Small Caribbean Islands prepare to fight COVID-19 disinformation

"The sun kills corona virus"

"Drinking tea prevents infection with COVID-19"

These were just some examples of false remedies  that people spread in the Caribbean in the midst of the coronavirus pandemic. Misinformation and disinformation are often shared unknowingly through social media such as and private messaging applications. But during health crises, the lack of swift responses to counter unverified news about treatments and the development of vaccines, can be life-threatening for the public, and widen mistrust between citizens and the institutions that are suppose to protect them.

In order to combat the scourge of fake news and disinformation in the face of the COVID-19 pandemic, journalists from all over the Caribbean participated in the training course "Contending with ‘Fake News’ and Disinformation in the Caribbean during the COVID-19 Pandemic.”

The two-day training was organized by The University of the West Indies Open Campus St Kitts and Nevis and the St Kitts and Nevis National Commission for UNESCO, in collaboration with the UNESCO Cluster Office for the Caribbean, thanks to the support  of the International Programme for the Development of Communication (IPDC).

With the support of resources like UNESCO’s publication “Journalism ‘Fake News’ & Disinformation”, the training helped journalists to better understand how to develop strategies for dealing with disinformation during the pandemic.

Like other countries, the Caribbean Small Island Developing States (SIDS) were affected by the misinformation and disinformation milieu, in a context of limited access to credible and authoritative sources in the sub-region.

According to the report "COVID-19's Impact on Journalism in the Caribbean" by the Media Institute of the Caribbean, 40% of journalists in the Caribbean sub-region reported that government officials were reluctant to share information about COVID-19. In addition, 27% who reported that the government only shared information through press releases and press conferences. These journalists also stated that the flow of information was insufficient and that they had not received the information in a timely manner.

The emergence and rapid increase of the use of social media in the Caribbean has challenged both traditional media and other long-established channels for mass and targeted communication.

During the IPDC project, local trainers, such as Wesley Gibbings, founder of the Association for the Caribbean Media Workers, and Kiran Maharaj, Director of the Media Institute of the Caribbean provided solutions and insights, as well as prompting brainstorming and interaction with question and answer segments.

During COVID-19, many journalists in the Caribbean faced a variety of other difficulties in reporting the pandemic. 

Among the challenges were the risk of contracting COVID-19 while reporting on the front line and the inability to meet with individuals due to biosecurity measures, lack of access to information or not having access to information in a timely manner. In addition, restrictions on financial resources or equipment that had to be used when working at a distance significantly affected the quality of reporting.

Media houses' revenues were severely affected, with a decline of up to 70%. This led to the dismissal of media staff or changes in working hours for the editorial staff and other staff.

As a measure for journalists to better cope with the pandemic, she proposes to find innovative and creative ways to gather information and use digital tools. Ms Maharaj encourages journalists to better explain what and why they need the information and to send formal requests to government officials and follow-up correspondence.

Journalists requested access to mental health services, as media workers remain essential workers in most of the region. They are often on the frontline and in many cases reporting violent outbursts during elections and severe natural disasters. “Government and other officials should make themselves available virtually for more interviews and press conferences instead of requiring journalists to meet in person with limited social distancing”, added Ms Nazima Raghubir, who attended the training.