The African Editors Forum says that due to the rise of disinformation and fake news as a result of Artificial Intelligence, journalists across the world must go the extra mile to fact-check every aspect of their story before they publish.

This was heard during day two of the M20 Summit, which kicked off on Monday in Melrose Arch, Johannesburg.

The focus of the Summit is on the role of media and journalism in fostering information integrity as a cornerstone for human rights, effective governance, international cooperation, and public trust needed for social and economic development.

Video | Everyone is entitled to reliable information:

President of the African Editors Forum, Emmanuel Dogbevi, says the only way to tackle the issue is for the media to consistently be truthful, emphasising fact-checking information and ensuring that it is factual before publishing.

“I trained journalists across the continent and I always tell them to ensure you fact check before you go out there do not rush to be the first to publish but be the one to publish the facts, I think that way we ensure the information out there has been verified and the media will be able to win back the confidence of the public,” says Dogbevi.