Brianna Stinsman is an undergraduate student on exchange at Griffith University from Atlantic City, New Jersey double majoring at her home institution, Arizona State University, in Global Studies and Public Service/Public Policy with a concentration on Emergency Management and Homeland Security. She is currently serving as the Assistant Country Correspondent for Timor-Leste, Papua New Guinea and Solomon Islands with Reporters Without Borders (RSF).
In response to the unprecedented amount of false information being circulated through the internet on digital platforms such as Facebook, the Timor-Leste United Nations Development Programme collaborated with the Timor-Leste Press Council over the course of two days on March 5 and 6 to arm journalists with the necessary tools to prevent the spread of fake news.
During two sessions at the Hotel Ramelau in Dili, East Timor, the umbrella organization Leveraging Electoral Assistance for Regionalized Nation-Building or (LEARN) brought stakeholders from all sectors together to examine the influence of citizen reporting in politics around the world. Students, NGOs, local municipal leaders, journalists, and editors joined forces to learn more about navigating responsible and ethical reporting in a novel digital era, particularly the importance of spreading correct information in times of national emergencies.
The course aimed to provide those in the front lines of reporting in Timor-Leste with adequate techniques and technology to prevent unnecessary hysteria stimulated by the media, as seen in recent times in North America, Australia, and Europe due to widespread misinformation regarding CoronaVirus.
The workshop was timely, as the general public awaits a response from Timor-Leste Health Department Officials regarding the status of an Italian man who is suspected to be diagnosed with COVID-19. Today protests turned violent between police and citizens who assembled to prevent the Ministry of Health from establishing a quarantine site at the Klibur Domin Tibar Clinic. In the current climate of distrust between high-ranking officials in Timor-Leste and the public due to the potential outbreak of the virus, it is crucial more than ever for the media to remain objective.
On the first day participants were led by instructor Bob Howarth to utilize multiple online forums to rapidly fact check information. Bob Howarth, a dedicated journalist and educator, created his own Facebook page which extensively covered the latest progress of fact checking training, regular updates, and downloadable relevant graphics which students will now have access to. These sources included the Facebook site Fact Check educacao in Timor-Leste and the website Verifkafaktus, which can be translated to both Tetum and English. Participants were also encouraged to use the prominent journalism education site and fact checker source the Poynter Institute.
“Most of the 88 participants were eager to learn more fact check techniques, given the country was almost paralysed politically as parties grappled to seek or hold government. This was in addition to the daily front page news on the coronavirus and possible positive test for an Italian man currently in quarantine. Fake news was viral that he died.” Media Training Consultant and Timor-Leste Correspondent for Reporters Without Borders, Bob Howarth said.
Sessions conducted by Raimundos Oki, Amindo de Jesus and Alberico da Costa Junior furthered participants knowledge on fact checking through demonstrations with emerging software programs such as Yandex, Google, and TineEYE for photo, video, and fact verification. Students gained hands on experience with other tools like YouTube Geofinder, Website Analysis, Montage, DomEye, WhoIs and Spyonweb. Oki led team activities where students worked in groups to track internet statistics while Amindo displayed a variety of advanced search techniques. The practical experience and application from these exercises were well received by participants.
The final hour of each session was dedicated to a thorough presentation of the Social Media Code of Ethics of Consuelo de Imprenza (TL Press Council) reviewed by CI’s Director for Media Development Alberico da Costa Junior.
“Since the training Google has contacted my co-trainer Raimundos Oki on the prospect of running a similar course in Fiji,” Bob Howarth said.
Similar sessions could soon be held across the Pacific to advance the quality of journalism throughout the region. UNDP deputy resident representative Lazima Onta Bhatta and Press Council representative Francisco Belo praised the initiative and encouraged participants to sharpen skills for combating false news and contribute to the policy discourses based on evidence and facts.
The two day session was highly interactive and productive. The true results from the training will surface soon as Timor-Leste journalists face a potential CoronaVirus outbreak in their nation.
Further Resources
Fact Check educacao in Timor-Leste Facebook Page:
Fact Check educacao in Timor-Leste - Home
Verifikafaktus https://www.verifikafaktus.net/
The International Fact-Checking Network