A two-day Masterclass Fact-checking training for Civil Society Organizations organized by Africa Check in partnership with The Stage Media-Liberia took place recently at a local hotel in Monrovia, Liberia.
Campaigners against misinfo and disinfo Executive Director, Taweh Johnson was selected to form part of the training and was certificated at the end of the fact-checking training. According to Taweh Johnson, this Fact-checking training will enhance the work of Campaigners against misinfo and disinfo in Liberia. Besides, Taweh Johnson said learning how to fact-check matters because Liberians go to the polls in October 2023 and many politicians will make all sorts of claims. Fact-checking those claims is paramount in order to maintain an accurate information ecosystem in Liberia during and after the Presidential and Legislative Elections.
Africa Check is working with The STAGE Media on a US State Department funded project on fact-checking and verification masterclass 2023 for civil society organizations . The training ran from May 10-11. It focused on understanding how and why false information spreads, recognizing false information online, using online verification and geolocation tools to verify the origin of photos and videos, as well as where to look for data that can be used to confirm the accuracy of information. Ms. Cayley Clifford, Deputy Editor of Africa Check, led the masterclass. She lectured the audience on the significance of accurate fact-checking. Cayley asserted that there are more fact-checking tools available, some of which are more complex than others, and that it is crucial to choose the one that will provide the desired result.
Bettie Johnson Mbayo, a co-partner at The Stage Media, shared her expertise in fact-checking at the same time. As Liberia prepares to hold its much awaited elections in October 2023, Madam Mbayo believes that Civil Society Organizations should take advantage of the training.
The Management of Campaigners against misinfo and disinfo in Liberia is grateful to Africa Check and The STAGE Media for organizing this Fact-checking Training for Civil Society Organizations in Liberia.
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