…. For Participating in a two-day fact-checking and verification masterclass
By: Leila B. Gbati
Stage Media Liberia in collaboration with Africa Check has certificated about 20 Liberian journalists for participating in a two-day fact-checking and verification masterclass for journalists.
The training brought journalists from across the various counties which commenced on May 8-9, 2023 held at Murex Plaza, 10th Street Sinkor.
The training was intended to educate journalists on fact-checking process including how to identify false information online, know where and how to find data that can be used to verify the accuracy of the information, how to use online verification and geolocation tools to verify the origin of photos and videos, etc.
Speaking at the closing ceremony, Bettie K. Johnson Mbayo, Founder of Stage Media Liberia thanked Africa Check for affording Liberian journalists the opportunity to have the experience of fact-checking.
Mrs. Mbayo said over time it has been something difficult specifically at the time the country is headed to elections and there will lot of misinformation and disinformation as such Stage Media is not capacitated to verify or ensure that all of the claims are fact-check so when Africa Check reached out to them to see how they can train journalists in Liberia they felt that it was an opportunity to increase fact-checkers in Liberia.
“Am not sure that what you’ve learned is going to go to waste but it is your responsibility to ensure that what you’ve learned doesn’t go into waste specifically at your various institutions and it’s my hope that you make use of what you’ve learned over the period of two days,” she told journalists.
Mrs. Mbayo used the time to specifically thank, Cayley Clifford, Deputy Chief Editor of Africa Check for affording Liberian journalists the opportunity emphasizing that they cannot thank her much because they don’t have a gown to place on her but all of the journalists are grateful that she provided a new breed of journalism to Liberian journalists.
Additionally, she told journalists that Stage Media is available to look at some of the claims that they wish to fact-check at the same time urging them that if there is a claim that they want to fact-check even though they do not have all of the expertise but with the experience they have will help and Africa Check is there to ensure that all of the claims are checked probably.
She also told journalists that Stage Media is there to publish if any of them do a fact-check and they should feel free to call upon them for help at any time for fact-checking.
“We cannot do fact-checking alone, it has to be collective work and I know that I can count on all of you please make use of the training, Cayley is carrying a positive message back to Africa Check,” Mrs. Mbayo concluded.
Also speaking, Cayley Clifford, Deputy Chief Editor of Africa Check said it was a very well experience to visit Liberia and everyone has been so welcoming and friendly but more than that to be able to share Architects fact-checking knowledge with journalists so that they can be able to monitor public debate.
Ms. Clifford stressed that as Liberia go to election in October 2023 it is going to be increasingly important for journalists (participants) to monitor claims that are made in public debate emphasizing that it is important that people feel empowered with the correct information before they go to the polls.
“I hope that you were able to learn a lot from the training and that you will use this if not specifically to do fact-checking reports then you take away what you’ve learned to use in your everyday work as a journalist. Stage Media is there, Africa Check is here and if you like to reach out with any fact-checking work you are doing because we love to keep in touch and see how you are using these skills,” she stated.
Ms. Clifford also used the time to thank Stage Media Liberia for being accommodating and organizing and handling all of the logistics emphasizing that they would not have been able to put up something if they didn’t have a partner to rely on.
She encouraged journalists to look out for opportunities from Africa Check such as fellowship programs to be able to come to South Africa and meet with the team in their office to learn some of the work they do.
For their part, the journalists extended thanks and appreciation to Stage Media and Africa Check for the training which came in time especially when the country is nearing election and knowing very well that they are responsible to provide accurate information that will enable electrics to make informed decisions.
The journalists said that the training cannot be over-emphasized because they learned a lot over the past two days, especially for some of them who have not had the opportunity to learn from fact-checking training.
According to the journalists, the training should not be the last time and they hope to learn more.
Stage Media (TSM) is Liberia’s first fact-checking media institution with the overarching vision of mitigating misinformation and disinformation.
Africa Check is a non-profit fact-checking organization set up in 2012 to promote accuracy in public debate and the media in Africa. The organization’s goal is to raise the quality of information available to society across the continent. Africa Check is an independent organization with offices in Johannesburg, Nairobi, Lagos, Dakar, and London, producing reports in English and French testing claims made by public figures, institutions, and the media against the best available evidence.
