Hi, I’m Sallu Kamuskay from Sierra Leone
a Blogger. Youth Organizer. Storyteller

My Experience at the BBC Media Action Training on Tackling Mis-/Disinformation and Hate Speech

In November last year in Zambia, I met Rehobot Ayalew, an independent fact-checker and consultant, at the launch of the DCN Africa  where participated on a panel discussion on “How Tradition and Innovation Influence African Storytelling in the Digital Age organized by the Digital Communication Network (DCN) Global and World Learning . Rehobot Ayalew is big on fact-checking and had once visited my country to train journalists on fact-checking ahead of the 2023 elections. I had the opportunity to meet and interact with Rehobot in Zambia, where she gave a talk on fact-checking while hosting a session on fact-checking and mental health. I was humbled and honored to have come across Rehobot and learned a lot during those few days.

Few days ago, I had the incredible opportunity to participate in a first phase of four-day in-person training  organized by BBC Media Action Sierra Leone. This initiative, in partnership with UNDP Sierra Leone, the United Nations Peace-Building Fund, and the Governments of Ireland, Canada, Iceland, and the European Union, brought together 25 journalists, bloggers, and social media influencers from across the country to train us on tackling mis-/disinformation and hate speech with a total of 18 days training with 8 days in person and remaining remote training.

The training was led by Lazar Covs, an investigative journalist and trainer from BBC Media Action Serbia. His expertise and passion for combating misinformation were evident from the very first session. Lazar’s engaging teaching style and real-world examples made the complex topic of misinformation more accessible and actionable for all of us while providing us with online tools.

Held at the Family Kingdom along Beach Road, the training was the first phase of a two-phase fellowship. This phase focused on in-person sessions, while the second phase will also focus on three days in-person  and online training.  In October, Another 35 journalists and influncers will be train.

Throughout the training, we were taught how to identify, analyze, and counteract false information. The sessions were interactive, with plenty of group discussions, practical exercises, and case studies that kept us all engaged and eager to learn more.

Edward Benjamin Kargbo, the Country Director at BBC Media Action Sierra Leone, introduced fellows to the intense fellowship training program on the first day, stating its importance to journalists, bloggers, and social media influencers. In his welcome speech, he emphasized that BBC Media Action recognizes the role that the media, influencers, and bloggers play in the country. He added that this training is intended to empower journalists and bloggers in the country. “We are hoping that at the end of this training program, we will have some sort of impact multiplier effect on the media landscape and the communities you serve.”

Mr. Kargbo also noted that this training is the first program to bring together journalists, bloggers, and social media influencers in the same room.

Sagar Adhikari, the iVerify Specialist (Media and Digital Communications) at UNDP Sierra Leone reiterated the importance of the training expressing his excitement for the partnership with the BBC Media Action to train journalists, bloggers and social media influencers in Sierra Leone. “Misinformation remains a challenge even after the elections, which is why we continue supporting the media literacy programme under the iVerify initiative. These will equip journalists and social media influencers with the skills to fact-check and share accurate information, fostering a more informed and resilient society in Sierra Leone” He added.

Journalists from AYV, Awoko Newspaper, The Calabash Newspaper, fact-checkers, Politico, bloggers, and influencers benefited from the training.

Abass Sesay, AYV Regional Bureau Chief from Makeni, expressed his excitement for the training, noting that it has further empowered him as a journalist to investigate stories. “The training is not only educative for my work as a journalist but also inspires me as it gives me the urge to go beyond normal news coverage and reporting,” he said, adding that he will ensure the lessons learned are shared with his colleagues in Makeni.

Mabinty M Kamara, Editor at Politico, spoke about how this training impacted her life as a print journalist. She expressed that the training led by Lazar Covs has opened her eyes to tools available online for investigative reporting. “I have been exposed to more advanced forensic fact-checking tools and search engines,” she added.

Ophaniel Goofing, Iverify Coordinator, while speaking on the importance of the training to him as a fact-checker, noted that the training is important to journalists and fact-checkers as it helps them embrace the developing trends in modern journalism to fact-check stories. “ICT is developing at a rapid pace, and the only way to keep abreast of the latest developments and trends is through training like this,” he said.

Social media influencer and owner of the Hawanatu Konneh blog expressed her excitement about the training. She added that the training has further empowered her with tools that she will use to fact-check stories before posting online. “The training entails a lot of details when it comes to fact-checking and media literacy, especially making sure everything is in place and correct before posting news,” she said.

Lawrence Williams, Publisher and Managing Editor of Freetown Post, said that the training empowered him in his career and also gave him an opportunity to learn new tools. “It’s exposed me to more sophisticated tools and methods used in fact-checking, but I must admit that it’ll take some time for me to master them,” he said.

The training aims to enhance participants’ understanding of fact-checking and the use of open-source intelligence. Key objectives included debunking fake identities, exploring photo forensics in the age of AI, examining non-standard fact-checking methods, utilizing domain tools for media reporting verification, and familiarizing participants with tools to assess crowd sizes.

The Power of Technology: Meeting DCN Global’s Communications Director, Marianna Tanagia, in Zambia.

The featured image used in this blog, featuring Marianna Tanagia and me, was taken at the Radisson Blu Hotel in Zambia after the first day of the DCN Africa Launch. Marianna Tanagia serves as the Communications Director at DCN Global.

Upon my arrival a few months ago from a trip to Zambia for the DCN Africa launch, I made a commitment to write blogs sharing my experiences about all the amazing people I have met while in Zambia. A few weeks later, I wrote about several individuals, including Cameron Evers, a Senior Analyst for Sub-Saharan Africa at Emergent Risk International (ERI) from the USA; Gifty Tracy Aminu, a journalist from Ghana; and Dimitris Dimitriadis, a renowned Greek keynote speaker, futurist, and expert in designing companies for the future, Rehobot Ayalew, renowned Fact-Checker from Ethiopia and Judith Ogutu, a seasoned Kenyan strategic communications professional

The truth is, every day of my life involves checking my emails and messages on social media. I receive tons of emails and messages from people I know, as well as from those I do not know—some of whom turn out to be scammers. As a friend once told me, “Technology and social media have exposed us to more dangers than they have brought us together.” While I agree with her assessment, I also recognize that technology and social media offer us choices. It’s akin to navigating between heaven and hell—the decision is always ours to make. Fortunately, there are plenty of guides and materials available online that can help us verify information before clicking on links, signing up for platforms, or making payments using our cards. Technology and social media are all about possibilities, and that’s something I’ve always believed in.

On September 12, 2023, I received an email from Marianna Tanagia, the Communications Director at DCN Global, extending an invitation to participate in the launch of DCN Africa in Zambia. Her email stated, “I’m writing to invite you to speak and/or run a workshop at our upcoming event entitled ‘Harnessing the Digital Revolution: Fostering Resilience and Development’ in Lusaka, Zambia, on November 7-9, 2023.” Initially, I hesitated, wondering if it might be a scam. However, my gut feeling urged me to express interest and explore further. Simultaneously, I conducted background checks on DCN Global.

Interestingly, this wasn’t my first encounter with DCN Global. Back on May 12, 2021, I participated as a guest in an online interview discussing “Citizen Journalism in Africa”, alongside renowned journalists from Kenya and the Zimbabwe Democratic Republic of Congo. During that engaging conversation, we explored how African citizens could contribute to raising awareness. My involvement in that interview was facilitated by a friend—the Co-founder and Communications Director at Mobile Journalism Africa.

Given the numerous online publications and their successful launches in Asia, America, and other parts of the world, I felt confident about engaging further with DCN Global to arrange my travel.

However, due to the considerable distance I needed to cover—from Sierra Leone to Zambia (a flight lasting over 20 hours)—I had to be among the first speakers to depart. Unfortunately, circumstances beyond my control caused me to be part of the last batch of arrivals. The Asky Airlines flight from Sierra Leone, which was supposed to connect me to Emirates via Ghana to Dubai, encountered delays due to technical issues, resulting in a late departure.

Marianna Tanagia and the rest of the team were with me every step of the way—concerned, checking on me, and making sure that another booking would be arranged. They remained by my side until I arrived in Zambia.

Upon reaching Zambia, a car picked me up from the airport and took me to the Radisson Blu hotel. There, I had the pleasure of meeting Marianna Tanagia, the Communications Director for DCN Africa. My presence in Zambia for the launch of DCN Africa was largely due to her exceptional work.

Maria-Anna Tanagia is a journalist, working as a communication and content specialist as well as head of communication for the last 20 years. She holds a degree in Journalism and a Master’s in Journalism and New Media from the Aristotle University of Thessaloniki. As part of her master’s thesis, she created the online magazine “Publishit”, inspired by citizen journalism, which was awarded by Regional Media Greece (Bronze Award “Best Column”, 2017). She is the Communications Director of the Digital Communication Network Global, a vibrant community of digital professionals and emerging leaders from around the world dedicated to addressing the challenges to democracy through innovative solutions.
She also works as an adult educator and facilitator of journalism and social media workshops (with a focus on digital campaigns for social good). She was included in the list of 50 young (under forty) disruptors of Northern Greece.

After checking in at the hotel, there was already a session going on at the hall. I rushed to the hall and as I entered, I could see beautiful faces seated.  People from over 40 countries, 25 of which are African countries represented at the event.

5 ways to make money online in Sierra Leone

In this article, I have put together five ways you can use to make money in Sierra Leone online. I’ll share five proven methods that I have used and that you can use to make money online. Whether you’re looking to start a side hustle or a full-time business, these methods can help you achieve your financial goals. From freelancing to blogging, there are plenty of opportunities to earn money online in Sierra Leone. So, let’s dive in and explore the possibilities

1. Become an Influencer: You can become a social media influencer by building a healthy following within a specific industry on platforms like TikTok and Instagram. Once you have a community, you can make money by charging for sponsored posts, selling your photos, adding affiliate links in your bio, creating your own online store, or even appearing at events
2. Start a YouTube Channel: You can create a YouTube channel for almost anything, from reviewing products and teaching to pranking and streaming video games. Once you figure out your niche, create your channel and your first video. Observe how people respond to it and create more appealing videos for your target audience. You should dedicate some extra time to building your social media presence to attract enough subscribers to apply for monetization.
3. Sell Products online

Afrikonet eCommerce is a leading platform and application in Sierra Leone that facilitates the buying and selling of products and services online. You can use this platform to sell your products online and make money. To get started, create an account on the Afrikonet website http://afrikonet.sl Once you have an account, you can list your products, set your prices, and start selling. Payment to buy products on Afrikonet can be done throug card, orange or Afrimoney Afrikonet also offers drone services, ICT services, and renewable energy solutions

1. Blogging: Blogging is an act of posting content on the blog. You need some time to create a blog and make a very good sum of money. You want a bit of investment (domain cost and website hosting cost) to create and maintain a blog 2.
2. Freelancing: You can offer your services as a freelancer on platforms like Upwork, Fiverr, and Freelancer. You can offer services like writing, graphic design, web development, and more. You can set your own rates and work on projects that interest you