DIGITAL BROADCASTING AND MEDIA LITERACY: COMBATING FAKE NEWS IN IN ABRAKA

Digital communication has expanded access to news in Nigeria while allowing false and misleading information to circulate. This study examined digital broadcasting and media literacy as approaches to combating fake news in Abraka, Delta State. It sought to examine the role of digital broadcasting in the circulation and public awareness of fake news, assess residents' media literacy in identifying, evaluating, and verifying fake news, and examine how both help combat fake news. Gatekeeping Theory and Inoculation Theory anchored the study. A descriptive survey design was adopted, and a structured questionnaire was administered to residents selected through simple random sampling from a population of 83,184, with 200 respondents determined using the Taro Yamane formula. Data from 177 respondents were analysed using frequencies, percentages, and mean scores. Findings showed digital platforms are established news sources (grand mean = 3.13), yet residents frequently encounter fake news and find genuine reports hard to distinguish when sharing is rapid (83.1%). Media literacy was reasonable (grand mean = 2.97) but weakest in recognising manipulated pictures and videos (61.6%). Respondents strongly supported fact-checking, media literacy education, broadcaster programmes, and stakeholder collaboration (grand mean = 3.33). It recommends sustained media literacy education, credible broadcasting practices, and collaborative verification.