Lumami, September 20 (MExN): A one-day workshop titled "Fact-Checking and Verification" took place on September 20 at the Department of Journalism and Mass Communication, Nagaland University. The event featured Dr. Moalemba Jamir, Associate Editor of The Morung Express and a certified trainer with the Google News Initiative (GNI) India Training Network.
The workshop aimed to educate journalists and media educators on combating misinformation in today’s digital landscape. Dr. Jamir highlighted the pressing challenges posed by the proliferation of fake news, engaging participants in an exercise to assess their awareness and vigilance against false information.
During the session, Dr. Jamir underscored that fake news often comprises misleading images and videos, which can significantly influence public perception and decision-making. He pointed out common tactics used to spread misinformation, including whataboutism, name-calling, and emotional language, while also discussing the characteristics of fake news, such as propaganda and clickbait.
Emphasizing the role of technology in the dissemination of misinformation, he noted that the creation of convincing fake visuals has become easier, further complicating the task of identifying false information. Dr Jamir introduced various essential tools for validating visual content, including Google Reverse Image Search and the Invid tool.
Concluding his remarks, he shared best practices for fact-checking, advocating for the use of diverse verification methods, cross-checking information from multiple sources, and considering context and metadata before sharing information. He cautioned that while AI can be a useful tool in this process, it is not infallible and should complement, rather than replace, human judgment.
Since its launch in 2018, the GNI India Training Network, in collaboration with Internews and DataLEADS, has trained over 71,000 professionals across the country in digital tools and fact-checking methodologies. In Nagaland, Dr. Jamir has previously conducted similar workshops for journalists at the Kohima Press Club and the Eastern Mirror newsroom, as well as for media students at Patkai Christian College and St. Joseph University.
