The Premium Times Centre for Investigative Journalism (PTCIJ) is taking a giant leap forward by setting up an online fact-checking platform that proposes to unmask misinformation and propaganda in the public domain and ultimately empower Nigerians with the knowledge necessary for making rational decisions.
This platform termed “DUBAWA” which is a Hausa term for “checking” is scheduled to be launched on the 20th of February 2018 at the Shehu Musa Yar’Adua Conference Center.
Over time, the constant influx of information laden with lies and half-truths has posed a damaging implication for the journalistic process, democracy and the Nigerian citizenry. The systematic propagation of information or ideas by an interested party with the intent to influence public decisions is awash all over social media and traditional media platforms.
According to a statement signed by the Programs Director, PTCIJ,Joshua Olufemi,DUBAWA is a non-partisan verification and rating platform which seeks to make use of a multi-pronged approach towards distilling the upsurge of fake news by politicians, the media, public and advocacy figures, groups and institutions.
Consequently, DUBAWA is more than just a platform for verification; it is a custodian of tools and resources that can be used by media professionals to investigate and produce fact-based reports. It is a community for the general public as the active actors in the making of a functioning and accountable democracy. And it is a platform that promotes the ideals of fact-checking and integrity across newsrooms in the country.
The venue of the launch, Shehu Musa Yar’Adua Conference Center is a hub for social and civic engagements in Nigeria and it is expected that representatives from various government agencies, not-for-profit organizations, diplomatic agencies, media organizations and civil society organizations would convene to validate the development of an open source network which exists to promote accountability in the public and private sectors and to institute a culture of fact-checking in the Nigerian media ecosystem. Guest speakers at the event include Prof. Yemi Kale, the Statistician General of the National Bureau of Statistics and Mr Seun Onigbinde, the Co-founder and lead partner of BudgIT.
DUBAWA is one of the projects of the PTCIJ, with collaborations from various media agencies in Nigeria and the world such as Africa Check (South Africa), Poynter Institute (United States), and Full Facts (United States).
