Journalists in Malawi Trained in Digital Skills to Combat Misinformation

A three-day media training on digital journalism has started in Lilongwe, Malawi, with the aim of equipping journalists with essential digital skills. The training, organized by SYMUF–Maison de la Presse in partnership with the Media Council of Malawi (MCM), will cover key topics such as web writing, fact-checking, and digital security. This initiative comes amid growing challenges linked to the rapid rise of online news media across Africa, including Malawi.

The training is designed to strengthen participants' capacity in fact-checking techniques, online media management, and multimedia storytelling to produce, share, and manage high-quality information on digital platforms while upholding ethical standards. Many media practitioners have only been trained in traditional journalism and have never received formal training in digital reporting, further compounding the issues of misinformation and disinformation.

Media Council of Malawi Executive Director Moses Kaufa stressed that building journalists' digital capacity is crucial for safeguarding the credibility of the media sector. He urged participants to make full use of the facilitators' expertise and work collaboratively to promote responsible and credible information dissemination through the digital space.

SYMUF–Maison de la Presse Founder and Coordinator Aubert Mwakabeca underscored the growing influence of online journalism and its potential to positively shape society when guided by strong skills and ethical conduct. He urged participants to use the training as an opportunity for professional advancement and encouraged them to take the training seriously.

Throughout the training, participants will cover key topics such as the Digital Code of Malawi, fundamentals of quality journalism, and digital security. The training aims to enhance participants' understanding of digital journalism principles and strengthen their capacity in fact-checking techniques, online media management, and multimedia storytelling.

SYMUF–Maison de la Presse, a Congolese-registered press NGO and member of the International Network of Reporters Without Borders (RSF), works to promote press freedom, responsible journalism, and human rights. The organization operates in Malawi through its partners: The Media Council of Malawi (MCM) and Circle of Hope International (COH).

The Media Council of Malawi and SYMUF–Maison de la Presse hope that this training will contribute to the growth of responsible and credible journalism in Malawi's digital landscape. By equipping journalists with essential digital skills, the training aims to promote high-quality information dissemination and combat the spread of false information online.

Key points

• The training aims to equip journalists with essential digital skills to combat misinformation and disinformation in Malawi's online news media.
• The Media Council of Malawi and SYMUF–Maison de la Presse are working together to promote press freedom, responsible journalism, and human rights in Malawi.
• The training will cover key topics such as web writing, fact-checking, and digital security to enhance participants' understanding of digital journalism principles.