AFP Fact Check journalist Mayowa Tijani joins Eric & Cobus from Lagos to discuss his reporting that debunks fake news, particularly videos and other stories related to China-Africa. Misleading and downright false information have long been a hallmark of the China-Africa story but it’s become more prevalent in recent months in response to events like the maltreatment of Africans in Guangzhou.
Tijani explains how he and the team at AFP Fact Check authenticate China-Africa-related stories that are misleading. He also provides some practical, actionable tips for what news consumers can do themselves to verify that the information they’re consuming is accurate.
Show Notes:
- AFP Fact Check: Viral videos of Africans attacked in China were filmed years ago
- FRANCE 24 Observers: Debunked: Fake videos purport to show violence against Africans in China by Pierre Hamdi
- Reuters Fact Check: False claim: Nigerians burn Chinese stores in response to cases of discrimination of Africans in China
‘Mayowa is a development journalist, a multi-award-winning public speaker, and a 2017 Chevening scholar. He’s a graduate of the University of Ibadan, Ibadan; the Nigerian Institute of Journalism, Lagos; and just concluded his master’s degree (with distinction) in Media Practice for Development and Social Change at the University of Sussex, UK — via the prestigious UK government Chevening scholarship. He was named as one of 50 young leaders — and only African journalist — from over 144 countries around the world to discuss and proffer solutions to sundry education and human rights issues at the Cumberland Lodge, Windsor Great Park, UK.
‘Mayowa’s works, which have been translated to French, Spanish, Portugese and Arabic, have been quoted by The Canadian Broadcasting Corporation, International Business Times, Bloomberg, New York Times and the BBC. The 29-year-old journalist is the business and development Editor at TheCable and leads Agence France-Presse AFP-Facebook fact checking drive in Nigeria.
