UNAIR NEWS – Two students from the Faculty of Social and Political Sciences (FISIP) Universitas Airlangga (UNAIR), Nur Fajri Musyafa’ah Hanim and Kamilah Sa’diyah, participated in the Asian Network of News & Information Educators (ANNIE) Lab School Net Conference 2024. The event was held at Van Lang University in Ho Chi Minh City, Vietnam, on Friday and Saturday, December 13–14, 2024.
The students, accompanied by FISIP lecturer Irfan Wahyudi and facilitator Nimas Safira Widhiasti Wibowo, presented a social innovation project in the form of a fact-checking platform. This initiative was the result of a collaboration between FISIP UNAIR students and ANNIE Lab, an organization affiliated with Hong Kong University and the conference organizer.
Fact Meter
Nur Fajri Musyafa’ah Hanim expressed her pride in representing UNAIR at the international level. “ANNIE Lab initially invited UNAIR, specifically FISIP, to collaborate on a fact-checking platform project. Later, my lecturer asked me to join the team and contribute to this initiative,” she explained.
The Fact Meter platform serves as a tool for verifying the accuracy of news and identifying potential hoaxes. The project primarily uses Instagram to promote public awareness and encourage critical thinking, helping users avoid misinformation traps.
Advanced technology for sustainable projects
Developing Fact Meter required a dedicated effort spanning over six months, according to Hanim. “We began working on Fact Meter in May 2024. However, the platform itself was first introduced at UNAIR in December last year. Our role has been to refine and relaunch it,” she said.
During the conference, the team shared their platform’s development process while also learning from fact-checking initiatives presented by teams from other countries. Among these was a group from Japan that demonstrated the use of location detection technology to validate news authenticity.
Looking ahead, Fact Meter is set to expand over the next two years. The insights gained from the conference are expected to play a vital role in driving its growth.
“This experience has taught me how to incorporate more advanced technologies into platform development. It has been a valuable learning opportunity for our team at UNAIR, allowing us to improve Fact Meter’s quality in the future,” said the Communication Studies student.
Author: Febriana Putri Nur Aziizah
Editor : Khefti Al Mawalia
