UB Journalism Students Trained On Technics To Spot, Fight Fake News, Hate Speech Online

Final year students of the department of Journalism and Mass Communication (JMC) in the University of Buea (UB) have been drilled on the technics of spotting and countering fake news, misinformation, disinformation, ‘malinformation’ and hate speech on social media.

Cross-section of students pose in group pic with cohort 3 AFFCameroon fellows

The capacity building workshop Thursday 21 January 2021 was organised by members of the Africa Fact-checking Fellowship (AFF) Cameroon under defyhatenow – a hate speech mitigation organization.

As explained by Doh Bertrand Nua, Yaounde-based AFFCameroon fellow who doubles as a facilitator, the special meet-up, primarily aimed at training students who will soon join the job market on the dangers of spreading misinformation which appears to be a new trend on social media.

Students following lessons on fake news, hate speech and fact-checking

“The journalism profession seems to be facing a lot of challenges these days with the advent of social media. Just anyone can film, take photos, write and publish just anything in the name of journalism. This contributes to the spread of misinformation, disinformation and ‘malinformation’," Doh explained.

AFFCameroon fellow explaining the purpose of the training to reporters

He added that the choice of final year journalism students was strategic and motivated by the fact that they do offer a course titled “Online Journalism” which gives them ideas on blogging and other web related journalism practice.

“We therefore thought it was wise to share ideas with these final year students on the challenges currently faced in the field in order for them not to fall into the same trap like others and avoid running into trouble with their social media outings of publications on the web in the quest to have their sites or social pages become popular through sensationalism and spread of fake,” he added.

Bambot Valentine and Shing Timothy, two other Buea-based members of the team schooled the students on the dangers of spreading hate, how to identify it as well as basic skills on fact-checking and how to counter hate language, encourage peace within their communities among others.

The trainers explained that their sole objective and that of defyhatenow is to have a hate-free Cameroon. They challenged the students to be peace ambassadors in their community and always strive to be different from other social media users by ensuring what they write or publish online is verified.

Speaking on behalf of his mates, Eyong Eta, president of the Association of Student Journalists in UB, ASJUB, hailed the initiative of former students coming back to contribute to the growth of the department by sharing their experience with the younger generation.

He and his mates promised to extend the knowledge acquired to others within the department and to their communities as well as create a difference once in the job market.