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World Conference of Science Journalists 2025 to tackle misinformation and fake news crisis
Misinformation and disinformation remain the top-ranked global risks for 2025, according to the World Economic Forum’s Global Risks Report. As the world continues to face extreme weather disasters, geopolitical tensions, and societal fragmentation. This alarming trend amplifies other crises and threatens public trust in science and democratic governance.
Against this backdrop, the 13th World Conference of Science Journalists (WCSJ) 2025, to be held in Africa for the first time, will focus on combating misinformation and fake news, a critical and escalating challenge globally undermining science communication and public health. The conference will be at the CSIR in Pretoria, South Africa, and will run from December 1 – 5 2025.
Misinformation related to science has reached crisis proportions, affecting issues from public health to climate policy. Studies show that 72% of people across 25 nations view the spread of false information online as a major threat to their countries, with social media being the primary news source for younger audiences worldwide. The shift to digital platforms has accelerated misinformation's impact, making it an urgent topic for science journalists dedicated to truth and public understanding.
Lynne Smit, Senior Editor at Nature Africa and a member of the WCSJ organising committee said: “The challenge we face is not just misinformation itself but the complex ecosystem that allows it to thrive - algorithms, social media networks, and the public’s evolving news habits. Our role as science journalists is to reclaim trust and empower audiences with factual, clear science.”
In Africa, journalists face distinct and pressing challenges in combating misinformation – with many communities still depending heavily on oral communication and widely varying levels of digital access, which both hinders and shapes how misinformation spreads. Limited resources and underdeveloped science journalism infrastructure amplify difficulties in verifying facts and reaching diverse audiences effectively.
Furthermore, political instability and polarised environments can lead to the weaponisation of misinformation against science and public health initiatives, threatening progress on vital issues such as disease control and climate adaptation. Journalists often work under pressure to balance safety with the responsibility to deliver accurate information, while contending with censorship and restricted freedom of the press in some countries.
Engela Duvenage, freelance science journalist and author, and chair of the programme committee, added: “Misinformation is not a new problem but its scale and consequences are unprecedented. Especially in regions with limited science communication infrastructure, falsehoods can spread unchecked, jeopardising public health and environmental policies. This conference will spotlight innovative ways journalists around the world are tackling misinformation head-on with new tools and collaborations.”
The conference will feature expert discussions on why misinformation is particularly relevant now. The digital transformation of news consumption, political polarisation, and social media’s dominance as a news source have all contributed to infodemic.
Research highlights alarming gaps in public confidence: fewer than half of adults feel assured in their ability to judge the truthfulness of online information. This insecurity, coupled with fatigue from constant misinformation exposure, risks disengaging citizens from crucial science and civic dialogue. The WCSJ 2025 will equip journalists with strategies to break this cycle, enhance fact-checking, and foster informed, science-literate societies.
To register to attend this important career-development opportunity, go to www.wcsj2025.org.
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More about WCSJ 2025
The WCSJ is a biennial gathering of the world’s science journalists — a space to sharpen their skills, exchange ideas, and explore how best to tell the stories that shape our shared future. Science journalists play a vital role in keeping the public informed about the issues that matter most, from climate change and health crises to the challenges of misinformation, shrinking funding, and reporting amid global conflict.
The overarching theme of the conference is “Science journalism and social justice: journalism that builds understanding and resilience”. The conference programme showcases the many ways in which science journalists put the spotlight on such issues, and help to strengthen societies and the wellbeing of people and the planet. There will also be panels looking in depth at the state of the profession and at ways to tackle misinformation and the evolution of AI in the newsroom. A series of workshops and other panel discussions will hone the skills of journalists on topics such as opinion writing, mediating, crafting better pitches and tackling fake news.
It is the first time that this signature event of the World Federation of Science Journalists (WFSJ) will be held on African soil. It is hosted by the South African Science Journalists’ Association (SASJA), an interest group of SAFREA, and the Science Diplomacy Capital for Africa (SDCfA), an initiative and entity of the National Department of Science, Technology and Innovation (DSTI), in collaboration with the Council for Scientific and Industrial Research (CSIR).
Field trips to well-known South African research entities are also on the programme. These visits will allow journalists to craft stories for their respective beats.
- For registration, visit www.wcsj2025.org/registration
- View the conference programme here; www.wcsj2025.org/programme
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