A significant forum was held yesterday under the “No Cap Just Facts” campaign, an initiative led by students of the Bachelor of Arts in Media and Public Relations at The Maldives National University (MNU). The event aimed to educate participants on practical methods for verifying the authenticity of information and curbing the spread of false content.
The forum brought together approximately 80 students from various schools across Malé as well as multiple academic programmes within MNU. As part of the event, a panel discussion featuring four distinguished experts in the field provided clear insights into the difference between misinformation—false information shared unknowingly—and disinformation—false information shared with the intent to deceive. Panelists also equipped participants with practical strategies to critically evaluate information encountered in daily life.
The ninety-minute session featured notable speakers including Mohamed Maahil, Executive Committee Member of the Maldives Journalists Association (MJA); Aisha Adnan, Founder of Women in Tech; Ahmed Afru Rasheed, Visiting Lecturer at MNU; and Aishath Isha, former Legal Director at iCom.
The forum was graced by the presence of the Minister of Homeland Security, Ali Ihusaan, who delivered remarks highlighting the increasing urgency of media literacy in the digital age. Minister Ihusaan underscored that the unintended spread of misinformation can cause damage far exceeding that of the original incident. He noted that while disseminating information to large audiences once took months or years, it can now occur within seconds—leaving little time to clarify or correct inaccuracies.
The Minister also emphasized the importance of responsibly exercising the right to access information, noting that current legislation provides ample opportunity for the public to obtain accurate and credible data.
Addressing the audience, Asim Abdulsattar, Dean of the Faculty of Arts, highlighted the need for university curricula to evolve in response to global developments. He explained that MNU’s journalism programme had been revised in line with these changes, resulting in the launch of the Bachelor of Arts in Media and Public Relations. The Dean noted that students currently enrolled in the programme represent a significant new chapter for the university and expressed hope that they would continue to apply their academic knowledge in meaningful ways that benefit society.
The “No Cap Just Facts” campaign forms a key component of the communication campaign module taught within the programme. According to Dean Asim, the initiative provides students with essential hands-on experience while enabling them to contribute positively to the community.
