For Facts' Sake

South Africa is experiencing a resurgence of xenophobic violence. In this episode we discuss how a coordinated, sophisticated online campaign, built over more than six years, has helped fuel anti-immigrant sentiment and become a driving force behind the current wave of attacks. Guests:  1. Nosipho Mngomezulu - University of the Witwatersrand 2. Noor Nieftagodien - University of the Witwatersrand 3...

As South Africa prepares for the November 4 local elections, the country faces a digital storm of misinformation and disinformation spreading online. In this episode, featuring CINIA Communications Practitioner Janet Heard, we look at how you need to get yourself a very sophisticated BS detector. Stay up to date through CINIA's Elections Observatory: https://cinia.africa/publications/elections-obs...

South African journalists are enthusiastically using AI tools in their work. A groundbreaking new CINIA report has revealed that while AI is offering significant efficiencies in newsrooms, it also raises urgent concerns about training, ethics and trust. In this episode we delve into why adoption remains uneven and largely informal, and also ask if AI in newsrooms is just a generational issue. Expl...

As powerful digital platforms like Google and social media behemoths eat traditional media’s advertising lunch, South Africa’s Competition Commission has made a landmark ruling to try and undo this trend. Still, some platforms may get away with coughing up only small change. We speak to Michael Markovitz, adjunct faculty member of the Gordon Institute of Business Science (GIBS) and head of the GIB...

Digital authoritarianism is on the rise, including in Africa. Many governments now shut down the internet during elections, claiming concerns about the spread of misinformation. But what do these blackouts really reveal about threats to democracy? We speak to CINIA Senior Researcher Karen Allen to find out more. For Facts' Sake is hosted by Tebadi Mmotla and produced by Charles Leonard on behalf o...

Used by rightwing populists like Trump, Modi, Farage, Milei and Orbán, the new censorship that was invented by Nethanyahu, is turning journalists’ lives upside down. We speak to Ayala Panievsky, the author of a groundbreaking new book, who explains how it works. Read the full episode transcript via: https://cinia.africa/for-facts-sake-ep-5-the-new-censorship-thats-devouring-the-global-media/

Scammers skilfully craft lies to deceive online users. This practice is known as delusive speech. In this episode, we dive deeply into this dark side of the online economy: From fake booking links to romance scams, and tips of how to avoid getting trapped. Host: Tebadi Mmotla Guests: Julie Reid and Carina van Wyk Credits: Produced by Charles Leonard Read the full episode transcript via: https://ci...

Coverage of Gaza has been a massive challenge for the media in a time of disinformation and genocide denial. We focus on what journalists can do about it and what happens when legacy media gets it wrong. For Facts' Sake is hosted by Tebadi Mmotla and produced by Charles Leonard on behalf of the Centre for Information Integrity in Africa (CINIA) at Stellenbosch University.

When Meta failed to shut down Instagram accounts and WhatsApp Channels spreading child sexual abuse content, a brave media lawyer took them to court and won. She explains why she did it. For Facts' Sake is hosted by Tebadi Mmotla and produced by Charles Leonard on behalf of the Centre for Information Integrity in Africa at Stellenbosch University.

Misinformation is increasingly threatening public discourse, including on South African university campuses. A new study has found that students either become discerning media users or develop a deep cynicism. In this first episode of For Facts’ Sake, we investigate effective strategies for teaching misinformation literacy. Read the full study here: https://cinia.africa/cynical-or-critical-media-c...

On World Press Freedom Day, earlier this month, we delved into the economic fragilities facing the journalism industry which have only been amplified by USAID funding cuts. CIIA Director Herman Wasserman was joined by Ruth Moon from Louisiana State University and Khadija Patel from the International Fund for Public Interest Media to discuss the impact of funding on media integrity and what the fut...

In this podcast, CIIA researcher Yossabel Chetty chats with News24 Investigative Journalist Kyle Cowan about the recent investigation that he conducted to uncover the identity the person behind an X account, which had been spreading and amplifying misleading narratives about the true state of crime in South Africa. Links to Cowan's articles, including the detailed investigative steps can be found...

Strategic litigation against public participation, known as SLAPPs are becoming an increasingly common tactic by wealthy & powerful individuals to silence critical journalism. This weaponisation of the legal system to hinder investigative journalism poses a significant threat to information integrity in South Africa. Joining Daniel Roodt to discuss SLAPPs in South Africa was News24 legal journalis...

Meta CEO Mark Zuckerberg recently announced that the company would scale back its content moderation efforts and move to replace it with a community-notes system. This decision has been met with intense criticism from the international fact-checking community, who have claimed it will fuel the spread of disinformation on Meta's platforms. In this episode, CIIA Director Herman Wasserman is joined b...