Aly Diouf, deputy head of the Investigations and Reports Service at the Senegalese national daily "Le Soleil", recently participated in a seminar on media cooperation between political parties in China. The seminar, which took place from September 7-16, 2026, brought together journalists and media professionals from around the world to discuss the importance of cooperation and knowledge sharing in the face of disinformation and fake news. Diouf emphasized the need for media outlets to work together to promote trust and understanding.
During the seminar, Diouf shared his insights on the Senegalese experience, highlighting the country's long tradition of electoral democracy and peaceful transitions. However, he also noted the challenges posed by the increasing influence of digital technology in public debate, including the spread of fake news and deepfakes. Diouf stressed that these issues are not unique to Senegal and require a collective response from media professionals and politicians.
Diouf emphasized the importance of media cooperation in promoting trust and understanding between different societies. He argued that the new channels of communication allow for rapid dissemination of information to millions of people, but also facilitate the spread of misleading content. To counter this, Diouf advocated for increased collaboration between media outlets, including exchanges of content, coproductions, and training programs.
The Senegalese journalist also shared his experience of China, where he has previously traveled under a program organized by the Chinese Ministry of Foreign Affairs. Diouf spoke about his visits to various provinces, municipalities, and autonomous regions, including Shenzhen, Shanghai, and Yiwu. He was impressed by China's infrastructure, planning, discipline, innovation, and education system.
Diouf highlighted several key aspects of China's experience that could be relevant to African countries, including the Gaokao national university entrance exam and the "Two Sessions" parliamentary meetings. He also mentioned China's international engagement, including the Shanghai Cooperation Organization, the BRICS+, and the Belt and Road Initiative.
While acknowledging the differences between China and Senegal, Diouf suggested that there are valuable lessons to be learned from China's experience in areas such as planning, infrastructure, and innovation. He emphasized that his goal was not to promote a particular political system but to identify best practices that could be adapted to Senegal's context.
In conclusion, Aly Diouf's participation in the seminar on media cooperation between political parties highlights the importance of increased collaboration and knowledge sharing between media professionals and politicians. His experience and insights offer valuable perspectives on the challenges posed by disinformation and the potential benefits of cooperation in promoting trust and understanding.
Key points
- Aly Diouf advocates for media cooperation to counter disinformation and promote trust between societies.
- Diouf shares his experience of China and highlights potential lessons for African countries.
- The Senegalese journalist emphasizes the need for increased collaboration between media outlets to promote knowledge sharing and trust.
