
COURSE: Online fact-checking and verification training
Facilitator: Carina van Wyk
Date: 25 – 26 June 2020
Time: 0900-1600 (GMT+2)
Places available: 20
Course outcomes
After completing the two-day online training session, participants should be able to:
- Describe what fact-checking is and why reporting accurately is so important
- Explain what false information is and how it spreads
- Explain the dangers of the spread of false information
- Differentiate between claims that can be fact-checked and those that can’t
- Identify false information on websites and social media platforms
- Verify the origin of pictures and videos using online fact-checking tools such as Google reverse image search, TinEye and RevEye
- Describe the process of fact-checking
- Find and use the most credible information sources when publishing and updating news stories and articles
Programme
| Day 1 | 9:00 – 9:30
9:30 – 10:15 10:15 – 11:00 11:00 – 11:15 11:15 – 12:15 12:15 – 13:15 13:15 – 14:30 14:30 – 14:45 14:45 – 15:30 15:30 – 16:00 |
Introduction
Why facts matter: the importance of fact-checking Types of false information and how it spreads Coffee/tea break What can be fact-checked? Fact vs opinion Lunch Introduction to verifying online information, images and video Coffee/tea break Fact-checking and verification tools (part 1) Practical exercise |
| Day 2 | 9:00 – 10:00
10:00 – 11:00 11:00 – 11:15 11:15 – 12:15 12:15 – 13:15 13:15 – 14:30
14:30 – 14:45 14:45 – 15:30
15:30 – 15:45
15:45 – 16:00 |
Introduction and overview of lessons learned on day 1, review of practical exercise
Fact-checking and verification tools (part 2) Coffee/tea break Africa Check’s five-step fact-checking process Lunch Fact-checking reports: a closer look at fact-checking health, education, political and gender-related issues Coffee/tea break Finding accurate information and online data from credible sources Group discussion: Using fact-checking skills in day-to-day reporting Recap of the training and the most important lessons learned |


