IEC workshop equips journalists to tackle election misinformation

The Electoral Commission (IEC) kicked off its nationwide elections training workshops for journalists in Durban on Tuesday. The workshop aimed to build a relationship between the IEC and the media to ensure election coverage is accurate, credible, fair and creates voter awareness. The training also looked at the impact that fake images, some generated by AI technology, have on voter confidence.

Athandiwe Saba, who leads the AI newsroom initiative at Code for Africa, advised journalists that the key committees to watch during the elections are finance, infrastructure, human settlements and supply chain management. Saba added that these committees influence procurement decisions and tender awards.She also advised journalists to always verify information before reporting on allegations. Cayley Clifford of Africa Check said false information about elections caused harm.

She added that throughout the years, the organisation has found that unsubstantiated claims about vote rigging, propped up by political parties and some news outlets, spread rapidly on X. Clifford added that another example is posts stating that if you don’t vote, your vote goes to the ANC. “Every election, this is debunked by Africa Check and the IEC.” She advised journalists to ask the following questions: Does this make you feel fear and anger?

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Does it sound too shocking or too good? And who is the source? Ntombifuthi Masinga, the provincial electoral officer in KZN, said the IEC will continue workshops with journalists across the country.

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