The digital age has revolutionized how we consume, share, and perceive information. However, it has also given rise to challenges, including the spread of misinformation, disinformation, and hate speech.
In response to this, we, the Bloggers Association of Kenya in collaboration with our partners KICTANet, Tribeless Youth, Mzalendo Trust, Watoto Watch Network, and Internews, recently hosted a training session in Mombasa under the Kenya Safe and Inclusive Digital Space (KenSafe) initiative. The workshop drew 25 bloggers and content creators, eager to enhance their understanding of fact-checking, misinformation, disinformation, and hate speech. The session aimed to strengthen ethical digital journalism practices and promote unbiased, fact-based content creation.
The training did not merely stop at introducing the topics but delved into their real-world impacts on societal, political, and personal levels. Bloggers, often the first to cover breaking news or social commentary, learned how unchecked misinformation can ripple through communities, heightening tensions and fostering division. It also entailed actionable steps for responding to hate speech online. Bloggers learned how to foster positive discourse, promote digital literacy, and build resilience within their audiences. An approach that would empower content creators to act not only as reporters but as mediators in online spaces that often become hostile.
BAKE understands that bloggers, influencers, and freelance journalists are on the frontlines of content creation, playing a pivotal role in shaping public opinion. The fact-checking training ensures that these content creators are equipped to sift through the sea of information, verify facts, and responsibly share accurate content with their audiences. BAKE’s goal is to foster a community of responsible digital content creators who not only cover breaking news but do so with integrity. By focusing on fact-checking, content creators can build credibility and trust with their audiences, which is crucial in an era where fake news is rampant.
This fact-checking training is part of BAKE’s larger commitment to promoting ethical digital journalism. By giving content creators bloggers the tools and knowledge to identify false information, BAKE is laying the groundwork for a digital ecosystem that values accuracy, transparency and accountability, which are often compromised in the race for clicks, views, and engagement.