What does fake news look like in Nigeria?
Code for Nigeria shares fact-checking tips with local journalists.
One of the advantages of having two strong Hacks/Hackers chapters in a country like Nigeria is that we can co-ordinate events to share information to a very wide audience. Hacks/Hackers Lagos (#HHLOS), for example, recently held a workshop on fake news, which was similar in subject to one covered by our sister organisation, Hacks/Hackers Abuja (#HHABJ). Being able to draw on shared experiences across the country gives both chapters a better idea as to the landscape of fake news here.
HHLOS’ event was held in partnership with fact checking organisation Africa Check. Editor David Ajikobi took participants through common steps used to identify and classify misinformation, which he recommends reporters do before sharing information, which can often be seen as providing an endorsement or legitimacy to untruths.
The sad truth is that in Nigeria — just as elsewhere in the world — journalists and editors often overlook fact checking as an essential part of the production process, and see it as hard work while at times they see quoting a tertiary source as a way-out. But Ajikobi says that’s not good enough: even if a “major” newsroom has broadcast or published something that does not necessarily mean it is true, so we need to cultivate a culture of fact checking everything. It is worth the additional stress or delay to publication when we consider the harm we avert by doing so.
Fake News may not necessary emanate from Journalists or newsrooms and could circulate over social media and even become trendy but at some point they get in contact with it and help propagate. This fake news could be generated intentionally depending on the purpose as they also make catching headlines and means more money for media houses- many journalist agreed with David on this.
Social media platforms and web search engines such as Facebook and Google respectively have championed the fight against the spread of fake news on the web with a new fact checking feature in partnership with fact checking organizations like Africa check, Snopes, PolitiFact etc. But this is a young innovation that needs growth via our inputs hence; we implore everyone to see fact checking as our collective responsibility and not the prerogative of selected individuals or organizations.
Data to stories
Enthusiasm for data-driven journalism is starting to take off in Nigeria, and at HHLOS we try to teach at least one new tool for quickly creating infographics per session. This month, Code for Nigeria Innovation Fellow, Blaise Aboh, took attendees on a walkthrough Quartz Africa’s charting tool, Atlas. Aboh recently won a pan-African competition based around Atlas, and will spend time at Quartz’ New York offices as part of his prize. Aboh demonstrated its use for turning data into charts and graphical visualizations for better understanding.
To facilitate planning for future events, we introduced members to the Hacks/Hackers Quadrant, a way of tracking recent learnings, projects on the go and plans/requests for the next year. Funmi Ishola, a Naija Data Lady reporting for Health Journo, described how she was exposed to a new world of data journalism, data visualization and multimedia journalism since joining.
Finally, it was a full blast party as Journalists proved they were not just writers and good at taking interviews but also very social as the various media houses gave dancing steps to wrap up the Hacks/Hackers activities for 2017.
The year 2018 unfolds with lots of opportunities and expectations are high from the Hacks/Hackers community for 2018.
Story Credit: Eromosele John
Photo Credit: Chris Iduma
The worlds of hackers and journalists are coming together, as reporting goes digital and Internet companies become media empires.
Journalists call themselves “hacks,” someone who can churn out words in any situation. Hackers use the digital equivalent of duct tape to whip out code.
Hacker-journalists try and bridge the two worlds. Hacks/Hackers Africa aims to bring all these people together — those who are working to help people make sense of our world. It’s for hackers exploring technologies to filter and visualize information, and for journalists who use technology to find and tell stories. In the age of information overload and collapse of traditional business models for legacy media, their work has become even more crucial.
Code for Africa, is the continent’s largest #OpenData and civic technology initiative, recognises this and is spearheading the establishment of a network of HacksHackers chapters across Africa to help bring together pioneers for collaborative projects and new ventures.
