In an effort to foster higher standards of journalism in West Africa, the Google News Initiative (GNI) and DUBAWA, the respected verification and fact-checking arm of the Centre for Journalism Innovation and Development (CJID), have come together. The partnership will focus on an extensive training program specially designed for journalists in non-urban communities of Nigeria, Ghana, and Liberia. This collaboration aims to harness the longstanding efforts of DUBAWA in promoting a culture of truth in journalism and complement it with the digital expertise that GNI brings to the table.
Aiming to engage a minimum of 280 journalists across the three countries, the initiative will provide in-depth training in digital verification and familiarise them with specialised Google tools and resources. Participants will also benefit from two interactive, non-residential workshops in selected regions, supplemented by in-newsroom training sessions.
Highlighting the significance and scope of this program, Caroline Anipah, the Deputy Director in charge of Verification and Media Literacy Practice, shared, “Often, such training programmes are designed for journalists in city centres, neglecting those in non-urban communities. However, this partnership is different. At DUBAWA, we believe every journalist, especially those confronted with challenges of misinformation, should be equipped with the necessary skills to counter fake news effectively and, above all, to foster a well-informed citizenry. This is the essence of this project,” she expressed.
