Workshop to combat disinformation: training to better inform
In a connected world where access to information has become easy and quick, it is becoming increasingly important to develop information management skills and filter sources to avoid the spread of false news. It is with this in mind that Collective 24, in partnership with National Endowment for Democracy (NED), organized a capacity building workshop focused on good practices and recommendations to combat disinformation during the electoral process.
This workshop, which took place on October 17 and 18, brought together groups of permanent observers, web journalists, young people from political parties and citizen movements. Over two days, participants were trained on strategies to combat misinformation and the use of online verification tools.
Patient Ligodi, Publication Director of the online media ACTUALITE.CD, underlined the importance of distinguishing between disinformation, misinformation and misinformation. He encouraged participants to become disseminators of verified information and to consider fact-checking before publishing anything.
He also reminded participants that journalists are not always guarantors of the truth, and that the search for notoriety can push them to disseminate erroneous information. He stressed the importance of the media having a validation process in place, with an editor-in-chief who reviews, compares and decides on the dissemination of information.
This workshop to combat disinformation during the electoral period was organized both in person and online, to allow a larger number of people to participate. Fifty young people were thus trained on the standards of democratic elections, joining the leaders of permanent observer groups, web journalists and young people from political parties and citizen movements.
Collectif 24, created in 2013, is a platform of Congolese Civil Society Organizations dedicated to the promotion and protection of the right of access to information as a tool for defending fundamental rights.
The fight against disinformation is a major issue in our current society, where fake news can have a significant impact on electoral processes and citizen participation. Thanks to workshops such as the one organized by Collectif 24, raising awareness and training key players can contribute to the dissemination of verified and reliable information, thus promoting transparent and informed democracy.