Thread by @BaldingsWorld

Because unlike journalists I actually want to highlight facts and make corrections, I am going to highlight a story that I Tweeted out that now appears to not be true but not entirely untrue and illustrate how news spreads on the internet. So follow me a minute 1/n

A few days ago, I tweeted out a news report from Africa that China was taking over the Entebbe airport for Kampala, Uganda. The credible local outlet reported that China was taking it over so I was not claiming something not in the news report 2/n

https://twitter.com/BaldingsWorld/status/1464447348818518019?s=20

This report seems to stem from another East African news paper claiming the same thing in the headline. The story however is sparse on specific details primarily noting that China refused to renegotiate 3/n theeastafrican.co.ke/tea/business/h…

All of this news appears based upon a previous Ugandan story about Uganda surrendering the airport in exchange for Chinese cash. This set off a flurry of articles all over Africa about China taking over the primary Ugandan airport 4/n monitor.co.ug/uganda/news/na…

The flurry of articles about were reprinted in a variety of credible outlets: 1) kenyans.co.ke/news/70969-chi… 2) ugstandard.com/uganda-risks-s… 3) thecitizen.co.tz/tanzania/news/… 5/n

Reality is that a) China has refused to renegotiate clauses that give it the right to seize the airport (neither side disputes this clause exists or that China refused to renegotiate) b) Uganda is still within the grace period to finish the airport and work continues 6/n

On the airport to get it completed by the grace period deadline. c) China has not seized the airport and contractually cannot because no default has occurred. There are a couple of interesting lessons here and even though these outlets are in Africa same problems exist in 7/n

Western journalism. First, journalists got way over their skis so to speak and put in headlines and other statements inflammatory rhetoric that is borderline true at best and straight up false in some cases. Yes, I get headlines are important but too often inflammatory 8/n

Untruths carry the day over what the documents really show. Second, almost no journalist actually asked what do the documents show and what has actually happened? Most journalists just rewrite some other piece and get a quote or two to go with it. Once you start digging 9/n

The story fell apart and yes, China is right in saying they have not seized the airport. I'm skeptical of their claims of unicorn and rainbow good will but let's leave that aside for now. 10/n

So for now consider this a significant correction from something I Tweeted out based upon a credible news story that had been reprinted by multiple places. China does enough crazy $#!+ we don't need to invent stuff and getting it right is more important that exaggerating.

Footnote: I want to highlight one final thing. It is very important to note how fast and scarily this spread throughout African media. This clearly speaks to the fears of many African nations that they will be forced to turnover key infrastructure assets to China as we know 12/n

Has lots of contracts throughout the continent that allow them to do that. Many African countries clearly worrying about when they will be forced to do the same.