Keystone-SDA expands fact-checking training for Swiss media

Since 2022, numerous media professionals have participated in the Keystone-SDA Fact check trainings to exchange views on current issues and deepen their knowledge in the fight against disinformation. The need is still great, as political propaganda in the US super election year and artificial intelligence are unsettling many citizens. More than ever, it is the task of the media to provide guidance - both at a national and regional level.

In close cooperation with the German Press Agency DPA and the Google News Initiative, Keystone-SDA is once again offering fact-checking training programs. They will start at the end of May 2024 and will again be free of charge for editorial teams of Swiss media.

The two experts Catherine Gilbert, Verification Officer at Keystone-SDA, and Jan Ludwig, fact-checker and social media trainer at DPA, provide basic knowledge for digital research such as reverse photo search and video verification in two-day basic training courses. These will be supplemented by two-hour in-depth training courses, which will take a closer look at tools and techniques, research tricks and practical cases and can be easily integrated into everyday editorial work. This time, the focus will be on recognizing artificially generated content such as deepfake videos, voices and texts.

"Today's communication channels enable the rapid and almost unlimited spread of false information. With the rapid development in the field of artificial intelligence, the potential for disinformation has once again increased significantly," says Jann Jenatsch, COO of Keystone-SDA. "Distinguishing between fact and fake is becoming increasingly difficult. I am therefore all the more pleased that we are able to expand the training program for media professionals."