Mpinganjira urges PR professionals to uphold integrity
FDH Financial Holdings Limited chief executive officer Thomson Mpinganjira has urged public relations professionals in the country to uphold integrity by telling the truth if they are to protect their institutions from damage.
He said this on Friday in Mangochi on the sidelines of the Public Relations Society of Malawi (PRSM) Annual Lakeshore Conference held under the theme Enhancing the Role of PR in Digital Age: Implications for Practitioners.
Mpinganjira, who was the keynote speaker at the conference, observed that the digital world has presented to the media a number of challenges and opportunities, saying fake news is a major challenge.
“Fake news has tarnished the image of individuals, institutions and the country. The menace has not spared the private sector and it affects the growth of businesses.
“Therefore, let me implore the PR practitioners to be honest and trustworthy to build people’s trust when dispelling false information,” he said.
Mpinganjira, who was presented with an honorary fellow award during the conference for his contributions to Malawi and the PR profession, lauded PR professionals for being proactive.
PRSM executive member and the awards committee chairperson Thom Khanje said it remains the grouping’s desire to ensure that PR professionals shape the country.
On the award, he said Mpinganjira has done great things to the nation in the form of socio-economic development as an entrepreneur and corporate social responsibility as well as supporting the PR profession in the country with sponsorship for two consecutive years.
Khanje, however, called on institutions to have public relations officers to save their corporate image and facilitate easy access to information.
The conference largely discussed effects of digital media and fake news on organisations.
