The Media Council of Kenya (MCK) has called on journalists and media institutions to invest in continuous capacity building on verification and fact-checking to uphold credibility and public trust.
Speaking during a panel discussion on The Role of Media and Fact-Checking Collaboration in Elections, MCK Manager for Media Monitoring and Research Ms Dinnah Ondari emphasised the need for media houses to establish research desks to enhance accuracy in content dissemination.
“The Code of Conduct for the Practice of Journalism in Kenya underscores the importance of accuracy in reporting. In an era of widespread disinformation, journalists and media houses must ensure they are well-equipped to source and verify credible information,” she said.
Ms Ondari noted that while fact-checking tools and training may require significant investment, journalists and media houses can collaborate with fact-checking organisations that offer these services at minimal or no cost.
She further underscored the media’s role in promoting media and information literacy to empower audiences in identifying credible content.
“Through media literacy campaigns, consumers can better distinguish between journalistic and non-journalistic content. As digital platforms continue to grow, it is crucial to equip the public with skills to discern credible information,” she added.
The discussion took place during a conference organised by Africa Check, bringing together fact-checkers and journalists from across Africa under the theme Lessons from Collaborations: Reflections on Safeguarding Information Integrity During Elections.