He is known as a journalist dedicated to reporting current affairs within and beyond Tanzania.
This is Godson Mbilinyi, the co-founder and Head of Content at Msasa Media, which owns the Msasa news website, Msasa TV (an online television channel), and social media platforms. This media outlet focuses on informing the public on topics such as entertainment, sports, education, and social issues.
Godson is more than just a journalist. He possesses another crucial skill that is rare among online journalists in Tanzania: fact-checking.
Godson, who holds a Bachelor’s degree in Mass Communication from St. Augustine University (SAUT), coordinates the fact-checking desk at his outlet, called Msasa Fact Check.
Msasa Fact Check is responsible for verifying all the news received and published by Msasa Media to ensure the audience receives accurate, verified information that enables them to make informed decisions about their lives.
“In the past, some information couldn’t be verified, so we would leave it out, but now we go much deeper. We’ve reduced the gap and don’t just release information carelessly; verification is a must, following the principles we’ve learned,” Godson said during a recent visit to his office located in Goba, Dar es Salaam.
In addition to verifying news, Msasa Fact Check has been debunking misinformation and disinformation circulating online by using open-source tools such as Reverse Google Image, Invid, and TinEye, and cross-referencing with reliable sources.
Godson explains that if the information is found to be misleading, they label it as FAKE and provide evidence gathered from various sources. At the same time, they offer their audience tips on how to spot misinformation and disinformation in everyday life.
How did Godson Mbilinyi become a fact-checking journalist?
It wasn’t by chance. In May 2024, Godson received fact-checking training provided by Nukta Africa, implemented the Google Training for Trainers (Google TOT) project with financial support from Africa Check Trust, Africa’s first independent fact-checking organization.
Nukta Africa is a media and technology company based in Dar es Salaam aims to transform people’s lives through data and digital tools and content. It owns Kozica, an e-learning platform dedicated to provide emerging communication and journalism related skills.
The goal of the two-day training was to equip trainees from media outlets, fact-checking organizations, civil society groups, and journalism students with fact-checking skills.
Within two months of receiving the training, Godson convinced his colleagues at Msasa Media to establish a fact-checking desk and became one of the few trainees to put the fact-checking skills into practice, despite the training being provided to more than 60 trainees in Mwanza and Dar es Salaam.
“I had never received any formal fact-checking training before, perhaps only a little at university. But the Nukta Africa training really opened my eyes to fact-checking,” says Godson.
The journalist explains that the two-day fact-checking training, held on May 27 and 28, 2024, at Nukta Lab, Dabe House in Dar es Salaam was impactful and useful to his career.
“I saw it as a valuable education because I had always wanted to be fully equipped in verifying true and false information, which is a global issue we’re all facing.
“For me, it was a great opportunity, and I feel fortunate to have received that training because it has shaped me professionally. It has helped me in my work, where we often encounter false information,” says the 27-year-old.
By September 30, 2024, Msasa Media had published more than six fact-checking stories.
Fact-checking is a process, and it depends on the type of information being verified. Some stories take a long time to uncover the truth, especially those created using advanced technology, such as deep fakes.
This journalist hopes to see fact-checking training, “conducted regularly because the wave of misinformation is growing everyday. This would help to have more journalists equipped with the skills to verify information and build a generation that receives accurate news.”
Is fact-checking worth it?
Godson says that since he started fact-checking in July 2024, Msasa Media’s followers have been increasing, and it has become a trusted platform for accurate news.
“There’s been a difference; our credibility has grown. Sometimes even leaders approach us for collaboration. Our followers are increasing because they see that we publish truthful content,” says the journalist.
For instance, Msasa Media’s Instagram page had 40,000 followers before the fact-checking desk was established, but now it has over 46,000 followers, with fact-checking stories contributing to this growth.
Godson’s current mission is to ensure that the knowledge he gained from Nukta Africa reaches more people. He has already trained his colleagues and other journalists on different platforms.
Godson believes that fact-checking skills are crucial for every journalist because the public trusts them, so they must lead the way in providing accurate information.
“We should be ambassadors, verifying the information we release and ensuring we follow professional standards to avoid publishing false news, which not only lowers our reputation but also damages the entire industry,” concludes Godson during his interview.
