Local Voices Liberia is continuing its efforts to promote information integrity and strengthen media literacy in Liberia. Over the weekend, the media organization successfully conducted a one-day fact-checking symposium for students of the Gonet Academy, a professional development and technical/vocational training institution focused on equipping young professionals with practical, job-ready skills.
Organized by LVL Fact-Checking Desk, in collaboration with Gonet Academy, the April 17 event, as part of the Liberia Media Empowerment Project (LMEP), seeks to enhance the knowledge and skills of media and journalism students to counter disinformation and promote information integrity.
The symposium brought together more than 50 students studying different professions under the topic “Stopping disinformation to enhance Liberia’s democracy – What Students Need to Know”.
Giving an overview of the LMEP project, Ms. Rita Jlogbe, Journalism Program Officer at Internews, expressed concern about the speed at which disinformation travels online, while encouraging students to adopt verification as a habit before sharing or reporting any information.
“Verifying information before sharing or publication is not just the journalist or fact-checker; it is a culture of responsibility,” Ms. Jlogbe said. “You must ensure at all times that the information you share is true, to help others make informed decisions”.
Meanwhile, LVL Executive Director, Atty. Alpha Daffae Senkpeni, delivering a PowerPoint presentation on fact-checking, introduced the participants to simple fact-checking and verification techniques.
Atty. Senkeni’s presentation was followed by a very intriguing and engaging panel discussion moderated by a renowned fact-checker, Jackson Clay Jr., of Dubawa, a fact-checking organization. The panel discussion focused on how the spread of disinformation can negatively influence governance, media accountability, and public trust, and what students must learn to counter these challenges.
The panel featured three leading voices in Liberia’s information and media ecosystem:
Peterking Quaye, Certified AI Governance Expert and Director of Programs & Projects at WAICTANT, who challenged participants to consider how emerging technologies, including AI, are shaping public information and political narratives.
Mrs. Whinell Shasha, a lecturer in the Department of Mass Communication and Media Studies at the University of Liberia, was one of the panelists. She encouraged students to serve as agents of change by sharing verified information, emphasizing that democracy thrives when the public has access to accurate and credible information.
Providing insight into the legal ramifications of spreading false information, Atty. Al-varney Rogers, who is also an experienced journalist and media professional, offered contextual examples, explaining the laws governing freedom of expression, including its limits and responsibilities.
The panel discussion generated active engagement, with participants raising questions about verification tools, social media misinformation, and how to apply fact-checking skills in day-to-day reporting.
In continuation of its media literacy activities as part of LMEP, LVL is expected to host several fact checking activities at educational institutions and intellectual forums across Montserrado, Bong and Margibi Counties in the coming weeks.
