30 Journalists Trained On Fake News And Disinformation
Thirty journalists comprising news editors, senior journalists, media managers and regional correspondents from state and private media organizations across Ghana have undergone a week-long training on ‘Journalism, Fake News and Disinformation.'
The training was jointly organised by Media Response (NGO) and the Ghana Journalists Association on the GJA-Media Response Virtual Learning Platform from July 20 to 26, 2020.
The course provided participants with strategies for evaluating the quality of information and for understanding differences in the ways that high and low quality information emerge in the digital era.
A statement issued and signed by the Founder and Executive Director of Media Response, Mr Samuel Dodoo, on July 26, this year, said some of the Key topics treated under the course were – news literacy, what is fake news, key terminologies, technology that makes fake news possible, how big a problem is fake news, evaluating fake news and what you can do to fight fake news.
Below is the statement:
JOURNALISTS TRAINED ON FAKE NEWS AND DISINFORMATION
Thirty journalists comprising news editors, senior journalists, , media managers and regional correspondents from state and private media organizations across Ghana have undergone a week-long training on ‘Journalism, Fake News and Disinformation.
The training was jointly organized by Media Response (NGO) and the Ghana Journalists Association on the GJA-Media Response Virtual Learning Platform from 20th to 26th July, 2020.
The course provided participants with strategies for evaluating the quality of information and for understanding differences in the ways that high and low quality information emerge in the digital era. Key topics treated under the course were: – News Literacy, What is Fake News, Key Terminologies, Technology that makes fake news possible, How big a problem is fake news, Evaluating fake news and what you can do to fight fake news.
Mr. Samuel Dodoo, Founder and Executive Director of Media Response mentioned that the GJA-Media Response Virtual Learning Platform was established to offer journalists and media practitioners the opportunity to upgrade their skills in critical areas of their profession.
He said the training on ‘Journalism, Fake News and Disinformation’ was the first to be organized on the GJA-Media Response VLP and added that other courses to be rolled out soon were – Media Ethics, Elections Reporting; Writing Right – Reporting in a Covid-19 era; and Media Training on the Right to Information (RTI) Law. He urged prospective learners to visit www.gjamediaresponse.org for more information.
Mr. Charles Nii Ayiku Ayiku, the course administrator stated that the virtual platform offered a flexible and friendly learning environment which enabled participants to study at their own pace without necessarily interrupting their busy work schedule or missing out on lessons.
He called on stakeholders in the media landscape and corporate institutions to embrace the concept of e-learning and take advantage of the GJA-Media Response learning platform in order to enhance the professional competencies of their staff.
Some of the participants who completed the course shared their views as follows:- Diana Yaba Bassaw, Newscaster, Ghana Broadcasting Corporation - “It's been an eye opener for me and I'm most grateful, thanks. Thumbs up!”
Ama Tekyiwaa Ampadu Agyeman, Senior Reporter/Eastern Regional Correspondent, New Times Corporation – “The quizzes were well organized and materials provided were very flexible”.
Doreen Hammond, Editor, Graphic Communications Group Ltd. – “I could do the quiz and study at my own pace within the time frame”.
Prosper Kwame Kuorsoh, Chief Reporter, Ghana News Agency – “The training materials were very brief and concise. The quizzes were also on point”.
Agnes Ansah, Reporter/ Parliamentary Correspondent, The Chronicle – “The materials used were very good”.
Lambert Kofi Atsivor, Assisting Editor, Volta Online – “I love the flexibility of the training as well as its virtual nature”.
Nana Kwasi Asuman-Frimpong, Reporter, Daily Statesman – “I appreciate the succinct nature of the reading materials”.
Each of the course participants will receive a Certificate of Achievement.
Media Response is a non-governmental organization engaged in the promotion of media growth and development in Ghana. In June 2020, the organization is partnering with the Ghana Journalists Association to develop the GJA-Media Response Virtual Learning Platform with the aim of meeting the urgent training needs of journalists in an era of Covid-19 and beyond. The organization has collaborated with GJA, GIBA and GNA to train journalists in migration reporting and the ECOWAS protocol on free movement of persons. To learn more about Media Response please visit www.mediaresponse.org.
<<Print>>