The Worldwide Heart for Journalists’ (ICFJ) Disarming Disinformation initiative is a three-year program, supported by the Scripps Howard Fund, that goals to gradual the unfold of disinformation by way of a number of applications comparable to investigative journalism, capability constructing and media literacy schooling. ICFJ partnered with MediaWise from the Poynter Institute to develop and ship media literacy programming.
The media literacy training of trainers program accepted international members for 2 totally different cohorts. The members are group leaders who will educate others on the significance of media literacy and the best way to apply these expertise in actual life. The article beneath is certainly one of 5 influence tales chosen from the primary cohort in celebration of media literacy week.
Harriet Atyang helps construct a stronghold towards disinformation in western Kenya. Because the founding father of a neighborhood radio station known as Dada Radio primarily based in Siaya, Kenya, she believes within the energy of data.
“Data could make or destroy a group. Being a group chief and journalist, I like educating my group, particularly rural ladies, most of whom are deprived as know-how continues to develop,” she stated.
In January 2024, Atyang took half within the first 19-person cohort of Disarming Disinformation’s coaching of trainers during which she realized from MediaWise the best way to use and educate media literacy expertise. Within the months since, she has handed on these expertise by way of mentorship applications for journalism college students and workshops for group members, coaching 67 individuals up to now. At Dada Radio, she ensures all station presenters are outfitted with media literacy expertise and routinely carries out media literacy coaching by way of on-air applications.
In her trainings, Atyang has introduced collectively an individual spreading misinformation and the topic of that misinformation to have a productive dialog; taught highschool college students to supply professional-level fact-checks that had been revealed on the radio; impressed these college students to pursue a journalism profession; and launched a mentorship program for top colleges.
Rising up within the city of Busia, situated in western Kenya near the Ugandan border, Atyang walked to and from college barefoot, within the sweltering solar, usually with out meals and solely a little bit water. Typically the one drink to devour was the native alcohol her mom would illegally distill to earn a couple of shillings, though not sufficient to feed her complete household. In the event that they discovered a tossed-out piece of moldy bread, it was as in the event that they “had a feast to eat,” she recalled.
The third born of eight youngsters, Atyang spoke of how her mom left her father to get away from the abusive relationship and later got here again to rescue her in the course of the evening.
Via all of it, she by no means wavered in her want to go to highschool, to obtain an schooling, to check journalism and to assist people who find themselves unable to assist themselves. This drive makes her the trusted journalist and group chief she is at this time — one who’s captivated with supporting ladies, strives for excellence in journalism, and cares deeply for her group.
Atyang launched Dada Radio in 2023. Dada, which is Swahili for sister, has damaged commonplace norms, broadcasting within the native language of Luo and prioritizing tales that influence ladies and ladies — placing their wants first.
For a small group radio station, the place studying journalism by commerce is regular over conventional schooling, Atyang pursued the Disarming Disinformation coaching of trainers program understanding that media literacy strategies may have speedy and lasting impacts for her crew at Dada Radio, for her group and for native journalism college students.
“This coaching alternative got here at a time once I actually wanted to assist my group to advertise accountable sharing of data,” she stated.
When requested her greatest piece of recommendation for others trying to conduct media literacy workshops, she stated to “work this system across the members’ availability, not the coach’s availability.”
This strategy can’t be emphasised sufficient. To make sure their viewers is mentally current to interact within the studying supplies, a coach should work across the viewers. This creates a welcoming studying setting.
Local people members attend a media literacy workshop. (Courtesy: Dada Radio)
Atyang admitted she was undecided what the agricultural group would take into consideration media literacy contemplating the city doesn’t essentially have entry to advancing know-how, like different components of Kenya and the world.
“I used to be shocked by the extent of curiosity and enthusiasm from the members,” she stated. “I used to be anticipating some skepticism, particularly as a result of the truth that my members are rural residents, and should not have been enthusiastic about media literacy.”
The priority shortly dissipated as soon as Atyang was within the room along with her members. “(They) had been very desirous to study and put into follow the data they acquired in the course of the coaching,” she famous.
Somebody who had unfold false details about a neighborhood individual entered one of many workshops, solely to search out that the individual they’d wronged was additionally there. After a couple of video games demonstrating the traits of misinformation, the way it can evolve and the best way to hint it again to its supply, the one who had shared misinformation apologized for the hurt they’d brought about. This distinctive occasion, with each the spreader of misinformation and the sufferer in the identical workshop, modified lives and healed wounds.
Relating to media literacy, digital hygiene is the one talent that everybody ought to know, urged Atyang. Digital hygiene refers back to the precautions somebody can take to make sure their information and units are safe each on-line and offline.
Verification instruments are additionally essential, she stated. Journalists and other people of their every day lives alike can use these instruments to fact-check what they see on social media.
Harriet Atyang conducting a workshop for journalism college students (Courtesy: Dada Radio)
Atyang’s ardour that carried her on her life’s journey continues to at the present time supporting the subsequent era of journalists.
One speedy influence originating from these workshops is a mentorship program for journalism membership members at one of many secondary colleges in the neighborhood. Atyang and her crew at Dada Radio proceed to deal with media literacy inside the colleges, whereas additionally incorporating information manufacturing expertise.
The mentorship program amplifies the significance of media literacy whereas additionally nurturing college students’ ardour for journalism and want to pursue a profession within the business. As a part of this system, the scholars will present one verified information story per week to be aired on Dada Radio.
In early 2025, 5 extra group colleges will provide the mentorship, reaching no less than 200 college students with media literacy and information manufacturing expertise. Atyang goals to launch small newsrooms in these colleges so the scholars can get hands-on expertise. In the meantime, at Dada Radio, she plans to launch a fact-checking desk with no less than one individual devoted solely to utilizing fact-checking instruments to confirm information tales.
“We’ll proceed the dialog of media literacy,” Atyang promised. “We’ll proceed the dialog about media literacy on air and off air, throughout different group engagement actions and (counting on) those that have been skilled to maintain sharing their expertise with different group members.”
