By Dumisani Ndlovu
At the Veritas Verification and Fact Checking Workshop 2024, media experts underscored the crucial role of fact-finding training in combating misinformation and promoting accurate reporting, particularly on health issues and crime-related stories.
Veteran journalist Cris Chinaka delivered a comprehensive presentation on verification techniques, emphasizing the need for journalists to verify information through rigorous research, cross-checking, and expert consultation. Chinaka defined fact-checking as a set of practices and tools that enable journalists to verify information and provided practical tips on identifying online misinformation, understanding what can be fact-checked, and following fact-checking steps.
Senior journalist Valentine Maponga built on Chinaka’s presentation, highlighting the importance of verification and fact-checking in maintaining the integrity of news reports. Maponga stressed that journalists have a responsibility to seek the truth and report accurately, and that fact-finding training is essential in achieving this goal.
By equipping journalists with fact-finding skills, media organizations can enhance the quality of their reporting and promote a more informed public discourse. The workshop emphasized the need for continued training and collaboration among stakeholders to combat misinformation and promote fact-based reporting.
Fact-finding is a fundamental aspect of journalistic professionalism, showcasing a reporter’s dedication to responsible and reliable reporting. It helps the public comprehend the legal process and the specifics of the case, promoting transparency and accountability as well as curbing legal implications as inaccurate reporting can have legal consequences, such as vilification or contempt of court; fact-finding helps mitigate these risks
