AFCN organises a fact-checking workshop in collaboration with SKUP
December 1, 2022
Within the framework of the 15th Arij Forum, entitled “Defending Independent Media”, from 2 to 4 December 2022, the Arab Fact-checkers Network (AFCN) organised a “Fact Checking: Methodologies and Tools” workshop in collaboration with the Norwegian Organization for Investigative Journalism (SKUP) which took place from November 29th till December 1st, with 18 fact-checkers and journalists from eight Arab countries (Bahrain, Yemen, Lebanon, Egypt, Sudan, Syria, Palestine and Iraq).
Saja Mortada, Arab Fact Checkers Network Manager began the first day with training on pre-publication fact-checking which included a brainstorming of what fact-checking is and the importance of in-depth reading and careful research before checking and publishing in addition to discussions between the trainer and the trainees on the lack of fact-checking in the Arab media organisations and how this affected their credibility.
The second section of the first day was dedicated to the workshop “How to deal with data?” with the instructor Ethar El Azem, journalist and data journalism instructor. The workshop included a number of exercises, including data verification on various topics.
On the second day, the advanced writing workshop was covered by the journalist and novelist Abdullah Maksour.
The third day, was divided into three different subjects. The first workshop was; confidential sources with the trainer Joachim Dyfvermark, investigative reporter/producer for Sweden’s main investigative programmer “Mission: Investigative” and Nils Hanson, an award-winning investigative editor and reporter.
The second workshop discussed fact-checking tools for photos and videos led by Alanna Dvorak, Director of International Training at IFCN. The third and final workshop was open-source investigations, advanced research and geolocation with the trainer Nicholas Waters who leads the Justice and Accountability for Bellingcat.
Dina Ibrahim, Director of the Akhbar Meter Project from Egypt, says, “I have benefited a lot from the experiences of my fellow Arab journalists and fact-checkers and from practical training in the data journalism workshop.”
Mahdi Dirani, a journalist and fact-checker from Lebanon, expressed “the importance of the content of this workshop for the fact-checkers and journalists as the tools discussed help keep them updated with the ongoing developments of the media world”.
As Iraqi fact-checker Tahseen al-Ziargani said, “In every forum with Arij, there are new things, this time I have benefited greatly from the experiences of storytelling and acquired new skills in fact-checking and networking with Arab fact-checkers, which will certainly be reflected in my forthcoming investigations on “The Checker” platform”.
