About 20 journalists selected from across the five regions of the north have been trained in fact-checking.
The training facilitated by Dubawa, a verification and fact-checking organization with support from the U.S Embassy in Ghana, is to equip the selected journalists to deal with misinformation and disinformation.
Team Lead of Dubawa Caroline Anipah told journalists that over the years, organisations in media have focused their activities on journalists in urban areas, reason why they decided to move to rural Ghana.
She stressed that journalists in rural communities have a lot of following and must ensure information that their audiences consume are factual and accurate.
“Misinformation and disinformation need attention and journalists need to develop their skills so that they will be able to deal with misinformation and disinformation when they come across it.
“I entreat the beneficiaries to take the training seriously and ensure that they practice what they will be learning at the training.”
Press Attaché at the U.S Embassy Kevin J. Brosnahan, in an interview with journalists, said the fact-checking training will create good development and skills opportunities for journalists in rural Ghana.
“An informed public means fact, a solid fact reported by professional journalists so when professional journalists can fact-check stories like what the government, politicians, community leaders are saying then they benefit the communities and the community members can make better decisions.”
He reiterated the U.S Embassy’s commitment to continue to support journalists through the Ghana Journalists Association (GJA) to train its members to ensure that they build their capacity to enable them to do their work effectively.
By Christopher Amoako|3news.com|Ghana