ARTI and DW Akademie train newsrooms to verify information

How can a newsroom establish where an image came from, recover the context of a video or check an audio recording before broadcast? These questions were central to the workshops organized by ARTI and DW Akademie as part of their cooperation on information quality and countering disinformation.

The cycle took place in Casablanca, Rabat and Tangier, largely in newsrooms so journalists and digital teams could participate. The media involved included MFM, Chada FM and Chada TV, HIT Radio, Medina FM, Cap Radio and Radio Plus. Working in these settings helped tie the exercises to daily editorial practice.

Participants practised tracing original sources, corroborating claims, archiving web pages and checking the date, place and context of a publication. They also worked on reverse image searches, video analysis, geolocation and audio verification.

Particular attention went to images, video and voices generated or altered with AI. The trainers introduced detection tools and their limits. The exercises emphasized that an automated result cannot replace checking sources and editorial review before publication.

The workshops combined explanations, demonstrations and hands-on practice. At Cap Radio in Tangier, twelve team members attended the 18 and 19 September session. Their assessment highlighted the value of checking voices and testimony in radio production. Feedback from newsrooms will inform consideration of possible follow-up sessions.

ARTI thanks Rachel Baig, Aldo Sánchez Vera and the DW Akademie team for their contribution to this first joint initiative.