A one-day workshop on “Fact-Checking and Verification” took place at the Department of Journalism and Mass Communication, Nagaland University, aimed at educating journalists and media educators about combating misinformation. The workshop featured Dr. Moalemba Jamir, Associate Editor of The Morung Express and a certified trainer from the Google News Initiative (GNI) India Training Network.
During the session, Dr. Jamir addressed the pressing challenges posed by the proliferation of fake news in today’s society. He engaged participants in an exercise to test their awareness of misinformation, highlighting the significant role that misleading visuals play in shaping public perception and behavior.
Dr. Jamir noted that the rapid spread of false information is exacerbated by tactics such as whataboutism, name-calling, and the use of emotional language. He pointed out that technology has facilitated the creation of convincing yet deceptive images, making it easier for misinformation to circulate.
The workshop also included practical demonstrations on how to validate visual information using essential tools like Google Reverse Image Search, InVID, Google Transcribe, and Pinpoint. Dr. Jamir emphasized that effective fact-checking involves utilizing multiple verification methods, cross-checking information from various sources, and critically assessing context and metadata before sharing information.
Concluding the workshop, Dr. Jamir underscored the importance of using artificial intelligence as a tool for fact-checking, while cautioning that it should not be relied upon as a sole authority.
The Google News Initiative India Training Network, established in 2018, has successfully trained over 71,000 professionals across India in digital tools and fact-checking practices. In Nagaland, Dr. Jamir has conducted similar workshops to enhance the fact-checking and verification skills of journalists at the Kohima Press Club, the Eastern Mirror newsroom, as well as media students at Patkai Christian College (Autonomous) and St. Joseph University.