Often misreporting stems from media picking up reports by non-governmental organizations (NGOs), such as Human Rights Watch (HRW) or Amnesty International (AI), and printing them without any independent verification as to the accuracy of their claims.
In many cases, groups like AI and HRW don’t have a local presence.
They rely on claims from local NGOs themselves, and don’t verify this information.
Local NGO makes a claim. An international NGO picks up that claim and passes it on to the media. The media then reports it.
They rely on claims from local NGOs themselves, and don’t verify this information.
Local NGO makes a claim. An international NGO picks up that claim and passes it on to the media. The media then reports it.
It’s several layers of failure
Why are the media not being more careful? The halo effect.
This is the idea that NGOs are seen as altruistic and without agenda (in other words, they would have no reason to falsely report the facts).
Why are the media not being more careful? The halo effect.
This is the idea that NGOs are seen as altruistic and without agenda (in other words, they would have no reason to falsely report the facts).
NGOs, like any other business, have an end-goal in mind. For example, an NGO might report a conflict is intensifying or violence increasing to justify their work to funders.
Similarly, an NGO might have a lobbying agenda, which leads it to report a story in a particular light.
Similarly, an NGO might have a lobbying agenda, which leads it to report a story in a particular light.
Other times, NGOs’ false claims are rooted in ignorance.
Some local nonprofits can be tied to terrorist groups. When HRW picks up their claims, they are essentially reporting the claims of terrorists as facts.
Some local nonprofits can be tied to terrorist groups. When HRW picks up their claims, they are essentially reporting the claims of terrorists as facts.
We see a similar phenomenon happening in other countries. For example, as part of its 687-page World Report on human rights practices, HRW reported made false claim on Azerbaijan.
HRW and AI are not news outlets. However, their work is routinely reprinted by the media.
HRW and AI are not news outlets. However, their work is routinely reprinted by the media.
As such, when they report information they could not possibly know with certitude, those reports are equivalent to fake news.
If NGOs are attacking Cameroon, using the unethical tactic of reporting their claims as verified facts (“news”), then something should be done about it.
If NGOs are attacking Cameroon, using the unethical tactic of reporting their claims as verified facts (“news”), then something should be done about it.
