Paynesville – As a part of ongoing efforts to advertise info integrity and strengthen media literacy in Liberia, Native Voices Liberia has efficiently performed a one-day fact-checking symposium for college kids and younger media practitioners on the Liberia Studying Middle in Paynesville.
The occasion was organized by LVL Truth-Checking Desk as a part of the Liberia Media Empowerment Undertaking (LMEP) to reinforce the data and expertise of scholars and younger media practitioners. It was accomplished in partnership with Internews with funding from the European Union.
The symposium, held in collaboration with PROJAL College School, introduced collectively greater than 60 journalism and communication college students for intensive discussions on how misinformation spreads, methods to confirm claims, and the accountability of future journalists in defending the general public info house to strengthen Liberia’s democracy.
The occasion types a part of the Liberia Media Empowerment Undertaking carried out by Internewswith assist from the European Union, aimed toward enhancing journalism training, constructing vital pondering expertise, and supporting knowledgeable democratic participation.
Talking in the course of the opening, Ms. Rita Jlogbe, Journalism Program Officer at Internews, underscored how disinformation travels quick, particularly on-line, whereas encouraging college students to undertake verification as a behavior earlier than sharing or reporting any info.
“Truth-checking is not only a newsroom exercise; it’s a tradition of accountability,” Ms. Jlogbe stated. “You have to guarantee the knowledge you share is true, as a result of the general public depends on you for info which helps them make knowledgeable selections”.
A PowerPoint presentation, “Truth Examine 101,”delivered by Atty. Alpha Daffae Senkpeni, Government Director and Editor of Native Voices Liberia, launched journalism college students to verification strategies, supply analysis methods, and the way evidence-based reporting strengthens public trustand avert battle.
“When misinformation goes unchecked, itweakens our democracy,” Atty. Senkpeni stated. “Your work as future journalists is a frontline protection towards the unfold of disinformation that seeks to disrupt the democratic tenants of our Nation.
A serious spotlight of the symposium was a sturdy professional panel dialogue, moderated by Ms. Fabine Kwiah, Broadcaster on the Liberia Broadcasting System (LBS). The dialogue examined how disinformation influences governance, media accountability, and public belief, and what college students should study to counter these challenges.
Following the presentation, a panel dialogue that includes two panelists offered broader insights and perspective about how disinformation threatens democracy.
The panel featured two main voices in Liberia’s info and media ecosystem:
Peterking Quaye, Licensed AI Governance Skilled and Director of Applications & Initiatives at WAICTANT, challenged contributors to contemplate how rising applied sciences, together with AI, are shaping public info and political narratives. He cautioned that with out accountable expertise use, disinformation may grow to be more durable to detect, influencing voter habits and public debate.
Hannah N. Geterminah, Co-Founder and Chief Editor of The Stage Media (TSM), drew from real-time fact-checking subject expertise, demonstrating how rigorous verification, transparency, and adherence to IFCN requirements assist newsrooms keep credibility in an surroundings saturated with deceptive content material.
The 2 panelists emphasised that college students should bridge tutorial principle with sensible verification expertise, significantly in in the present day’s info surroundings the place accuracy is commonly sacrificed for pace.
The symposium generated lively pupil engagement, with contributors elevating questions on verification instruments, newsroom pressures, social media misinformation, and methods to apply fact-checking expertise in day-to-day reporting.
The symposium is one in a sequence of continued media literacy packages aimed toward constructing a truth-driven, accountable, and resilient info ecosystem in Liberia. This was the sixth version of the symposiums following comparable occasions held on the United Methodist College, College of Liberia, Peter Quaqua College of Journalism, amongst others. LVL is anticipated to carry the seventh version of the symposium with the AME College later this month.
