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Transcript/ScriptUSAGM SHARE
((PLAYBOOK SLUG: BURKINA FASO MISINFORMATION
HEADLINE: Misinformation deepens divides in Burkina Faso
TEASER: False narratives, fueled by social media and global actors, disrupt lives and democracy in Burkina Faso
PUBLISHED AT:
BYLINE: Gildas Da
CONTRIBUTOR:
DATELINE: OUAGADOUGOU, BURKINA FASO
VIDEOGRAPHER Gildas Da
VIDEO EDITOR: Gildas Da
PRODUCER:
ASSIGNING EDITOR: Africa Division Editors
SCRIPT EDITORS: Salem Solomon, KEnochs; Baragona
VIDEO SOURCE (S): VOA Original
PLATFORMS: WEB __ TV X RADIO X
TRT: 2:39
VID APPROVED BY: KE
TYPE TVPKG/RADIO
EDITOR NOTES: For final review and questions, send it back to Salem Solomon. Please copy Jessica Jerreat.))
((INTRO))
[[From security to politics, the spread of false information is a constant threat in Burkina Faso. Gildas Da has a look.]]
((VIDEO: Archival footage of the meeting between the minister and the ambassador. Archival footage of the foreign minister.))
((Mandatory Courtesy: Facebook/ Burkina Faso Ministry of Foreign Affairs))
((NARRATOR))
A show of unity between Burkina Faso’s foreign affairs minister and the Chinese ambassador in October. A fabricated story had falsely claimed the two countries had broken relations. Minister Karamoko Jean-Marie Traore called the story “diplomatic sabotage.”
((END COURTESY))
((NAT sounds))
((VIDEO Street shots, social media ))
On social media and in WhatsApp groups, false information is a constant threat.
((VIDEO: MEDA SETUP))
Jordan Medah is the editorial director at the local fact-checking platform Fasocheck. He says there are two types. Misinformation is shared without the intention to cause harm.
((Jordan Meda, Fasocheck Editorial Director)) ((Male, in French))
“On the other hand, there is what we call disinformation, which is the creation and spread of false content with the clear intent to deceive a community or individual and cause harm to a person, cause, or institution.”
((VIDEO: L’OBSERVATEUR PAALGA OFFICES))
((NARRATOR))
At L'Observateur Paalga, one of the leading daily newspapers in Burkina Faso, journalist Hugues Sama says his group is taking the problem seriously.
((Hugues Sama, L’Observateur Paalga Journalist)) ((Male, in French))
“Even a trained eye can often be fooled. So, what L' Observateur does is provide context on every piece of information we receive. We must also verify it.”
((Mandatory Courtesy: RTB))
((NARRATOR))
When military leader Ibrahim Traore disappeared from public view for a few days in June, speculation
((END COURTESY))
((Mandatory Courtesy: Facebook))
– and fabricated videos—were rife on social media.
((END COURTESY))
((MANDATORY COURTESY: Tiktok/ C360tv))
Skilled fact checkers were able to set the record straight. But these incidents are damaging, say experts.
((END COURTESY))
((Hugues Sama, Observateur Paalga Journalist)) ((Male, in French))
“For a citizen to be well-informed, they must have access to balanced and accurate information. When they are overwhelmed by fake news, they don’t have all the necessary information to have an enlightened view of national life. This is a problem.”
((VIDEO: Jordan Meda at his workplace.))
((NARRATOR))
Meda says world powers are vying for influence across the Sahel and promoting their own narratives. But he says they are not alone.
((Jordan Meda, Fasocheck Editorial Director)) ((Male, in French))
Internally, you also have groups of people who, convinced of their beliefs, spread false narratives. They broadcast them, and people believe them.”
((VIDEO: Street shots))
((NARRATOR))
Analysts caution that ongoing conflict in Burkina Faso is intensifying the spread of false information. Meda says that advancements in technology are likely to amplify the reach and impact of misinformation, making their efforts even more essential.
((Gildas Da, VOA Africa, Ouagadougou, Burkina Faso.))
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