This reflection emerged during an international journalism gathering in the city of Dakhla, under the theme “Complementarity between Quality Journalism and Media Education.” The event brought together business leaders, journalists, researchers, experts, and academics from Arab, African, European, and Latin American countries.
Disinformation harms a country’s social fabric
Biased or stereotyped portrayals of certain cultures perpetuate prejudice. By giving voice to different perspectives, we foster understanding and mutual respect, which helps to identify hidden biases and harmful messages that tarnish the image of countries like Morocco.
In this regard, Omar Cepeda Castro, journalist, columnist, and international news anchor, shared his experience in Mexico, pointing out that stereotypes are among the most damaging human singularities throughout history. He advocated for creating platforms or feedback mechanisms to ensure the systematic continuity of interconnection between countries like Morocco and Mexico. “Latin America and Morocco are strengthening the bridges that unite cultures and opportunities,” he stated.
Salem Al-Jahouri, an academic expert from Oman, argued that intercultural dialogue is a process of understanding that leads to peace among peoples. “We must not remain prisoners of clichés, but rather protect the shared values that unite us,” he emphasized.
In this space of dialogue, quality journalism also plays a crucial role in eradicating discriminatory, hateful, or violent discourse. Fanou Bissan Ignace, editor-in-chief of a media outlet in Benin, referred to charters and quality codes (documents that define principles and rules) in African media. He highlighted as key elements of quality information: respect for dignity and privacy, transparency, correction of errors, responsible use of AI, and the protection of media independence to uphold strong ethical standards.
Spanish lawyer Álvaro Frutos, an expert in risk management, institutional relations, communication, and education, pointed out the existence of empty public discourse, noting that AI itself is not the problem, but rather a new model of non-thinking. According to him, “The EU is paralyzed, Latin America is far from the decision-making table, and Africa is seen as a threat to the European bloc through narratives that generate xenophobic attitudes due to the migration phenomenon.”
Many political movements have taken advantage of this confusion to instrumentalize humanitarian issues like migration. In the Mediterranean, said Frutos, all cultures and societies should come together. “Younger generations must never forget that the world didn’t begin with Google,” he stated. In this context, professionals must wield their pens guided by core values and journalistic standards—objectivity, independence, and integrity—avoiding the overuse of “scoops,” poor fact-checking, over-reliance on unreliable sources, and the preference for sensationalism in pursuit of visibility.
Odette Cheinfora Konaté, director of a journalism institute, emphasized the importance of media education given the role media plays in the socialization of individuals. She stressed the urgent need to educate and self-educate citizens, as well as to acquire skills to understand social change. She noted that entry into journalism today can be achieved with nothing more than a smartphone and internet access.
Noise drowns out meaning
Chilean journalist Francisco Martorell Camarella expressed appreciation for the development of such debates, from which arises the idea of transition, since facts often coexist with or are buried by fake news driven by political interests—even by algorithms that manufacture lies.
“The journalist's role is to inform and facilitate independent thinking,” he asserted. Infodemia resists truth, which disintegrates into a cloud of information dust. In a time of global uncertainty and constant evolution, as we witness a shifting world order, media organizations face an unprecedented challenge: publishing news at increasingly faster speeds, often without verifying sources, alongside a growing proliferation of pseudo-news on social media.
The spread of misleading information creates confusion and distrust, threatening the future of journalism—not to mention the unfair competition from global digital platforms and the intrusion of social media that undermines journalistic professionalism. Malian expert Abubakar Abdelwahidou Maiga encouraged attendees to learn from Mali’s experience as a guiding thread for the entire continent. He denounced the lack of follow-up and media coverage of conflicts like the one in the Sahel and noted that insecurity on the ground makes news verification slow.
He explained how information overload often serves government interests by showcasing the success of certain actions. Disinformation already exists and is used as a source of revenue to distract from the root causes of conflict. “In Mali, there is a form of journalism that dominates rapid dissemination and paves the way for new models and values that facilitate the consecration of ‘false truths’ in times of war,” he concluded.
Author: Carmen Chamorro
Board Member of CIP/ACPE and graduate in International Relations and Global Tourism from SEI
