The training has reinforced my learning about the dangers of false information; I learned new techniques and tools for information verification to counter disinformation. The application of the knowledge acquired in this training will boost our platform, increase its visibility and credibility.
One of her Gambian counterparts in the training, Famara Badjie of the Gambia Radio and Television Services (GRTS), has this to say: "I have gained insights into information literacy and its significant role in fact-checking. Additionally, I have learned to critically assess various claims based on factors such as relevance, significance, impact, and public interest.
The training also introduced me to various tools that can be employed for effective fact-checking. As a practitioner engaged in television, radio, and online media platforms, the knowledge I have acquired from this training will not only enhance my contributions but will also benefit our entire institution. I am committed to upholding and enhancing the credibility of our organisation within the media landscape as the public relies on it for its credibility.
Famara and Ivanira are two of 30 journalists from The Gambia and Guinea Bissau who were trained on advanced fact-checking covering open-source intelligence, geolocation analysis, and search engine investigations. Implemented by the Media Academy for Journalism and Communication, the training was part of the UNESCO component of the UN Peacebuilding Fund-funded project titled 鈥楽trengthening the National Infrastructure for Peace to Promote Social Cohesion in The Gambia鈥 in The Gambia.
Speaking on behalf of the Government of The Gambia at the opening ceremony of the training, Mrs Naomi Williams, Deputy Permanent Secretary of the Ministry of Information, noted that the training represented a significant investment in the future of journalism and democracy, not just in The Gambia, but across the West African sub-region.
In an age where the rapid spread of false information can destabilise societies, undermine public trust, and threaten peace, empowering journalists with the skills to verify facts and provide accurate, reliable information is crucial to sustaining our hard-won freedoms and promoting resilient, informed communities.
The senior government officials further highlighted the importance of fact-checking, saying it is a shield against divisive narratives that can sow discord and breed conflict. Fact-checking also facilitates cohesion-building, nurturing understanding, and promoting the value of tolerance and unity that are essential for lasting peace. Therefore, Mrs Williams said, skills and knowledge in fact-checking not only enrich professional practice but also contribute significantly to safeguarding peace and democracy.
Michel Elvis Kenmoe, head of the Communication and Information Sector of UNESCO Dakar, noted that the training was designed to introduce journalists and community media professionals to strategies of safeguarding information integrity 鈥 a holistic concept encompassing transparency, accountability, and accuracy of information from creation to storage and use.
鈥The training is designed to bridge theory and practice through case studies and collaborative exercises,鈥 he explained.
For James Badjie, Director of Training at the Media Academy for Journalism and Communications, the three-day training was a 鈥bold stride towards equipping journalists and community media with the tools to combat the tidal wave of disinformation threatening democracy鈥.
Modou S. Joof, secretary general of the Gambia Press Union, reaffirmed that journalists play a crucial role in promoting democracy and good governance.
In today鈥檚 world, fact-checking becomes the best mechanism of ensuring information integrity and fighting disinformation, which has now been normalised by various political and social actors.
