A fact-checker in an independent Arabic newsroom… Pre-publication fact-checking project by AFCN
Aiming to enhance the credibility, quality and transparency of Arab media organisations of their content production, the Arab Fact-Checkers Network (AFCN) from ARIJ, designed the “Integrating pre-publication fact-checking within media organisations workflow” project in 2024. The winners of the project’s grants were announced at ARIJ’s annual forum in Amman in 2023, which are: Daraj from Lebanon, Siraj from Syria and Almasry Alyoum from Egypt.
During seven months (January – July 2024), 3 independent fact-checkers worked with the 3 organisations and supported them on the following:
-Fact-checking in-depth/investigative reports of each media organisation prior to publication to verify the accuracy of the information and correct any errors if any.
-Developing a detailed pre-publication fact-checking methodology for each organisation to be applied within the organisations daily work and post it on their website, as well as preparing appendixes for fact-checking tools.
Read Siraj’s methodology here
For a summary about Daraj’s methodology here
-Assisting journalists in fact-checking images/data/documents/sensitive information prior to publication
Training journalists in the three media organisations on the new methodologies and the basics of fact-checking.
AFCN led the whole process, by supporting the three media organisations and fact-checkers during the project, exchanging expertise and experiences in how to prepare their methodology for pre-publication fact-checking based on ARIJ’s experience and how to apply it, building the capacity of the three fact-checkers by organising 4 coaching sessions about how to develop fact-checking methodology for a media organisation.
AFCN scheduled more than 70 monthly and weekly follow-up meetings for the three media organisations and fact-checkers which included discussions of how methodologies will be integrated into the three organisations’ editorial work.
What did the 3 media organisations say about the project?
“The experience was very important. The most important addition is the methodology, as it will be the cornerstone for continued progress in fact-checking in Daraj.”
Hala Nouhad Nasreddine – The focal point from Daraj
“The fact-checker is the third eye to ensure accuracy. This is the culture that the project helped to promote.”
Maha Salahedeen – The focal point from AlMasry AlYoum
“Now we see fact-checking as a necessity not a luxury. We aim to train journalists within the media organisation to become the right-hand support in the fact-checking process.”
Ali Ibrahim – The focal point from Siraj
This project was supported by Free Press Unlimited (FPU) and initiated due to the evident lack and absence of pre-publication fact-checking in Arab media organisations, and for its importance for any organisation’s reputation.
AFCN will continue supporting the three media organisations to ensure the full integration of pre-publication fact-checking within their work, in addition to supporting the fact-checkers and including them to AFCN’s activities and capacity building.
