Premium Times Centre for Investigative Journalism has commenced a one week Fact-Checking and Investigate Journalism Training for Journalists in the Criminal Justice and Anti-Corruption sector in Kano.
The training holding at Tahir Guest Place Kano under the centre’s Rule of Law and Anti-Corruption Project, funded by European Union and British Council has 20 selected Journalists as participants.
Speaking during the commencement of the training, the Programme Manager, Accountability and Advocacy Unit, Premium Times Center for Investigative Journalism, Mr Mboho Eno said the workshop was to equip the participants on the ways of ensuring effective fact checking, especially in the three Arms of Government.
Mr Mboho Eno noted that the training was designed for the six zones of the country and urged the participants to make good use of the knowledge acquired for the benefit of Nigerians.
He said the training was necessary to equip journalists with modern approaches, models and tools to enable them hold leaders accountable
A Resource Person at the training, Mr Gbemiga Ogunleye explained that carrying out fact-checking required among others, contacting the person making the claim, use of additional sources, working on getting facts and liaise with experts on the subject matter.
The Resource Person who recalled that the practice of fact-checking has been evident in earlier Journalistic ventures, noted that in Africa, the practice was Institutionally pioneered by Africacheck.org in 2015.
Mr Ogunleye said in democracy, fact-checking is to ensure accountability of the government and public figures to the citizens at all times.
