Pre-Publication Fact-Checkers and Media Organizations Meeting at ARIJ25 Forum
December 7, 2025
ARIJ’s AFCN convened a closed, in-person meeting titled “Pre-Publication Fact-Checking and Media Organizations: What Is Still Missing?” on the sidelines of the ARIJ25 forum, held in Amman, Jordan, from December 5 to 7, 2025. The meeting brought together fact-checkers with journalists, and editors from 9 Arab media outlets.
Moderated by AFCN Senior Fact-Checker, Fatima Bani Ahmad, the discussion focused on the challenges hindering the integration of pre-publication fact-checking and explored ways to embed it systematically and sustainably within Arab newsrooms, alongside the opportunities available to strengthen this practice as a core component of professional journalism.
Participants agreed that pre-publication fact-checking is a fundamental practice for ensuring the accuracy of journalistic content, promoting responsible publishing, and reducing the spread of misinformation.
Participants, including fact-checker Amin Alotlah from Jordan, discussed a range of key challenges obstructing the integration of pre-publication fact-checking in Arab media outlets. These included time pressure and prevailing newsroom cultures that view fact-checking as slowing down publication. Dr. Arwa Kooli from Tunisia, also highlighted the issue of weak documentation of journalistic materials before they are submitted for fact-checking, in addition to the sometimes unbalanced relationship between journalists and fact-checkers, and the lack of sufficient understanding of editorial context and investigative reporting.
The Yemeni fact-checker, Mohamed Ali Mahrous, emphasized that fact-checking is still seen in some institutions as a formal or additional burden rather than a professional partnership that protects journalists and the value of their work.
In this context, Mohamed Helal, Managing Editor of Muwatin platform, stressed the need for organizations to take a clear role in fostering a culture of collaboration, requiring journalists to document all information using primary sources before the fact-checking process begins, and clarifying the process from the early stages of working on an investigation.
Ali Saeid from Almushahid net platform also recommended investing in joint training for journalists and fact-checkers, developing clear written methodologies, and strengthening fact-checkers’ capacities to understand investigative contexts and precise wording, given their critical role in providing legal protection for media institutions.
Participants emphasized the importance of adopting a long-term vision that makes fact-checking an institutionalized practice rather than a temporary or reactive response.
The Arab Fact-Checkers Network (AFCN) during the meeting, ensures its commitment to continuing collaboration with Arab media organizations to strengthen fact-checking practices and support professional journalism based on accuracy and accountability. It is worth noting that AFCN has supported in 2024 and 2025, 10 media organizations in integrating pre-publication fact-checking within their editorial workflows.
