Meta and Poynter come up with a fact-checking course for journalists in Bangladesh
A joint initiative by META and the non-profit Poynter Institute's International Fact-Checking Network (IFCN) has launched a course on fact-checking for journalists in the Asia Pacific region, including Bangladesh. This free course will give participants a basic understanding of fact-checking.
The course's three modules will focus on fact-checking, verifying and disseminating accurate information, and health misinformation and confusion. This course will prepare journalists for fact-checking by teaching them the tools and techniques needed to find the verifiability of information, fact-checking methods, and assist journalists in their work.
Participants of the course can attend at their own convenience. At present this course is being offered in 15 languages including English and Bengali. It can be completed within 2 to 3 hours. Journalists, academics and interested fact-checkers from the Asia-Pacific region are encouraged to participate. Certificates will be awarded to participants who successfully complete the course.
Aya Lo, Integrity Partnerships Manager, Asia Pacific, Meta, said, “Fact checking is a vital part of Meta's operations to identify misinformation. We feel that it is important to develop the skills of people in the Asia Pacific region through such courses. This will make it easier to improve and strengthen the entire system.”
IFCN Interim Director Fardi Ojsoy said, “The free fact-checking course for journalists, a joint initiative of META and IFCN, is very important. Through this, IFCN is providing participants with the necessary tools to combat misinformation. It will also improve the quality of journalism in the Asia-Pacific region.”
Meta and IFCN's role in supporting the information system through Meta's third party fact-checking program is essential. In addition to helping journalists, these programs increase the credibility of fact-checkers in the Asia Pacific region to combat misinformation. Meta's fact-checking partners in Bangladesh are AFP, Fact Watch and BOOM, which are independently verified by IFCN.
