Uasin Gishu Journalists Trained on Digital Media Literacy and Digital Security

 

By Wasike Elvis 

 Journalists and communication students in Uasin Gishu County have undergone a comprehensive two-day training on Digital Media Literacy and Digital Security, an initiative designed to strengthen journalistic professionalism, promote responsible information sharing, and enhance the safety of media practitioners in the digital space.

The training, held from Wednesday, November 5 to Thursday, November 6 in Eldoret, was organized by Internews, an international media development organization, in partnership with KenSafeSpace and other collaborators, and funded by the European Union (EU). The sessions brought together practicing journalists from different media houses as well as journalism students from Moi University, offering them an opportunity to learn, share experiences, and gain hands-on skills on how to navigate the increasingly complex digital media environment.

Empowering Journalists in the Digital Age

Speaking during the opening session, Abraham Marita, a media trainer from Internews, emphasized the importance of equipping journalists with digital literacy skills to address the growing challenge of information disorder—a term used to describe the widespread presence of false, misleading, or harmful information online.

Marita explained that the modern media landscape is awash with three main forms of information disorder: misinformation, which refers to false information shared without harmful intent; disinformation, which involves the deliberate creation and sharing of false content to cause harm; and malinformation, which is genuine information used to harm individuals, institutions, or societies.

“In the current digital environment, everyone—including journalists—can easily fall victim to or unknowingly contribute to the spread of false information,” said Marita. “As custodians of truth, journalists have a duty to verify information before dissemination and to make use of digital tools that can help identify manipulated or misleading content.”

He highlighted the need for journalists to become familiar with digital verification tools to authenticate photos, videos, and online claims. Among the tools demonstrated during the training were InVid, a video verification plugin that helps identify manipulated video content; Google Earth, used to verify geographical locations; Citizen Evidence Lab for analyzing user-generated content; and image verification platforms like TinEye, Google Reverse Image Search, and Photo Forensics for checking image metadata and detecting alterations.

Marita urged journalists to be vigilant when consuming or sharing online content, stressing that disinformation campaigns have the power to influence public opinion, manipulate electoral outcomes, and erode trust in the media.

Digital Literacy as the Foundation of Responsible Journalism

Media Council of Kenya (MCK) Regional Coordinator, Joseph Mecha, praised the initiative, describing digital literacy as the cornerstone of ethical journalism and the responsible use of social media. He commended Internews and its partners for complementing the Media Council’s efforts to professionalize the industry through continuous training and capacity building.

“The media plays a vital role in shaping public perception, promoting civic engagement, and fostering national unity,” Mecha said. “As we move closer to another election period, journalists must ensure that the information they share is credible, verifiable, and free from bias. This is the only way to maintain public trust and prevent the kind of misinformation that can trigger unrest or division.”

Mecha reaffirmed MCK’s commitment to protecting press freedom, promoting professionalism, and ensuring that journalists have access to the tools and knowledge they need to thrive in a fast-changing digital environment.

Addressing the Growing Threat of Cyberattacks

In addition to digital literacy, the participants received extensive training on digital security, focusing on how journalists can protect themselves and their sources from cyber threats. Cybersecurity expert Eric Masinde led this session, describing journalists as high-risk targets for digital attacks due to their visibility, access to sensitive information, and the nature of their work—particularly those involved in investigative or political reporting.

Masinde explained that journalists often face different categories of threats:

• Cyber threats, such as phishing, hacking, ransomware, malware, and identity theft;
• Social threats, including hate speech, misinformation, online harassment, sextortion, and online gender-based violence; and
• Financial threats, such as online fraud and scamming.

He urged journalists to adopt best practices in online safety, such as using strong passwords, two-factor authentication, encryption tools, and virtual private networks (VPNs) to secure communications and sensitive data.

“Journalism today relies heavily on digital platforms, data sources, and online communication,” Masinde noted. “It is therefore essential for journalists to prioritize cybersecurity to maintain data integrity, safeguard their sources’ identities, and prevent unauthorized access or interception of confidential information.”

Masinde also raised concerns about the rise of Artificial Intelligence (AI) in the media industry, cautioning that while AI can enhance efficiency, it also presents risks such as misinformation through deepfakes and job displacement in newsrooms.

“AI can be a powerful tool, but it must be used ethically and responsibly,” he said. “Otherwise, it could erode public trust and compromise the authenticity of human journalism.”

Strengthening Credibility Ahead of Elections

Uasin Gishu Journalists Association Chairperson, James Gitaka, commended Internews and its partners for organizing the timely training. He noted that as Kenya approaches another election period, media practitioners have a crucial responsibility to ensure their reporting is factual, balanced, and free from manipulation.

“Fact-checking and digital safety are essential pillars of modern journalism,” Gitaka said. “This training will sharpen our ability to verify information, enhance credibility, and build public trust. At a time when misinformation spreads faster than truth, journalists must be at the forefront of promoting accuracy and accountability.”

Gitaka encouraged journalists to continue learning and collaborating with organizations that support media development, saying such partnerships are vital in ensuring the sustainability of independent and ethical journalism.

Building a Resilient and Informed Media Community

Throughout the two-day program, participants engaged in practical exercises, discussions, and demonstrations that explored real-life scenarios of misinformation and digital threats. Many expressed appreciation for the training, describing it as eye-opening and relevant to the realities of today’s media environment.

The training concluded with a collective call for continued investment in journalist capacity building, enhanced collaboration between media institutions and civil society, and stronger policies to protect digital rights and freedom of expression.