The most sophisticated media literacy tools in the world are worthless if they don't meet people where they are.
Southern Brazil journalist Talita Rosa first encountered the phrase “fake news” in 2017, years before it entered everyday Brazilian conversation. That online course sparked her interest in fact-checking and later led her to launch "Prova Real," a pioneering verification project for the region.
A high school history teacher and fact-checker, Gabriel Narváez, wanted to bridge his two professional worlds. His goal was to strengthen public discourse by teaching his students to question what they read and share online.
Narváez sees hope in the next generation of Ecuadorians. He also sees a challenge. Even the best education can’t compete with the flood of unverified information that shapes young people’s digital lives. He worried his students didn’t care whether what they saw on social media was true. But he found something unexpected: his students were already skeptical.
Kemi Busari is a journalist and editor at DUBAWA, a fact-checking outlet focused on West Africa. He covers West Africa, disinformation and media literacy. He’s a 2024 winner of the Michael Elliott Award for Excellence in African Storytelling.
Busari reflects upon his experiences with ICFJ and why the organization’s work must continue. “For years, ICFJ has been at the forefront of supporting these journalists through funding, training, mentorship, fellowships, and institutional backing. Several of my colleagues have directly benefited from these programs,” he says.
In 2025, one of Busari’s mentees at DUBAWA won the Elliott Award with a story Busari edited. “This is a clear testament to the lasting impact of the experience ICFJ provided,” he says.
Originally, from Nigeria. Busari divides his time between Abuja and Maryland.
Olakunle Mohammed is a Nigerian journalist who covers mis- and disinformation, media literacy and inclusive media in Africa. Mohammed is a co-founder and the operations director at Media Inno Tech Limited. Through an ICFJ program, he’s built a notable fact-checking initiative in Africa. Mohammed is currently based in the United Kingdom.
