ILMA University elevated its training to another level altogether by organizing a virtual discussion session with a world-renowned media & communication trainer Dr. Donna Halper in part of its ILMA Experiential Learning Lecture Series in association with Communication Association of Pakistan (COMMSPK) through its partners Noman Group of Companies, Global Educational Society, Tarbiyat, Rotary Pakistan 3271 and Rapido. This professional development conservation revolved around the title, Impact of Fake News. Dr. Donna, Associate Professor, Lesley University, USA and Associate Editor, Journal of Media & Communication, on 9th January 2021. The session was hosted by Syed Kashif Rafi, Registrar and Director International linkages & Opportunities, ILMA University, and moderated by Mr. Farhan Ahmed, Head of Communications, HBL. The virtual session was attend by a larger of participants from corporate sector, academia and the industry which was telecast live on all social media platforms.

The session highlighted the impact of fake news and its implications on the viewers far and wide. It was able to shed light on those aspects that were actually making headlines but their authenticity, as well as reliability, were dubious. This just went to prove that all the news circulated on media and social media could not be accepted at face value without further check and balance.

Dr Donna commented, ‘However much we want the media to present a true picture, there are elements of distortion and political mandates woven into it which makes it difficult to separate the truth from falsehood.’

The closing remarks were delivered by Dr. Yasmeen Sultana, Acting Dean, Faculty of Media & Design, ILMA University.