GPU Sees Growing Interest In Fact-Check Ahead Of Presidential Elections

Photo: Muhammed S. Bah (GPU VP)

By Ousman A. Marong 

The Gambia Press Union (GPU) is increasingly picking up the mantle of fact-checking ahead of December 4, 2021 presidential elections.

Muhammed S. Bah, GPU Vice President, said fact-checking is a part of everyday journalism.

“Fact-checking is a part of everyday journalism, but it is even more important that this culture of verification is entrenched during elections. Misinformation and disinformation (or fake news) comes in many forms, and it is important for journalists to identify and debunk them,” he advised.

The union’s number two (2) said that Fact-checking in elections should not only be limited to what the political candidates say, but also deliberate attempts by their supporters and other groups or individuals to mislead and manipulate the people must be checked.

He made these pronouncements on Monday, 26 July 2021 during a 3-day training of 30 Gambian journalists in fact-checking. The event was held at the Sea View Garden Hotel in Kololi.

The training is inspired by the need to equip journalists and other media professionals with the needed skills to combat information disorder (a.k.a fake news).

“Our fact-checking training are in response to the upsurge in information disorder which poses a damaging challenging to public policy-making, communal harmony and media credibility. We look forward to collaborating with more partner's including UNESCO in these and other areas of capacity building for journalists,” he remarked.

He commended the UNESCO in providing the union with a very timely and relevant training on fact-checking.

He further urged the participating journalists to give the maximum attention to the knowledge gained during the training.

“Paying attention and partaking part in practical exercises in the best way to learn and to be able to implement why you have learned when you return to your various media houses,” he concluded.