Coordinating Team
Prof Herman Wasserman
PRINCIPAL INVESTIGATOR
EMAIL: HWASSERMAN@SUN.AC.ZA
Herman Wasserman is currently the Chair of the Department of Journalism at Stellenbosch University.
Meli Ncube is currently a postdoctoral research fellow, who holds a PhD in Media Studies from the University of Cape Town (UCT).
Ajibola is currently the Africa editor for the Center for Collaborative Investigative Journalism (CCIJ)
Herman Wasserman - Short Bio
Herman works as an independent consultant in his capacity as Director of the Institute for Media Analysis in South Africa (Imasa). Herman has published widely on media in Africa. His books include Tabloid Journalism in South Africa (Indiana University Press), Media, Geopolitics, and Power (University of Illinois Press) and Media, Conflict and Democracy in Africa (Oxford University Press). His latest book is Disinformation in the Global South (co-edited with Dani Madrid-Morales), published in 2022 (Wiley-Blackwell). He is a Fellow of the International Communication Association and an elected member of the Academy of Science of South Africa. His awards include a Fulbright fellowship and the Georg Foster Research Award from the Alexander von Humboldt Foundation in Germany. Wasserman is Editor-in-Chief of the academic journals African Journalism Studies and the Annals of the International Communication Association, Associate Editor of Communication Theory and International Communication Gazette and sits on the editorial boards of several other international journals. He has consulted for, amongst others, the World Health Organization, UNESCO, Deutsche Welle Akademie, Digital Public Square, Africa Check, the Center for International Media Assistance and serves on the scientific committee of Reporters without Borders.
Meli Ncube - Short Bio
Meli Ncube holds a PhD in Media Studies from the University of Cape Town (UCT). His scholarly journey has been marked by a steadfast commitment to examining the impact of social media on democracy in Africa, with a particular emphasis on Zimbabwe. Currently, he serves as a postdoctoral fellow within the Department of Journalism at Stellenbosch University. In this role, Meli’s research delves into the multifaceted realm of disinformation, exploring its profound effects on journalism and the erosion of trust in media. His work is especially focused on uncovering innovative strategies within investigative journalism that can effectively combat disinformation in diverse African contexts.
At the film school AFDA, he assumes the role of an instructor, imparting valuable knowledge on research methods that seamlessly intersect with the dynamic world of film production. He shares his expertise as a research consultant for Internews, contributing to initiatives that advance our understanding of media dynamics and digital freedom. Among his notable achievements, Meli has authored a UNESCO handbook that serves as an invaluable community media directory. This resource is instrumental in the planning and execution of advertising, distribution, and marketing strategies for community media outlets across the southern African region.
Research interests:
Disinformation and journalism, investigative journalism and countering disinformation, social media, and democracy in Africa
Ajibola Amzat - Short Bio
Ajibola previously worked for The Guardian newspaper, the flagship of Nigerian print journalism, and the International Center for Investigative Reporting (ICIR) in Abuja. Amzat is a graduate of the Columbia School of Journalism in New York, United States, Rhodes University, South Africa, and the University of Lagos, Nigeria.
LIRNEasia
LIRNEasia is a think tank working on digital regulation and policy issues, including access, digital rights, misinformation and data protection among others, across the emerging Asia Pacific while being based in Colombo, Sri Lanka. Since its inception, LIRNEasia has earned a reputation for being an independent and effective think tank, with a track record of bringing robust evidence to the policy process, to enable greater and more meaningful change among the people of the Asia Pacific. LIRNEasia is incorporated as a not-for-profit company, limited by guarantee, under the Sri Lanka Companies Act.
Our work on misinformation began in 2018 with the investigation into automated bad actors around social media following ethnic riots that took place in Digana, Sri Lanka, examining hundreds of thousands of tweets to understand their impact.
In 2020, with access to Facebook data, LIRNEasia published a corpus of 28 million words from a decade of Sri Lankan Facebook, including separate Sinhala-specific corpora and stopwords – the first of its kind. This corpus is now being used as the basis for sentiment detection modelling in Sinhala. Our research also examined the use of AI for misinformation, including the state of the art and the design and testing of 400+ machine learning models to examine algorithmic efficacy, data requirements, and hardware and liveware costs. Funded by the Asia Foundation, the project also built new misinformation datasets and models for Sinhala and Bengali. As a part of the research, LIRNEasia explored the challenges faced by regional fact checkers. As phase 2 of the same project, LIRNEasia will be evaluating a fact-checking tool to assess the use of AI in countering misinformation.
LIRNEasia completed a scoping study funded by IDRC to understand the nature of information disorder, measures to counteract it and the gaps in action and research in Asia Pacific. The study output consisteda map of actors and frameworks; an evaluation of the current approaches and tools used by stakeholder groups to counter information disorder and an overview of the research landscape.
We also undertaking an experimental approach with quantitative and qualitative methods to understand human factors in the information disorder. This approach will lead to new knowledge to find measures to counter information disorder. Our division is equipped with extensive computing and experimental testing facilities which enable research and development work over a wide range of relevant fields.
LIRNEsia research team
Helani Galpaya
Ajibola previously worked for The Guardian newspaper, the flagship of Nigerian print journalism, and the International Center for Investigative Reporting (ICIR) in Abuja. Amzat is a graduate of the Columbia School of Journalism in New York, United States, Rhodes University, South Africa, and the University of Lagos, Nigeria.
Isuru Samaratunga
Isuru Samaratunga is a Research Manager at LIRNEasia. He is currently engaged in ICT-related qualitative research projects in Asia and the Pacific. Some of the major qualitative research projects he has led have been for global funders such as ESCAP, GSMA, Ford Foundation, IDRC, USAID, Asia Foundation, UNFPA and UN-Habitat. The projects include landscape study and assessment of ICT capacity building needs, developing Mobile solutions for persons with disabilities, online privacy and security of marginalized communities, countering misinformation using AI, empowerment through online platforms, developing communication strategies for family planning programs and social impact assessments of development projects.
Isuru’s main interest is in enhancing the value of qualitative data in research projects. Isuru holds an MSc in Sociology from the University of Amsterdam, The Netherlands, and post-graduate qualifications from University of Cambridge, United Kingdom and University of Kelaniya, Sri Lanka.
Iyanthi Kulatilaka
Iyanthi is a Junior Researcher at LIRNEasia, focusing on projects related to the Future of Work and countering disinformation by enhancing digital and media literacy among children. Her research interests include international relations and sustainability.
She holds a Master of Arts in International Relations from the University of Colombo and a BSc in Business Management from the University College Dublin.
With experience in the social development sector, Iyanthi has contributed to various areas including community development, peace-building, reconciliation, climate action, and gender empowerment.
MENA
In the MENA region, information disorder exacerbates as it is feeded by political disorder. This flashpoint in the world witnessed a prolonged monopoly of media, which turned the media into a mouthpiece for authoritarian regimes. This monopoly of media is dismantled when social media emerged to erode the popularity of traditional media. Yet, social and new media shifted the problem and did not uproot it since the unstructured media creates and accelerates the spread of misinformation and disinformation. Over time, the ambit of social media was extended to political affairs, which contributed to the eruption of the Arab Spring revolutions and led authoritarian regimes and their opponents to shift to a strategy of targeting social media through torrents of bots, trolls, and rumors.
Based on the foregoing, The Arab Fact-Checkers Network (AFCN), led by the Arab Reporters for Investigative Journalism (ARIJ), is joing efforts again to identify the political, social, media and economic drivers of information disorder in 10 countries, mentioned below, in the region.
1.Jordan 2.Lebanon 3.Syria 4.Palestine 5.Egypt 6.Tunisia 7.Morocco 8.Libya 9.Yemen 10.Iraq
The team has already built up a network of local researchers from 10 countries in the MENA to identify the drivers and implications of information disorder. Right now, the researchers are conducting structured interviews with the actors who represent all stakeholders.
Work Mythology
The research typology is divided into two strategies; quantitative and qualitative methods. As the first stage of this study explores a multi-dimensional phenomenon in which a narrow-scale of parties is involved, the qualitative approach appropriates it. To perform qualitative research, a set of tools that comprises literature review, interviews, document research, focus groups and content analysis is utilized.
AFCN team
Rasha Faek
Rasha Faek is a professional editor with more than 12 years’ publishing experience. She is the managing editor at World Education Services (WES) and a consultant trainer at Arab Fact-Checkers Network (AFCN). Prior to that, Rasha worked at Al-Fanar Media, for around 9 years, serving variously as senior editor, managing editor, and the editor. Rasha has contributed to international publications such as USA Today and Bloomberg BAN.
Ahmed Ashour
Ahmed Ashour is an editor and fact checker at ARIJ. He completed a master program in International Media Studies at Bonn University, Germany. He holds the DW Academy-certified creditianial of the International Journalist. Ahmed Ashour had taken part in a number of cross-border collaborative programs with CiFAR, GIZ, ARIJ and OCCRP. Ashour participated in the collaborative project “Fincen Files” and “Pandora Papers” between ARIJ and ICIJ.
Arwa Kooli
Arwa Kooli is a journalist since 2011. She was one of the first journalists in Tunisia to use infographics and visualization in journalistic stories. Throughout the years she has produced several articles focusing on local and international issues. In addition to her experience of practicing journalism in Tunisia during a transitional process to democracy, Arwa has invested in learning and researching.
Fatima Bani Ahmed
Fatima is a freelancing fact checker and a science writer. Previously, she has worked on post publication fact checking, as well as verifying scientific content and claims. Prior to that, Fatima worked as a media literacy trainer with IREX.
MENA researchers
Afnan Abu Yahia - Jordan
An independent researcher and journalist who obtained BA degree in Applied English Linguistics at the University of Jordan, and pursued MA in Journalism and New Media from Jordan Media Institute.
Amine Ben Messaoud - Tunisia
Researcher in Media and Communication Sciences and Assistant Professor at the Institute of Journalism and News Sciences at the University of Manouba. Doctorate in Media and Communication Sciences with a very honorable degree with a recommendation for publication. Thesis title: Minority media in the Maghreb and its role in forming a public field concerned with the topics of “media and cultural identities,” “cultural studies,” and democratizing the field. “Al-Amoumi”… an author of intellectual and analytical contributions to local and Arab newspapers.
Joudy Asmar - Lebanon
Creative and tenacious reporter with a nose for news, a passion for community journalism and a reputation for impeccable ethics. Record of commended performance as a staff reporter and an experience in live streams and editing in the daily Annahar Newspaper and many other platforms in Lebanon, the Arab Pan Region and France.
Amira Samir - Egypt
A Vice Dean in the Mass Communication School and Associate Professor in broadcasting programmes at Canadian International College (CIC). She pursued a PhD from the Faculty of Mass Communication at Cairo University in 2005.
Hanan Al Bahrani - Iraq
A professor in the Media faculty at the University of Iraq. She pursued a PhD in Mass Communication from the University of Baghdad
Miral Sabry - Libya
Vice Dean for Community Service and Environmental Development at Future university in Egypt and Associate Professor at Department of Political Mass Media. She is a freelance journalist covering the conflict in Libya, and a chairwoman of Alumni in the Middle East at DW Akademie. She pursued a PhD in Mass Communications from Faculty of Mass Communication at AinShams University
Mohammed Mahrous - Yemen
A fact-checker, journalist and the editor in chief of the “Fact Yemen” fact-checking initiative. He specialised in covering humanitarian issues.
Nour Abo Farraj - Syria
A journalist, editor, and researcher, holds a Master’s degree from the Faculty of Media and Communication in Damascus University.
Saed Zahra - Morocco
A Fact checker and a researcher specialising in integrating information and communication technology into teaching, he holds a PhD specialising in electronic documentation of heritage from Université Hassan II in Casablanca
Said Abu Mualla - Palestine
A Media lecturer and researcher in the Arabic Language and Media Department at The Arab American University. He holds a Master’s degree in Mass Communication from the Institute of Arab Research and Studies, Cairo, Egypt
Latin America
What is InternetLab?
InternetLab is an independent research center based in São Paulo (Brazil) that aims to foster academic debates around law and technology issues, especially internet policy. The goal is to conduct impactful interdisciplinary research and promote dialogue among academics, professionals, and policymakers. We follow an entrepreneurial non-profit model, which embraces our pursuit of producing scholarly research in the manner and spirit of an academic think tank. As a nexus of expertise in technology, public policy, and social sciences, our research agenda covers various topics, including privacy, freedom of speech, disinformation, gender, race, and technology.
What are we doing on this project?
- Economic drivers: What are the economic determinants of informational disorder in the context of digital market growth and its impact on media markets in Latin America?
- Socio-political drivers: What are the dynamics of dissemination and consumption of disinformation through digital platforms? What is citizens’ perspective in an environment of informational disorder, and how does it influence social and political behavior in Latin American countries?
- Media drivers: How has the advent of the Internet influenced media organizations in Latin American countries? Currently, how do media concentration and monopolization occur in Latin American countries? What is the significance of the media structure in the region for informational disorder?
InternetLab research team
Francisco Brito Cruz
- Executive Director at InternetLab.
- Ph.D. in sociology of law by the University of São Paulo
(francisco@internetlab.org.br)
Heloisa Massaro
- Deputy Director at InternetLab
- Master of Laws in Sociology of Law at the University of São Paulo
(heloisa.massaro@internetlab.org.br)
Ester Borges
- Head of Research, Information and Politics.
- Master of Science Student in Political Science at the University of São Paulo.
(ester.borges@internetlab.org.br)
André Houang
- Researcher
- Master of Science Student in Political Science at the University of São Paulo
(andre.houang@internetlab.org.br)
Catharina Vilela
- Graduate Researcher
- Law Student at the Pontifical University Catholic of São Paulo
(catharina.vilela@internetlab.org.br)
RIA
Research ICT Africa (RIA) is an African think tank that has operated for over a decade to fill a strategic gap in the development of a sustainable information society and digital economy. It has done so by building the multidisciplinary research capacity needed to inform evidence-based policy and effective regulation Africa. RIA’s dynamic and evolving research agenda examines the uneven distribution of the benefits and harms of the intensifying global processes of digitalisation and datafication.
RIA research team
Alison Gillwald
Alison Gillwald (PhD) is the Executive Director of Research ICT Africa (RIA), an African digital policy and regulatory think-tank based in South Africa. She is also an adjunct professor at the University of Cape Town’s Nelson Mandela School of Public Governance where she supervises doctoral students undertaking transdisciplinary research on the digital economy and society in Africa.
Scott Timcke
Scott Timcke (PhD, Simon Fraser University) is a political economist of digital technology and democratic life. He is a Research Associate of the University of Johannesburg’s Centre for Social Change and an Affiliate with the Center for Information, Technology, and Public Life, University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill.
Zara Schroeder
Zara Schroeder is an AI Researcher at Research ICT Africa (RIA) with a Master’s degree in public Sociology and Anthropology. She has specialised knowledge in gender discourse, ethical AI, regulation, and governance of AI, with a passion for participatory action governance. Her experience spans various global projects, including the Global Index on Responsible AI, which is an index that assesses the responsible use of AI in over 140 countries, and the African Observatory on Responsible AI, dedicated to supporting and showcasing the work of emerging AI women researchers in Africa. Moreover, she recently co-authored a paper in Nature Human Behaviour titled, “A new research agenda for African generative AI” which looked at the regulation of generative AI from an African perspective. Additionally, she has also contributed to the UNESCO report, “Landscape Study of AI Policies and Use in Southern Africa” which analysed use cases of AI in Sub-Saharan Africa, the risks associated with these AI systems as well as policy recommendations. In addition to this, her expertise extends to gender-based violence, where she has led an online campaign encouraging women to share their experiences and suggest regulatory measures for social media platforms to safeguard women online.
Liz Orembo
Elizabeth Orembo has joined RIA as a research fellow. She is a tech public policy enthusiast who works at the intersection of technology and human development.
CCIJ
We are a nonprofit media organization that convenes and leads global investigations grounded in strategic mentorship.
We are committed to developing a model of collaborative journalism that holds compelling visual images, deep investigative reporting and data science as equal partners in producing a unique brand of storytelling focusing on underrepresented communities.
CCIJ research team
Abjibola Amzat
Ajibola Amzat is an award-winning Nigerian investigative journalist and the Africa Editor for the Centre for Collaborative Investigative Journalism, CCIJ.
He has years of experience uncovering major corruption scandals in Nigeria. He previously worked for The Guardian newspaper, the flagship of Nigerian print journalism, and the International Center for Investigative Reporting (ICIR) in Abuja. Amzat is a graduate of the Columbia School of Journalism in New York, United States, Rhodes University, South Africa, and the University of Lagos, Nigeria.
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