ARTICLE 19, the UK-based international human rights organisation working to ensure freedom of expression and the right to information, and German media development organisation DW Akademie has launched the second batch of an online course on misinformation and fact-checking.

The "Misinformation and Fact-Checking: Media Information Literacy" is designed to create awareness and make responsible producers of information as well as to foster the ability of critical thinking to enrich and build general skills of the news and information consumers to understand and find out the correct information.

Faruq Faisel, regional director of ARTICLE 19 South Asia, said: "The global media situation is changing rapidly and Bangladesh is not free from this influence. Online and social media in particular are becoming increasingly popular and important as a source of information and expression."

"But at the same time, those involved in the use of this medium are at various negative and sensitive risks. Notable among these are rumours, the use of fake information, the dissemination of intentional information, and the dissemination of hateful information."

"Lack of media information literacy puts ordinary citizens, including journalists and social media users, at physical and legal risk. Without mass media literacy, any ordinary citizen, including journalists and social media users, can be misled by misinformation," Faruq added.

The course will enhance the capacity of its participants on safe and responsible users and producers of information. Also, they will learn about safe and responsible communication, especially in online communication, digital literacy, digital citizenship, digital etiquette, and copyright.

Anyone can attend this course free of cost. Registration for the course, which is offered in Bangla, is now open.

The course will begin on January 3, 2023, for five weeks.