Yogyakarta, March 30th 2022─In an effort to fight hoaxes and train academicians to fact check, the Department of Communication Studies (Dikom) in the Faculty of Social and Political Science (Fisipol) of Gadjah Mada University in collaboration with Indonesia Independent Journalist Association (AJI) and Google News Initiative (GNI) held two workshops in the end of 2020. Zainuddin Muda Z. Monggilo, a communication studies lecturer, was the speaker in both workshops.
On December 14th-18th 2020, Zainuddin (from here on called Zam) with Aghnia Adzkia, Senior Visual & Data Journalist BBC East Asia, gave a fact check training with Fisipol UGM academicians. In this workshop, Zam and Aghnia introduced the tools that we could use to check facts. Other than that, there are at least six materials that were delivered. First, understanding misinformation and disinformation in Indonesia. Second, surveying social media, blogs, and websites. Third, analyzing content sources and social media accounts. Fourth, verifying photos, videos, locations, and time. Fifth, understanding the ethics of fact-checking. Finally, understanding digital security and safety. Aghnia said that journalists now are more strict with verifying information and presenting facts.