By Panashe Kaseke
Bustop TV, a renowned Zimbabwean media outlet, known for satire and comedy, took a significant step towards promoting media literacy by hosting a training workshop in Domboshava.
This area, like many others in Zimbabwe, faces challenges related to access to information and the prevalence of misinformation.
Mlondolozi Ndlovu
The workshop which was facilitated by Mlondolozi Ndlovu- a journalist and media trainer, aimed to equip participants with essential skills to navigate the complex media landscape effectively.
The workshop is a component of Bustop TV’s initiatives aimed at amplifying the voices of marginalized communities by providing them with a platform to express their opinions. This platform includes various activities such as radio dramas, short films, documentaries, news articles, and podcasts.
Melissa Mwedzi, Bustop TV’s Research, Monitoring and Evaluation officer, gave an overview of the workshop.
“Our program mainly focus on bridging the gap of media between rural and urban communities. Mostly in rural areas, especially in these areas like Domboshava, people do not have access to accurate information and this workshop was meant to educate people in this community about media literacy. People in these communities they do not have much information about misinformation, disinformation and malinformation, they actually consume every information that they receive on social media platforms. So we saw it of paramount importance to educate those people so that they have the knowledge and also to equip them and also have information about Artificial Intelligence which is actually being the chief cornerstone of technology during this era,”
“From this workshop we are actually anticipating that those we have trained are going to spread the information in the community and to use what they learned here to detect information that can hinder the progress of their community and the nation as a whole,” she said.
One of the key areas of focus was understanding the concept of misinformation, disinformation, and malinformation. Participants were guided on how to differentiate between them and the potential impact these can have on society.
“Thank you so much Bustop TV for giving us the opportunity to discuss about media literacy particularly on access to information and freedom of expression.
I have learned to differentiate misinformation and disinformation and malinformation.
These three phrases have been a bit confusing to a number of people, and to me in particular. The information we got will help us to make sure that by the time we will be getting information through different ways and platforms we would need to verify before making sure that information is available to everyone using different platforms. I think we should take this workshop as an advantage since it will help us spread accurate information in our communities,” said Panashe Kazure, one of the participants.
The workshop also delved into the role of artificial intelligence in detecting fake news. With the rapid advancement of technology, AI has become a powerful tool in combating the spread of false information. Participants gained insights into how AI can be leveraged to enhance media literacy efforts and promote a more informed society.
“I feel honored to participate in this enlightening Media Literacy workshop where I have learned how to differentiate between fake news and facts. The workshop also introduced me to the use of Artificial Intelligence for verifying information, which was completely new to me. I now have a plan to share this knowledge with my community, primarily through social media,” said Marilyn Marufu.
Councillors who graced the workshop expressed their gratitude towards Bustop TV.
“Representing the women of Goromonzi in the Women’s Quota, I want to express my gratitude to Bustop TV for their efforts in educating our constituency about media literacy. I hope they will continue to organize similar workshops in other communities,” said Councillor Beauty Mavhunga.
The initiative by Bustop TV to host this workshop in Domboshava highlights the importance of reaching marginalized communities with crucial information and skills. By empowering individuals with media literacy skills, Bustop TV is contributing to a more informed and discerning society, better equipped to navigate the complexities of the modern media landscape.
