The United States Agency for International Development Agency (USAID) organised a workshop on enhancing constructive development reporting and countering misinformation for the Diplomatic Correspondents Association Bangladesh (DCAB) on Wednesday.
The training session, titled 'Rise in Journalism', featured guest presenters including Former Bangladesh Ambassador and Foreign Secretary Md. Touhid Hossain, Roving Asia Editor at Global Investigative Journalism Network Miraj Ahmed Chowdhury, and Aaron Sharockman, Executive Director of U.S.-based media fact-checking organization PolitiFact, according to a press release.
Each presenter focused on a central theme of constructive reporting and the media's role in countering misinformation in today’s digital and social media landscape. Participating reporters discussed issues, challenges, and opportunities for the Bangladesh media to play a greater role in helping the public identify inaccurate reporting or misinformation.
“There are so many sources of information in today’s world, whether through traditional media or social media -- with a growing surge of false information intended to mislead the public. This is why the media's role is more important than ever. People need credible sources of information, and USAID supports Bangladeshi reporters in this endeavour,” said USAID Mission Director Kathryn Stevens.
Through these workshops, USAID provides opportunities for Bangladeshi journalists to better understand key development issues in health, agriculture, climate change, and other areas to enhance their knowledge and inform the public about socio-economic development issues.