During a one-day meeting focused on combating misinformation and disinformation through election fact-checking, Mr. Jean Bosco Rushingabigwi, Head of the Media Sector Coordination and Monitoring Department at the Rwanda Governance Board (RGB), emphasized the critical role journalists play in fact-checking before publishing information, highlighting the profound impact it can have on people’s lives.
Organized by Pax-Press with support from Africa Check, the meeting aimed to address the importance of delivering accurate information to the public to combat the spread of false or misleading narratives.
Attendees included journalists, Pax-Press representatives, Dr. Hlalani Gumpo from Africa Check, and Jean Bosco Rushingabigwi as the guest of honor.
In his speech, Mr. Rushingabigwi emphasized that fact-checking constitutes 80% of a journalist’s responsibility.
“You can either harm or help people with the information you provide,” he stated. “If you fail to verify the facts, you fail your audience. Many face severe consequences, including death, due to the misinformation spread by media. Therefore, ensuring accuracy before broadcasting or publishing is crucial.”
He continued, “Imagine ruining someone’s business simply because of a personal issue. When you pick up the microphone, think carefully about the impact of what you’re going to say or write. Professionalism in journalism is more vital than ever, especially in the digital age. We urgently need to prioritize fact-checking.”
Mr. Rushingabigwi also discussed strategies for adapting to the challenges of the digital era, especially with the rise of artificial intelligence and citizen journalism.
He underscored the importance of awareness and education, engagement with key stakeholders, and legal frameworks to guide media practices.
“Awareness and education are essential because, without them, individuals may waste public resources on nonexistent services or become victims of fraud,” he explained. “Even public servants require education and awareness, as well as engagement between the government and the media.”
In addition, Mr. Rushingabigwi called for a robust legal framework to keep pace with the rapid changes in the media landscape.
He also stressed the importance of capacity building, noting that events like this meeting, as well as collaborations with academic institutions, are vital to ensuring that journalism students are well-prepared for the profession.
Echoing these sentiments, Mr. Emmanuel Habumuremyi, Executive Secretary of the Rwanda Journalists’ Association, acknowledged the need to intervene in universities. “Students often lack critical thinking skills. Fact-checkers need to engage with universities to teach students how to verify information properly,” he said.
Although Mr. Eugene Hagabimana, Head of the Journalism Department at the University of Rwanda, noted that the curriculum is updated every four years to reflect current challenges, he emphasized the need to strengthen fact-checking within journalism schools.
“Today’s generation often avoids critical thinking and hard work, spending more time on social media than on their assignments,” he said. “This can lead to plagiarism and a lack of originality.”
The meeting’s attendees left with a powerful message: “Professional journalism is rooted in facts. You have a huge responsibility for the lives of your audience. You can either harm them or help them.”
