Prerequisites

• Basic familiarity with journalism or media work.
• Ability to use the internet and digital platforms.
• Interest in verification and news content.

Course Description

In times of war, not only do news stories spread rapidly—so do narratives, propaganda, and misinformation, often outpacing the truth. In such a complex media environment, news verification is no longer an optional skill; it is a professional and ethical necessity that defines a journalist’s credibility and ability to distinguish fact from manipulation.

Course Objective

By the end of this course, participants will:
• Understand the nature of misinformation in conflict settings.
• Develop practical skills in verifying news and digital content.
• Use open-source intelligence (OSINT) tools effectively.
• Analyze images and videos within the context of conflict.
• Make accurate editorial decisions under time pressure.

Course Outline

• Introduction to misinformation in times of war:
- Characteristics of information in conflict environments.
- Types of misinformation (fake news, propaganda, fragmented information).
- How media is used in warfare.
- The impact of misinformation on audiences and public opinion.

• Fundamentals of news verification:
- Principles of journalistic verification.
- Verify sources and information.
- Assess content credibility.
- Common mistakes in verification.

• Digital verification (OSINT):
- Use open sources for verification.
- Advanced search techniques.
- Track accounts and content.
- Basic digital data analysis.

• Verifying images and video:
- Detect manipulated or reused images.
- Geolocation techniques.
- Analyze videos in conflict contexts.
- Visual verification tools.

• Decision-making under pressure:
- Verification in breaking news environments.
- Balance speed and accuracy.
- Manage professional skepticism.
- When to publish? And when to wait?

• Ethics of verification and publishing:
- Professional responsibility in times of war.
- Handle sensitive content.
- Protect sources.
- Avoid unintentional misinformation.

Course Benefits

• An electronic graduation certificate by Al Jazeera Media Institute.
• Practical tools and templates for news verification.