• “Introduction to Artificial Intelligence in Journalism and Fact-Checking” workshop

Over three days (November 28-30), a team of experts in media and artificial intelligence will be training a group of Arab fact-checkers from different countries on artificial intelligence and how it can be used to support journalistic and fact-checking work.

ARIJ Digital consultant Khalid Waleed, AFCN manager Saja Mortada, joined by Nick Waters from Bellingcat, Sabrina Argoub from PolisLSE, Dr. Arwa Kooli and Jehad Oumer from Annir, will lead the training workshop that is supported by SKUP, The Norwegian Foundation for Investigative Journalism.

• “Information Disorder in the Global South” masterclass

This masterclass that takes place over three days (November 28-30) will host 14 researchers from the Global South (Africa, East Asia, the Middle East, and Latin America). It will be led by Professor Herman Wasserman of Stellenbosch University, who is leading a three-year study on information disorder in the Global South (2023-2025) with the participation of the Arab Fact-Checkers Network at ARIJ. This masterclass will discuss the results of the first year of the study, and will highlight the direction of travel for the following years.

The masterclass is supported by the International Development Research Centre (IDRC).

• COP28 Fact-Checking Lab

As ARIJ’s 16th annual forum this year coincides with the COP28 Summit in the UAE, AFCN will be hosting a two-day fact-checking lab (November 29-30) with the aim of combating the spread of misinformation and disinformation that plague the climate change narrative.  10 fact-checkers, five from the MENA region, and five from Europe, will be supported by Hadeer Elhadary, an Egyptian climate change journalist, and Julia Neuman a German climate change expert, to produce fact-checking reports about COP28 and climate change.

• “Advanced Physical Safety for Fact-Checkers” workshop

This workshop, to be held on November 30th, will aim to train five directors of fact-checking organisations from four Arab countries. It will be led by Abdullah Maksour,  journalist and safety trainer, in advanced safety measures for journalists during their fieldwork.

The workshop is part of the “Dalil” project of the Arab Fact-Checkers Network AFCN from ARIJ, funded by the European Union, in cooperation with Siren and Josa.

• “Challenging Misinformation: Finding a Way Forward”

This panel embarks on a quest to study the tempest of falsehoods in the digital age, and explores the art of discernment, and aims to unveil the wisdom, ethics, and resilience that guide our path towards clarity in a turbulent sea of information.

The panel features Peter Jones, founder of Africa Check, Professor Herman Wasserman of Stellenbosch University, Khaled Mansour, a human rights journalist and Dr. Arwa Kooli from Tunisia, and moderated by Nick Benicuesta from NED. 

• “Regional or Global Fact-Checking Networks: Which One Should I join?”

In the symphony of connections, “Regional or Global Networks: Which One Should I Join?” panel explores the choice between local/ regional roots and international horizons. Like a compass guiding ambition, it unveils the constellation of possibilities, illuminating the path to weave a destiny of connections, whether regional or global.

The panel is moderated by AFCN manager Saja Mortada, and features Angie Holan, director of the International Fact-Checking Network (IFCN), Noko Maagato, Executive Director of Africa Check and the Africa Facts Network, and Clara Cruz of the European Fact-Checking Network.

• “Fighting Disinformation through Dalil” Session

The session covers the role that technology could play in combating the growing threat of disinformation. By exploring the successes, challenges and prospects of DALIL, a one-stop-shop digital platform providing fact-checkers in the region with practical verification tools, insights and resources, the session with delve into innovative and collaborative approaches that leverage technological advancements to effectively address information disorder, ensuring better informed and more resilient communities.

The Dalil project is part of AFCN led by ARIJ, with the support of the European Union and in cooperation with SIREN and JOSA. The project aims to increase the usage of locally driven, fact-checked online news in seven countries in the MENA region (Jordan, Lebanon, Iraq, Palestine, Morocco, Tunisia & Yemen).

• Keynote Speech
• The Current and Future Fact Checking

In this speech, Angie Holan, director of the International Fact-Checking Network (IFCN), discusses the current and future of fact-checking in the face of all the challenges.

• Lightning talk
• Does the Misinformation you Fact-check Really Matter?

Around the world, individuals, organisations and states make false claims all the time. Some falsehoods make no real difference to real life. Others have catastrophic effects. Peter Cunliffe-Jones proposes three questions we all need to answer to know – does the misinformation you fact-check really matter?

• Lightning talk
• Full Fact AI tools: Bridging the Gap in Fact-Checking

In this lighting talk, Andrew Dudfield from “Full Fact” and Saja Mortada from ARIJ/AFCN, will explore the capabilities of Full Fact AI’s fact-checking tools and the need for their implementation in Arabic to support fact-checkers in the Arab world. We will discuss how adapting these AI tools to Arabic can address the unique challenges faced in the region, enhance the accuracy of information dissemination, and empower Arabic-speaking fact-checkers in their fight against misinformation.

• Lightning talk
• Jehad Oumer

• Lightning talk
• Hadeer Elhadary and Aleksy Szymkiewicz

In this lightning talk, Hadeer El-Hadry (journalist), Aleksy Szymkiewicz (fact-checker), both specialist on climate change, will present the results of the first collaborative fact-checking lab organised by AFCN on COP28 on the fringes of ARIJ16 annual forum. They will focus on the importance of fact-checking information related to climate change and COP conference

• AFCN 2nd in-person regional meeting

After six online regional meetings in 2022-2023, and one in-person regional meeting held on the fringe of ARIJ15 annual forum in 2022, AFCN community will convene 45 fact checkers representing 10 countries who will meet in-person on December 2, 2023, in a closed meeting, to discuss the network’s “theory of change”, and how to deal with future misinformation crisis in the MENA region. Their discussions aim to highlight the opportunities and challenges facing fact-checking in the Arab world.