The International Centre for Journalists (ICFJ) on Friday announced a fact-checking collaboration with five top digital influencers, including investigative journalist and editor, Fisayo Soyombo.
Other influencers on the project include social justice advocate, Mr Segun Awosanya (segalink); human right activist, Barr. Abdul Mahmud; globally recognised grassroots campaigner, Hamzat Lawal; and popular health influencer, Dr Fidelis Egemba (Aproko doctor).
ICFJ Knight Fellow, Hannah Ajakaiye in a statement explained that the influencers will collaborate with newsrooms and fact-checking organizations in Nigeria to combat misinformation around Covid-19 and other critical issues.
Soyombo, former editor of The Cable, International Centre for Investigative Journalists and Sahara Reporters has been in the forefront of providing updates on COVID-19 situation in Nigeria in his #FisayoCOVID-19series on social media.
The initiative, sponsored by the ICFJ and led by Ajakaiye, is designed to amplify the reach of credible information by sharing fact-checks published by media partners on their social media platforms. It will also help to crowdsource online misinformation being debunked by participating fact-checkers.
Fact-checking organisations and media outfits partnering with ICFJ on the project include Africa Check, The Cable Newspapers, Dubawa (Premium Times Investigative Journalism Centre (PTIJC), and the International Centre for Investigative Reporting (ICIR).
Designed to instil a culture of news innovation and experimentation worldwide, the ICFJ Knight Fellowships empower media innovators to seed new ideas and expand news coverage with the ultimate goal of improving people’s lives.
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Ajakaiye said the programme was conceived to mitigate the virus of misinformation through multi-levelled approaches and methods.
“Recent research shows that African audiences have low levels of trust in the media and are exposed to a high degree of misinformation and – often knowingly – contribute to its spread,” she said.
“With social media multiplying the risks of misinformation, disinformation, propaganda and hoaxes; we believe our collaboration with these leading influencers is a timely intervention that can help restore the diminishing level of trust in Nigeria’s local media whilst also reducing exposure to misinformation,” she added.
Ajakaiye, nee Ojo, formerly of The Nation Newspapers is a Chevening Scholar, Former ICFJ #Truthbuzz fellow and 2018 Reham Al-Farra Memorial Journalism Fellow
Jerri Eddings, director of the ICFJ Knight Fellowship Programme, said the project is an opportunity for digital influencers to become verifiable sources of credible information to their online followers. She said it would also empower citizens by providing them with accurate information to enable them to make informed decisions.
“ICFJ has worked for 35 years to empower journalists and media organizations to produce high-quality content that has positive impacts on their communities. We’re excited about this new project to work with journalists and social media influencers in Nigeria to combat misinformation, especially during this time when we are facing such a deadly global health challenge in Covid-19,” Eddings added.
