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This is, needless to say, easier said than done. Media have such a huge impact on our thought process that
neutrally and dispassionately evaluating media and information is a difficult task. Media is constantly
feeding us with such a huge amount of information that we are completely engulfed by these information

and whatever we say or do are influenced by the information and messages we received from media. This
creates an “echo chamber” in our mind where we encounter only those opinions or views which coincide
with our own views and we gradually grow intolerant to thoughts, ideas and opinions which are contrary
to our existing ideas and opinions. Media try to indoctrinate, influence and control us, and unless we are
media and information literate, our lives will be seriously jeopardized.

The ongoing COVID-19 pandemic is once in a lifetime experience for us. This global health crisis has
not only put our lives and livelihoods in danger, it also has fundamentally changed the way we view the
world. We are feeling doubtful about our future, the ideas and beliefs so dearly held for so long have been
shaken to their core and we are feeling helpless and uncertain. A whirlwind of misinformation and

disinformation –spread knowingly or unknowingly by millions of people- is exacerbating this
helplessness and uncertainty. Lies and fake news are spreading like wildfire-blurring our views and
rendering us helpless in the face of the pandemic. This is why António Guterres, the Secretary General
of the United Nations has equated misinformation with poison and has stressed the importance of
promoting science and solidarity. He has urged us to:

 Trust in science
 Trust in institutions-grounded in responsive, responsible, evidence-based governance and
leadership, and

 Trust in each other.

This trust can be can be strengthened and solidified if we are equipped with media and information literacy
skills and aptitudes. We need to know how various media – print, electronic, social – acts, how
information and media content are created, processed, searched, retrieved, evaluated and shared over

myriads of channels, how unscrupulous people benefit from our ignorance and indifference and how to
create our own media content and share it with others. We need to acquire 21st century competencies
which include critical thinking, collaboration, communication and leadership, among others. We cannot
be contented with being passive consumers of media contents - we have to be active contributor of new
media including social networking sites, blogs, podcasts, etc.

The world is standing at a crossroad. The decisions we take now will have far-reaching implications for
our future. If we can master the necessary skills for combating disinfodemic, we will be able to make the
best use of information – which is accurate, authentic and fact based. This will add value to all our
endeavors and help us overcome the challenges of modern times. Information professionals, in

Bangladesh and beyond, have a responsibility to enable and empower people and help them combat
disinfodemic. The information professionals can be the ideal torch-bearers for a knowledge society that
makes gainful use of information, knowledge and wisdom to build a better and brighter future for all.

Dr. Kazi Mostak Gausul Hoq
Professor and Chairman
Department of Information Science and Library Management
University of Dhaka, Bangladesh

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