It is the first major Ukrainian media outlet to be trained in fact-checking, a crucial step as Russia’s conflict in Ukraine has entered its second year.
The dedicated training was carried out by experienced digital verification journalists from AFP and APA in several sessions over late 2022. Since then Ukrinform has published more than 60 fact-checks on its website.
“Since the beginning of the Russian invasion, massive disinformation has polluted social networks, muddied the waters and made fair and impartial coverage of the conflict more and more difficult for journalists,” said Bronwen Roberts, head of digital investigation for AFP’s Europe region. “The training provided by AFP allows Ukrinform journalists, who already have extensive expertise in their region, to be even better equipped and aware when they investigate in the digital field."
The training was supported by the European Media and Information Fund (EMIF) managed by the Calouste Gulbenkian Foundation.
AFP is the leading fact-checking network in the world with 140 journalists on five continents. The agency works with eight European hubs against disinformation under the umbrella of the European Digital Media Observatory EDMO. It is a signatory of the standard-setting International Fact-Checking Network (IFCN) and has played a key role in establishing a European code of good practice for fact-checkers within the European Fact-Checking Standards Network.
In addition, AFP participates in a Meta program to identify and report false and misleading information circulating on its platforms.