Behind the Facts

Africa Check
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“Behind the Facts” shines a light on the people working behind the scenes to reduce the spread of false and misleading information and promote a culture of accuracy.

  1. FEB 11

    Numbers, Nuance, and Nerding Out: Fact-Checking the State of the Nation Address

    The state of the nation address sets the country’s priorities—but how accurate is it? Africa Check’s Kirsten Cosser and Keegan Leech pull back the curtain on fact-checking the SONA on speech night. Spoiler alert: it looks like the ‘nerdiest party ever’ fuelled by pizza, stats and official reports. They share practical tips to help you follow along: how to spot cherry-picked numbers, decode vague terms like ‘housing opportunities’ and track promises across years. Tune in for a sharp look at how accountability works in real time. Disclaimer The views expressed in this episode are those of the individuals and do not necessarily reflect those of Africa Check, Behind the Facts, its staff or affiliated groups. Resources [BLOG] How to ‘pre-bunk’ a state of the nation address (and almost anything else) Sign up for our podcast alert to find out when the latest episode is released. Join the Africa Check Whatsapp line or channels in South Africa, Nigeria, Kenya and Senegal to help us fight misinformation. Special thanks to This episode was produced by the Africa Check team: Khumo Motaung and Laura Kapelari. Your host for this episode is Thipe Maelane, also from Africa Check. Africa Check, the continent’s leading organisation promoting information integrity, helps you separate fact from fiction.

    25 min

  2. 12/19/2025

    Defending Truth Across Africa: 2025 Wrapped

    As 2025 comes to a close, Behind the Facts looks back on a year defined by one urgent question: how do we protect truth in an increasingly hostile information environment? In this special wrap-up episode, host Thipe Maelane revisits six powerful conversations with fact-checkers, researchers and journalists working on the frontlines of information integrity across Africa and beyond. From battling ever-shifting social media algorithms, reaching offline communities and verifying claims in information deserts to embedding fact-checking inside newsrooms and exposing foreign information manipulation – these voices reveal what it really takes to stop lies from travelling faster than facts. This episode is a celebration of resilience, innovation and courage. It is a reminder that while misinformation continues to evolve, so do the people committed to challenging it. As we head into 2026, one message is clear: truth doesn’t defend itself – we do. Disclaimer The views and opinions expressed in this episode are those of the individuals and do not necessarily reflect the views or opinions of Africa Check, Behind the Facts, its staff or affiliated groups. Resources Sign up for our podcast alert to find out when the latest episode is released. Join the Africa Check Whatsapp line or channels in South Africa, Nigeria, Kenya and Senegal to help us fight misinformation. Special thanks to This episode was produced by the Africa Check team: Khumo Motaung, Tshiamo Mononyane, and Laura Kapelari. Your show host for this episode is Thipe Maelane, also from Africa Check. Africa Check, the continent’s leading organisation promoting information integrity, helps you separate fact from fiction.

    21 min

  3. 11/10/2025

    Uncovering Africa’s Untold Climate Story

    What if the biggest story about climate change in Africa is the one we’re not telling? In this episode of “Behind the Facts”, we explore how African fact-checkers are shaping the climate conversation — separating myths from facts and highlighting what global narratives often miss. Our guest, Lanre Olagunju, Editor-in-Chief of CheckClimate Africa, joins us to unpack how misinformation affects public understanding, how Africa’s climate story is framed, and why accurate, locally grounded reporting matters more than ever. From viral climate myths to overlooked realities, we dive into how the stories we tell — and the ones we don’t — influence the continent’s response to the climate crisis. Disclaimer The views and opinions expressed in this episode are those of the individuals and do not necessarily reflect the views or opinions of Africa Check, Behind the Facts, its staff or affiliated groups. Resources Sign up for our podcast alert to find out when the latest episode is released.  Join the Africa Check Whatsapp line or channels in South Africa, Nigeria, Kenya and Senegal to help us fight misinformation. Special thanks to This episode was produced by the Africa Check team: Khumo Motaung, Tshiamo Mononyane, and Laura Kapelari. Your show host for this episode is Thipe Maelane, also from Africa Check.  Africa Check, the continent’s leading organisation promoting information integrity, helps you separate fact from fiction.

    25 min

  4. 08/04/2025

    Foreign Interference, Local Impact: How Disinformation Shapes Africa’s Reality

    Foreign influence isn’t just political - it’s informational. In this episode of Behind the Facts, host Thipe Maelane speaks with Samba Dialimpa Badji, a research fellow and PhD candidate, about foreign information manipulation and interference (FIMI) and its growing impact in Africa. From Russia and China to local governments, discover how disinformation is being used to sway public opinion, fuel tensions and influence policy - with real-life examples from West and Southern Africa. Disclaimer The views and opinions expressed in this episode are those of the individuals and do not necessarily reflect the views or opinions of Africa Check, Behind the Facts, its staff or affiliated groups. Resources Sign up for our podcast alert to find out when the latest episode is released.  Join the Africa Check Whatsapp line or channels in South Africa, Nigeria, Kenya and Senegal to help us fight misinformation. Special thanks to This episode was produced by the Africa Check team: Khumo Motaung, Tshiamo Mononyane, and Laura Kapelari. Your show host for this episode is Thipe Maelane, also from Africa Check.  Africa Check, the continent’s first independent fact-checking organisation, helps you separate fact from fiction.

    16 min

  5. 06/02/2025

    Breaking News or Breaking It Down? The Rise of Fact-Checking in Newsrooms

    What’s the difference between reporting the news and verifying it? In this episode of Behind the Facts, we dive into the increasingly blurred lines between traditional journalism and fact-checking. As misinformation spreads faster than ever, fact-checkers and journalists are finding new ways to work together—rather than compete. We explore why more newsrooms are launching dedicated verification desks, how fact-checking strengthens public trust, and what this shift means for the future of credible reporting. Disclaimer The views and opinions expressed in this episode are those of the individuals and do not necessarily reflect the views or opinions of Africa Check, Behind the Facts, its staff or affiliated groups. Resources Sign up for our podcast alert to find out when the latest episode is released.  Join the Africa Check Whatsapp line or channels in South Africa, Nigeria, Kenya and Senegal to help us fight misinformation. Special thanks to This episode was produced by the Africa Check team: Khumo Motaung, Tshiamo Mononyane, and Laura Kapelari. Your show host for this episode is Thipe Maelane, also from Africa Check.  Africa Check, the continent’s first independent fact-checking organisation, helps you separate fact from fiction.

    22 min

  6. 05/05/2025

    When the Data is Missing: Fact-Checking in Sudan and Ethiopia

    What do you do as you’re a fact-checker when the data you need simply isn’t there? In this episode of Behind the Facts, we speak to Elias in Ethiopia and Remaz in Sudan about the daily realities of working in places where public information is restricted, unreliable—or completely cut off. From Sudan’s war-fuelled information vacuum to Ethiopia’s shrinking civic space, they reveal how the absence of trusted data makes fact-checking nearly impossible—and allows misinformation to thrive. 🎧 Tune in for a powerful conversation about censorship, conflict and what it means to fight for the truth when the facts are hidden. Disclaimer The views and opinions expressed in this episode are those of the individuals and do not necessarily reflect the views or opinions of Africa Check, Behind the Facts, its staff or affiliated groups. Resources Sign up for our podcast alert to find out when the latest episode is released.  Join the Africa Check Whatsapp line or channels in South Africa, Nigeria, Kenya and Senegal to help us fight misinformation. Special thanks to This episode was produced by the Africa Check team: Khumo Motaung, Tshiamo Mononyane, and Laura Kapelari. Your show host for this episode is Thipe Maelane, also from Africa Check.  Africa Check, the continent’s first independent fact-checking organisation, helps you separate fact from fiction.

    21 min

  7. 03/31/2025

    Fact-Checking Beyond the Internet: Offline Tactics That Work

    While the fight against misinformation often focuses on digital platforms, the power of face-to-face interactions, community engagement, and traditional media is often overlooked. In this episode of Behind the Facts, we explore how offline strategies—such as radio, in-person training, and town hall discussions—help bridge the gap for those without internet access. Our guests, Catherine Adeniyi from Africa Check’s Lagos office and Cris Chinaka from ZimFact in Zimbabwe, share their experiences tackling misinformation where it spreads most: in everyday conversations. Sign up to our podcast alert to find out when the latest episode is released.   Disclaimer The views and opinions expressed in this episode are those of the individuals and do not necessarily reflect the views or opinions of Africa Check, Behind the Facts, its employees, or affiliated groups. Resources 🔹 Africa Check’s guide to identifying misinformation 🔹 ZimFact’s fact-checking work Join the Africa Check Whatsapp line or channels in South Africa, Nigeria, Kenya and Senegal to help us fight misinformation. Special thanks to This episode was produced by the Africa Check team: Khumo Motaung, Tshiamo Mononyane, and Laura Kapelari. Your show host for this episode is Thipe Maelane, also from Africa Check.  Africa Check, the continent’s first independent fact-checking organisation, helps you separate fact from fiction.

    26 min

  8. 02/28/2025

    Fact-checking vs. the Algorithm: Can we win?

    Fact-checking partnerships with social media platforms aim to stop misinformation at its source - by flagging false content, reducing its reach, and providing users with verified information. But how effective are they? In this episode, we examine the impact of these collaborations in Africa, and the challenges fact-checkers face. Are these partnerships making a difference, or is more needed to tackle misinformation at scale? And what would this be? Tune in as we explore the successes, limitations, and the future of fact-checking in the digital space. Sign up to our alert to find out when the latest episode is released. Featured guests Saja Mortada, manager at the Arab Fact-Checkers Network Resources An open letter to Mark Zuckerberg from the world’s fact-checkers, nine years later. The letter follows Meta’s move to end the fact-checking programme in the US. Join the Africa Check Whatsapp line or channels in South Africa, Nigeria, Kenya and Senegal to help us fight misinformation. Special thanks to This episode was produced by the Africa Check team: Khumo Motaung, Tshiamo Mononyane, and Laura Kapelari. Your show host for this episode is Thipe Maelane, also from Africa Check.  Africa Check, the continent’s first independent fact-checking organisation, helps you separate fact from fiction. Disclaimer The views and opinions expressed in this episode are those of the individuals and do not necessarily reflect the views or opinions of Africa Check, Behind the Facts, its employees, or affiliated groups.

    21 min
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About

“Behind the Facts” shines a light on the people working behind the scenes to reduce the spread of false and misleading information and promote a culture of accuracy.

Information

  • Creator
    Africa Check
  • Years Active
    2024 - 2026
  • Episodes
    15
  • Rating
    Clean
  • Copyright
    © Copyright 2026 Africa Check
  • Show Website
    Behind the Facts