The TIKA/TRT digital media training program for African journalists has reached its third day in Ankara, Turkiye, with experts urging participants to embrace fact-checking tools and digital platforms to tackle misinformation and enhance the reach of their content.
Organised by the Turkish Cooperation and Coordination Agency (TIKA) in collaboration with the Turkish Radio and Television Corporation (TRT), the training features journalists from Nigeria and Mozambique, including representatives from Muslim News Nigeria.
The programme, which began on Monday, May 12, at the TRT Academy, runs until Friday, May 16.
Turkish digital media expert, Birkan Koc, while delivering a lecture on “Combating Misinformation and Emerging Threats” on Tuesday, May 13, emphasised the critical need for journalists to verify information before dissemination.
He categorised false information into three types—mal-information, misinformation, and disinformation—warning that “the three can be harmful to society, if not tamed.”
Speaking with Muslim News Nigeria correspondents, who are also among the participants, Koc, a brand marketing manager at TRT, stated, “It is also important we do double checking, or maybe even triangulation, that is using three or more sources to verify our information and get our facts right.
At TRT, we have Anadolu Agency, which has a lot of reporters spread across communities in our nation. So, we work with them to verify information. This way, we are able to tackle misinformation and disinformation.”
Another impactful session titled “Digital Media News Format” was led by Hasan Durmaz, a publishing editor in TRT’s digital broadcasting department.
He highlighted the evolving nature of media consumption and the need for journalists to adapt.
“Social media is a great news source for journalists. It also helps give their content virality,” Durmaz noted on the sidelines of the event.
Durmaz introduced participants to CapCut, a tool for creating engaging short-format videos designed to resonate with today’s digital audience. The sessions also covered the differences between traditional and digital media, the role of social platforms, and best practices for maximizing online reach.
As part of the immersive learning experience, participants toured the TRT studios and broadcasting areas on the second day. They were guided by Recep Cihan, with Gökhan Köylü providing English translation.
The tour included key segments of the state broadcaster such as TRT Haber, TRT Sport, TRT Kurdi, and the Voice of Turkiye. It was revealed that TRT boasts a workforce of 8,500 across various departments.
Reflecting on the experience, Favour Ulebor, a journalist from Nigeria, expressed her gratitude for being selected.
“I am happy to be one of the journalists being trained. It has broadened my knowledge about how to infuse digital media into my work as a journalist, especially in this jet age,” she said.
Sharing her excitement about visiting Turkiye for the first time, Ulebor added, “We have been taken round the TRT facility to gather more knowledge about their operations. With the experience in this training programme, I can only hope for more journalists to be given the opportunity to attend.”
The week-long training will culminate in a sightseeing tour of Ankara on Saturday, providing participants a chance to explore the cultural and historical heritage of the Turkish capital.
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