FAAPA Meeting Highlights Need to Combat Fake News, Promote Fact-Checking

Featuring experts, journalists and media professionals, the panelists called for promoting collaboration and sharing knowledge and best practices to effectively counter disinformation, which poses a serious threat to the integrity of the information landscape.

Participants praised the establishment of a FAAPA network dedicated to fact-checking and combating fake news, describing it as “dynamic” and “effective.”

They also emphasized that information verification is fundamental to journalism, asserting that reporters must engage in diligent verification and cross-checking to provide credible and accurate news.

Panelists stressed the growing necessity of fact-checking for media professionals in an era marked by rapid technological advancements, including Artificial Intelligence (AI) and the proliferation of social media, which often serve as conduits for misinformation.

While new technologies can amplify the risks associated with disinformation, they also present opportunities for enhanced information verification. The speakers urged media professionals to leverage these advancements to bolster their skills and training.

However, they cautioned that Africa is increasingly becoming a “fertile ground” for disinformation, which could threaten regional peace and sovereignty. They called for African news agencies to embrace AI and invest in training journalists to better understand and utilize fact-checking practices.

To combat fake news effectively, the panelists argued that African press agencies must establish dedicated fact-checking services equipped with the necessary human and logistical resources. They asserted that the credibility of media institutions hinges on their ability to fulfill this mission.

This dual approach involves not only raising awareness among young people about the risks of disinformation but also addressing challenges posed by social media.

If African press agencies can harness new technologies while upholding core journalistic values, they can emerge as influential players in the global media landscape, the panel concluded.