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The Gambias first and only digital fact checking platform has gone live after it was officially launched by the countrys Minister of Information and Communication Infrastructure Mr Ebrima Sillah on 14th October.FactCheck Gambia was developed to close the palpable market gap for independent non-partisan fact-checked and verified information particularly about Covid19 and elections as The Gambia approaches the first post-dictatorship presidential elections in December this year.Developed by Jokkolabs Banjul with the support of UNESCO Dakar the platform was built at a time when the growing menace of information disorder gradually undermines trust in the Gambian media and the countrys burgeoning democracy.Minister Ebrima Sillah highlighted that the initiative to set up a fact-checking platform in The Gambia could not have come at a better time when the country is preparing for a series of elections couple with the rising trend of misinformation about Covid-19.We have seen a number of fake information about the Covid-19 vaccine that it causes infertility and it is targeted at poor African countries he said adding that the launching of FactCheck Gambia would help in debunking such misinformation and make people understand the need to be vaccinated.The minister promised of the government support to FactCheck Gambia ensuring that the credibility of information is not compromised in any way in the country.Speaking on behalf of the UN Resident Coordinator in The Gambia Ms Aissata De said the development of FactCheck Gambia platform is part of efforts by UNESCO and other UN agencies to tackle the rising phenomenon of fake news and misinformation.UNESCO undertook the development of FactCheck Gambia under its component of the UN Peace Building Fund project entitled Young Women and Men as Stakeholders in Ensuring Peaceful Democratic Processes and Advocates for the Prevention of Violence and Hate Speech.The two-year project is being implemented by a consortium of UNESCO UNDP and UNFPA in partnership with local implementing partners. One of the key components of the project is to address hate speech and counter fake news and misinformation.FactCheck Gambia is aimed at curbing the spread of fake news and misinformation both on traditional and social media by verifying and correcting false or misleading claims or statements Ms De who is the UNDP Resident Representative to The Gambia highlighted.She further pointed out that one of the biggest challenges in the news media industry today and in the coming decades is dealing with fake news in all its forms.Because of the global surge in information disorder UNESCO has developed a model curriculum on fact checking. The new resource is aimed mainly at journalism educators and trainers but is also of direct interest to practicing journalists and others who are interested in quality information.Generally actions to combat fake news should support and not violate fundamental rights and freedoms. Access to reliable and trustworthy information such as that produced by critical independent journalism and fact checkers is a potent force to combat disinformation.Michel Elvis Kenmoe the head of UNESCO Dakar Communication and Information Sector said in order to reach as many people as possible especially the uneducated ones UNESCO would provide further support to FactCheck Gambia to produce fact check audios recorded in the major national languages and disseminate it through the radios including the community radios and the social media platforms.To ensure quality products for the website UNESCO had trained a total of 30 journalists from both the print broadcast and online media platforms on fact checking. Training by FactSpace West Africa focused on the role of fact-checkers in safeguarding elections and protecting democracies how to fact-check politicians digital tools for fact-checking and how to identify fake news in text picture video and audio.To ease coordination the 30 journalists will be working through the Media Academy for Journalism and Communication MAJAC a professional journalism training school in the management and administration of FactCheck Gambia.The Managing Director of MAJAC Sang Mendy who doubles as the manager of FactCheck Gambia said they have a team of strong and committed editors researchers fact-checkers and freelancers to make FactCheck Gambia one of the most vibrant platforms on fact checking in the sub-region.We will do our utmost to ensure false claims images and videos meant to mislead the public are fact-checked and verified Mr Mendy affirmed.FactCheck Gambia will collaborate with all the major newsrooms across The Gambia to help amplify the culture of truth in public discourse public policy and journalistic practice. Through the collaboration the media houses will share all verified and fact checked contents produced by FactCheck Gambia.
