Journalists Urged to Master Fact-Checking and Deepfake Detection
In an era marked by rumors, misinformation, and deepfakes, journalists must become proficient in artificial intelligence (AI) and fact-checking, said Shafiqul Islam Khan Milton. He emphasized that beyond news gathering, the ability to verify information has now become a critical component of journalism.
He made these remarks as the chief guest at the closing ceremony of a seven-day training workshop titled “AI-Powered Journalism: Opportunities, Risks and Digital Security,” organized by Dhaka Reporters Unity (DRU) on Friday, May 8.
A total of 600 journalists participated in the workshop, held in multiple batches at the Shafiqul Kabir Auditorium in the capital. The event was organized by DRU, with support from XYZ Cloud Bangladesh and Gamiphy.
On the concluding day, certificates were distributed among the participants by Shafiqul Islam Khan Milton. The workshop was chaired by DRU President Abu Saleh Akon.
In his address, Milton said, “In this technology-driven era, only responsible journalism can ensure that accurate information reaches the public.” He called on journalists to play a more proactive role in preventing information distortion and misinformation.
While speaking as the president, Abu Saleh Akon noted that AI can be used both positively and negatively. Therefore, he said, it is the responsibility of journalists to ensure the ethical and beneficial use of technology.
DRU General Secretary Mainul Hasan Sohel stated, “In contemporary journalism, AI is not just a technology—it is a vital tool that enhances speed, accuracy, and analytical capacity.”
DRU’s Information Technology and Training Secretary Mahmud Sohel said that such timely and modern training initiatives for members will continue in the future.
In a video message, Moshiur Rahman said, “In this era of fake news and fabricated videos, the importance of credible journalism has increased further. Journalists must adapt to evolving technologies.”
Mahfuzur Rahman added that acquiring technological skills is essential for journalists to combat the risks of misinformation and deepfakes in the AI era.
DRU Vice President Mehdi Azad Masum, Finance Secretary Niaz Mahmud Sohel, Organizing Secretary M M Jasim, Office Secretary Rashim Molla, Women’s Affairs Secretary Jannatul Ferdous Panna, Publicity and Publication Secretary Mizan Chowdhury, Cultural Secretary Monowar Hossain, and Executive Members Akhtar Hossain and Al Amin Azad, were also present among others.
During the seven-day training, participants received hands-on instruction in using modern AI tools such as ChatGPT, Gemini, Google AI Studio, and NotebookLM.
The training emphasized effective prompting, data journalism, information analysis, the use of AI in investigative journalism, digital storytelling, fact-checking, and deepfake detection. Participants also gained practical experience in quickly extracting information from long audio, video, and PDF files, as well as in research, scriptwriting, translation, headline creation, and information verification.
The closing ceremony was moderated by Imam Hasan Sohel.
DBTech/AZR/EK/OR
