The Dean of the School of Journalism and Media Studies at the University of Media, Arts and Communication (UniMAC), Prof Godwin Etse Sikanku, has warned that the growing spread of misinformation and disinformation is eroding public confidence in the media and weakening journalism’s contribution to democratic governance and national development.Speaking at the opening of the inaugural State of Journalism, Media and Communication Conference (SJMCC 2026) on Wednesday, 15 July, Prof. Sikanku said journalism is undergoing one of the most significant periods of transformation in its history, driven by rapid technological advancement and the emergence of artificial intelligence (AI).According to him, while digital technologies have revolutionised news production and transformed the way audiences consume information, they have also created an environment in which false information spreads rapidly, undermining the credibility of the media.“Misinformation and disinformation continue to challenge democratic societies, and this has affected public trust in the media; it has affected the credibility of the media and the media’s own ability to be able to contribute in a very consensus way to national advancement.”Prof Sikanku noted that artificial intelligence and digital platforms are fundamentally reshaping journalism, making it imperative for scholars and media practitioners to rethink how the profession responds to emerging opportunities and challenges.“Artificial intelligence is reshaping news production, and digital platforms are now redefining how audiences consume information.”He said the conference had been convened to critically examine these developments and identify practical, innovative solutions to strengthen journalism and communication practice.“We are here to contemplate the effects of all of this and see how we can provide innovative solutions moving forward.”The Dean explained that the conference would provide a platform for rigorous academic research, meaningful dialogue and collaboration between researchers and industry practitioners.“We are going to engage in deep reflection, there’s going to be rigorous research going on, meaningful dialogues happening at this conference; this is why this conference matters.”He added that SJMCC 2026 was deliberately designed to bridge the gap between academic scholarship and professional practice.“SJMCC 2026 is designed as a meeting point between scholarship and professional practice.”According to Prof. Sikanku, bringing together experts from diverse disciplines would help generate evidence-based recommendations to guide journalism practice, media policy and the broader communication industry.“It brings together a lot of people from different industries and disciplines. It is an interdisciplinary one and hopefully we’ll be able to explore practical solutions and evidence-based research to guide the industry.”While noting that the conference is UniMAC’s first international research conference since the merger of the Ghana Institute of Journalism, the National Film and Television Institute and the Ghana Institute of Languages, Prof. Sikanku said its significance extends beyond the university.He expressed optimism that the ideas and research emerging from the two-day conference would contribute to strengthening journalism practice, informing media policy and restoring public trust in the media.