By Alhagie Babou Jallow
Media for Journalism and Communication MAJaC last week conducted a three –day training for 25 journalists on fighting misinformation, disinformation, and mal-information with verification skills for fake news, pictures and videos.
Speaking at the opening of the training, at MAJaC in Fajara, the Secretary General of the of The Gambia Press Union, Mr Modou Joof, who doubles as the lead trainer, said that the training would boost the capacities and skills of young journalists to positively contribute to combating fakeå news, saying the public deserves reliable and accurate
Mr Joof further stated that fact checkers played an important role during the 2021 presidential election, as they ensured there was a free, fair, and transparent election.
The project manager, Meta Touray, also affirmed that the training was meant to boost journalists’ requisite knowledge for fact-checking and to encourage dissemination of accurate information.
“MAJaC has trained over 46 journalists from both print and electronic media who are now fact-checkers” she reported.
She commended UNESCO for the support, stating that it would significantly contribute to the collective mission of combating fake news, which she stressed negatively impacts journalists’ work.
The Managing Director of MAJaC, Mr Sang Mendy urged participants to take the training seriously, and explained that at the end of the training, participants are expected to pitch story ideas and would be provided with reporting grants to produce fact-check reports.
Ngenarr Yassin Jeng, UNESCO representative, expressed appreciation for the partnership, which she said is significant for strengthening institutional capacities of both media and CSOs to uphold democracy and the rule of law.
Cherno Omarr Boob, a reporter from Point Newspaper; and Omar P Jallow of Gambia Radio and Television Services (GRTS), both underscored the importance of the training.
