11 Filipino Journalists United Against Disinformation

From March 10 to 14, 2025, CFI organized a fact-checking workshop in the Philippines, aimed at raising awareness among 11 journalists about the challenges of disinformation and providing them with practical tools to identify and verify information. This workshop was led by CHOO Ching Yee, a consultant and trainer in digital journalism, and former fact-checker for Agence France-Presse in Malaysia.

The Urgency of Combating Disinformation

Countries worldwide face the consequences of disinformation to varying degrees, and medical and environmental topics are no exception. CFI, with its expertise and know-how in combating disinformation, recognized the importance of offering such training as part of the "One Health Media" project.
Gathered in Puerto Princesa, 11 Filipino journalists from Sun Star, GMA, Cignal TV, Mindanews, and Palawan News participated in training on the ethical and technical fundamentals of verification journalism.

Comprehensive Training for Already Sensitized Journalists

The training modules raised journalists' awareness of the impact of information disorder, improved their understanding of fact-checking principles, and developed their practical skills to avoid rumors and produce fact-checking content on environmental and medical topics.

Choo Ching Yee covered various themes, including understanding disinformation and ethical considerations, as well as more technical content such as online security, the use of verification tools, and content production for different media platforms. The journalists, already familiar with basic fact-checking, also had the opportunity for professional exchanges and case studies.

Collaborations and Synergies with Local Health and Environmental Actors

During this week, CFI closely collaborated with local organizations to present ecosystem preservation programs and tropical disease prevention, as well as examples of good communication practices to the population. Activities included a visit to the Palawan Council for Sustainable Development (PCSD), a meeting with the Palawan Wildlife Rescue and Conservation Center (PWRCC) for crocodile rehabilitation, and the Pilipinas Shell Foundation (PSFI) for its malaria prevention efforts.

Such collaborations are present in all training sessions of the "One Health Media" project, demonstrating CFI's commitment to building its actions in synergy with local actors working to preserve health and ecosystems.

Upcoming Workshop on Social Media Usage

The workshops have helped journalists better understand the challenges of disinformation and familiarize themselves with fact-checking tools. Although combating disinformation requires large-scale mobilization, these 11 Filipino journalists are now better equipped to identify and fight disinformation in the Philippines.
Given that a significant portion of information, including false information, is disseminated on social media, these journalists will benefit from training on effective social media monitoring and dissemination techniques from June 2 to 6.