By Lucky Isibor
The Director of Programme, Centre for Journalism Innovation and Development (CJID) Akintunde Babatunde, has said that journalists, election observers and fact checkers are indispensable in any democratic election.
Babatunde stated this in his opening remarks at a two-day training on digital skills and fact checking for journalists in Benin City as part of efforts to build their capacity ahead the Edo State governorship election slated for 21 September.
Babatunde who was represented by the Deputy Director, Accountability Programme CJID, Mboho Eno at the training held between March 21 and 22, deplored the series of misinformation that circulated during the run up to the 2023 general elections.
According to him, “Journalists, election observers and fact checkers are indispensable in an election of any country.
“When we invest in the media sector, the larger society is better for it. We are training the soldiers that will fight these misinformation.”
Speaking on Fact-checking: Steps and Methodology, Temilade Onilede pointed out fact checking plays a major role in halting the spread of misinformation and disinformation.
“It’s a major role in stopping the spread of misinformation and disinformation in the society, to provide clear and professionally rigorously-vetted information to consumers. It prevents misinformation”.
Other speakers who spoke include Silas Jonathan who spoke on “Google tools for fact-checking and digital verification skills and tools”, “Digital safety and security for journalists”, by Lateef Sanni; “Elections reporting, fact-checking and observer networks: Levarage and lessons for upcoming elections”, by Mboho Eno; while Lois Ugbede who spoke via zoom dwelt on the theme: “Understanding information disorder”.
About 40 journalists drawn from the print, electronics and online media attended the training which was organised by CJID in collaboration with it’s sister organisation, Dubawa and Google news initiative.