Press releases and newsletter

AFP joins a new initiative to fight misinformation

AFP, along with other international media, has joined a BBC initiative to collectively define shared principles for collaborative action to fight misinformation. Other partners involved in the project are The European Broadcasting Union (EBU), Facebook, Financial Times, First Draft, Google, The Hindu, The Wall Street Journal, CBC/Radio Canada, Microsoft, Reuters and The Reuters Institute for the Study of Journalism.

As a media of reference in the fight against misinformation, AFP will be involved in the various aspects of the project including the creation of a warning system between partner organisations on the most dangerous false information, whether it is a threat to people’s lives or to democratic process during elections.

Initiatives include :

  • Collaboration to provide the public with easy access to key information during elections;
  • A joint online media education campaign;
  • Shared learning particularly around high-profile elections.

According to AFP chairman and chief executive Fabrice Fries, “this new initiative, which the Agency has joined, shows the commitment of major media to fight the global scourge of misinformation. To this end, AFP will rely on its network of 48 fact-checking experts who work independently in nine languages across more than 20 countries.”

 

About AFP:

AFP is a global news agency delivering fast, accurate, in-depth coverage of the events shaping our world from conflicts to politics, economics, sports, entertainment and the latest breakthroughs in health, science and technology. With 2,400 staff spread across almost every country, AFP covers the world 24 hours a day in six languages. AFP delivers the news in video, text, photos, multimedia and graphics to a wide range of customers including newspapers and magazines, radio and TV channels, web sites and portals, mobile operators, corporate clients as well as public institutions.

Download PDF version