AFCN organized its first intensive fact-checking TOT
The Arab fact-checkers Network (AFCN) from ARIJ conducted for the first time in the Arab world, an intensive fact-checking TOT project, as part of AFCN FactLab project supported by GNI. For 10 days between February 5-14, in the Dead Sea – Jordan, 20 fact checkers from 10+ Arab countries were trained to develop their fact-checking capabilities to become trainers in their local communities.
During the AFCN FactLab which spanned more than 60 training hours, an average of 10 daytime training sessions and 6 night sessions, the fact-checkers were trained on: (Mastering the Art of Training, body Language as a trainer, ARIJ ethical guidelines and standards, pre- and post- publication fact-checking methodology and training tools, data fact-checking, risk assessment and how to cover social media training).
The trainees also experienced a live demo training in front of a committee to assess their style as trainers and give them advice for the future.
The training was led by eight trainers:
- Samya Ayish, ARIJ comm manager
- Zein Ghanma, body language and presentation expert
- Munir Khatib, ARIJ editor in chief
- Rawan Damen, ARIJ director general
- Abdullah Maksour, a journalist and safety expert
- Ethar Azem, ARIJ data expert
- Fatima Bani-Ahmad, AFCN fact-checker
- Ahmed Ashour, ARIJ editor and fact-checker
The trainees are:
| Name | Country | Organization/Freelancer |
| Ghassan Al-Shihaby | Bahrain | Freelancer |
| Ahmed Gamal | Egypt | Chayyek – Akhbar Meter |
| Maha Salaheddeen | Egypt | Freelancer |
| Alsanusi Mahadi | Sudan | Beam Reports |
| Abdullah Masoudi | Yemen/Iraq | Freelancer |
| Hossam Al-Wakeel | Egypt/Turkey | Tafnied |
| Mousa Abuqaood | Lebanon/Jordan | Chayyek |
| Amjed Khorwat | Libya | Annir |
| Adnan Mansory | Yemen | Saheeh Yemen |
| Haydar Mossawy | Iraq | The Checker |
| Hazem Taqatqah | Jordan | Freelancer |
| Iman Bark | Lebanon | Tahaqaq 360 |
| Rabeb Aloui | Tunisia | BN Check |
| Yasmine Laabi | Morocco | Freelancer |
| Mahdi Dirani | Lebanon | Freelancer |
| Mohamed Elmokhtar | Sudan | Sudanese Center for Media & Info Literacy |
| Jehad Bushheua | Libya | Annir |
| Mohammed Ali Mahroos | Yemen | Fact-Yemen |
| Watan Nuirat | Palestine | Tayaqan |
| Soukaina Esdar | Morocco | Tahaqaq – Morocco |
Mohammed Mahrous from Yemen describes his experience in a AFCN Fact Lab in the following words: “I can say that it is the most important guiding opportunity I have ever had; Beyond what much will be built on at the professional level, and to expand the society of combating misinformation in our Arab world”.
Yasmine Laabi from Morocco talks about her experience and the most important skills she learned: “We have discovered ways and ideas to cover our future workshops in our countries, as well as how to manage time during the workshop and engage trainees to make them interactive and efficient.”
It is worth mentioning that “AFCN Fact Lab” is one of AFCN projects for 2024, and supported by Google News Initiative (GNI).
