligaiula in Savusavu
Cook Islands News Editor Rashneel Kumar has called for Pacific media, civil society and universities to work together to tackle the growing threat of misinformation and disinformation across the region.
Speaking at the Pacific Media Summit in Savusavu, Kumar introduced ‘Check Pacific’, a new platform aimed at bringing regional organisations and practitioners together to respond to misinformation.
“We want our civil societies, our media practitioners, and universities to come together and work together to actually battle this misinformation,” Kumar said.
Kumar said misinformation and disinformation were major challenges for Pacific countries, particularly given the region’s geographical remoteness and separation.
“We’re talking about remoteness and how we are divided, and we’re trying to come together in an alliance,” he said.
Kumar said ‘Check Pacific’ was still in its early stages but had been an initiative he had considered for some time before launching it.
“Disinformation is a big issue, so it’s on the infant stage at the moment,” he said.
“It has been in my head for quite some time, and it has taken a bit of time to put it out to the world.”
He urged Pacific media practitioners, civil society groups and universities to engage with the platform and contribute ideas on how it could develop.
“We would like to hear from you all your views on how we can develop this and work together,” Kumar said.
Kumar, who has worked with Cook Islands News since 2015, said he was also pleased to have been granted permanent residency in the Cook Islands, giving him a connection to both the Cook Islands and Fiji.
He encouraged participants at the Pacific media gathering to visit ‘Check Pacific’ and explore the platform as regional efforts to address misinformation continue.
“Please go and check checkpacific.com,” he said.
