Kenyan Exchange on Disinformation and Fact Checking

The Kenyan Exchange on Disinformation and Fact Checking brought together journalists and media experts from Kenya and the U.S. to focus on disinformation in the media and the importance of fact checking. The program focused on communications tools, creating a network of communicators, and sharing best practices in the age of social media and digital news. The inbound exchange was held in Washington DC, Columbia, Missouri and New York City and included a number of workshops hosted by prominent professors in schools of journalism. Participants were also placed in fellowships with professionally relevant organizations to gain a deeper insight into the field of communication and the importance of fact checking. 

Carole Kimutai, Managing Editor, Digital at Standard Group Kenya, was placed in a fellowship with Politifact in Washington, DC. In addition to expanding her professional network, Carole also gained new technical skills in the field of journalism, which she translated into her career following the end of the exchange and fellowship in the U.S. Upon her return to Standard Group, Carole created a fact-checking station on the website which verifies information for all receiving plat-forms in the newsroom—website, TV, and newspapers. After hearing several experts discussing podcasts during the exchange in the U.S., Carole championed for a podcast to be implemented in her organization, which launched in May 2021.