For Facts' Sake

Welcome to "For Facts' Sake," a podcast for navigating the complex world of disinformation, social media influence campaigns, information integrity, journalism and the media. Join us as we delve into the latest events and issues shaping the information landscape, providing insights and analyses to help you stay informed and discerning in an era where the truth is often obscured.

For Facts' Sake is hosted by Tebadi Mmotla and produced by Charles Leonard on behalf of the Centre for Information Integrity in Africa at Stellenbosch University.

Monthly English South Africa News Commentary · Tech News Tebadi Mmotla Charles Leonard

5 Episodes

For Facts’ Sake Ep1: Beyond Cynicism: Empowering Young South Africans as Critical Media Consumers

Misinformation is increasingly threatening public discourse, including on South African university campuses. A new study has found that students either become discerning media users or develop a deep cynicism. In this first episode of For Facts’ Sake, we investigate effective strategies for teaching misinformation literacy. Read the full study here:…

4 Jul 43 min

US Funding Cuts: How economic fragilities can impact media integrity

On World Press Freedom Day, earlier this month, we delved into the economic fragilities facing the journalism industry which have only been amplified by USAID funding cuts. CIIA Director Herman Wasserman was joined by Ruth Moon from Louisiana State University and Khadija Patel from the International Fund for Public Interest…

19 May 28 min

Twatterbaas - Unpacking the investigation with Kyle Cowan that revealed the identity behind an anonymous X account

In this podcast, CIIA researcher Yossabel Chetty chats with News24 Investigative Journalist Kyle Cowan about the recent investigation that he conducted to uncover the identity the person behind an X account, which had been spreading and amplifying misleading narratives about the true state of crime in South Africa. Links to…

9 May 58 min

SLAPP-ing the Media: The Impact of SLAPPs on Journalism in South Africa

Strategic litigation against public participation, known as SLAPPs are becoming an increasingly common tactic by wealthy & powerful individuals to silence critical journalism. This weaponisation of the legal system to hinder investigative journalism poses a significant threat to information integrity in South Africa. Joining Daniel Roodt to discuss SLAPPs in…

31 Mar 27 min

What Meta's new fact checking policy means for the Global South

Meta CEO Mark Zuckerberg recently announced that the company would scale back its content moderation efforts and move to replace it with a community-notes system. This decision has been met with intense criticism from the international fact-checking community, who have claimed it will fuel the spread of disinformation on Meta's…

30 Jan 28 min