A training workshop titled ‘Fact-Checking to Prevent Rumors’ aimed at addressing the growing challenge of misinformation, fake news, and rumors circulating on social media, was successfully conducted by South Asia Center for Media in Development (SACMID) funded by the Embassy of the Kingdom of the Netherlands. The two-day training workshop was held on September 3-4 at the Shapla RDC Conference Hall in Mymensingh.
Acting Deputy Commissioner of Mymensingh District Mahfuzul Alam Masum spoke as the chief guest in the workshop. He said, ‘Many people are creating unrest in the society by spreading rumors and false information. For this reason, besides being aware of preventing rumours, others should also be encouraged to publish accurate and neutral information to establish peace in the society.’
20 participants from various fields attended a training session on fact-checking conducted by Qadruddin Shishir Fact-Checking Editor of (Agence France-Press) AFP Bangladesh Office and Minhaz Aman, Research-lead at DISMISLAB. The trainers provided participants with a comprehensive understanding of the methodologies and best practices essential for verifying the authenticity of news content.
Key topics were covered during the workshop included the fundamentals of fact-checking, its critical importance in today’s media landscape, and the step-by-step process for verifying photos, videos, and information. Participants also explored the distinctions between misinformation, disinformation, and rumors, and learned effective techniques for identifying when and how to conduct fact-checks.
The workshop was designed to equip participants with practical skills for presenting verification reports, a crucial tool in maintaining journalistic integrity.
The closing session featured remarks by Mymensingh local Trinamool Development Organization Director Khandaker Farooq Ahmed, who emphasized the vital role of accurate information in fostering a well-informed society. The event attracted a diverse group of participants, including journalists from national and local media outlets, educators, students, legal professionals, and social media influencers from across the Mymensingh district. The workshop underscored the importance of collective action in the fight against misinformation and reinforced the need for ongoing efforts to enhance media literacy.