On September 3, 2026, the BBC World Service will convene a significant gathering of journalists, educators, technology experts, and content creators at the University of Lagos for “Trust is Earned,” a landmark day-long forum dedicated to dissecting the pervasive global issue of disinformation. As digital platforms continue to reshape the information landscape, this event aims to provide a comprehensive look at how misinformation is constructed, the increasingly complex role of artificial intelligence in its dissemination, and the strategies required to uphold media integrity in an era of rapid technological advancement.
The centerpiece of the forum will be a special live recording of the popular program BBC World Questions. Moderated by Jonny Dymond, the session will feature a high-profile panel of activists, influencers, journalists, and business leaders who will engage directly with the audience. The discussion is slated to cover the critical nexus of fake news and political stability, with a particular focus on the upcoming Nigerian elections—a timely topic given the high stakes of democratic processes in the digital age.
Beyond the main stage, the event offers a robust schedule of workshops and demonstrations designed to equip attendees with practical, hands-on skills. Participants will gain exclusive access to the methodologies behind the BBC’s renowned investigative journalism, specifically regarding the use of open-source intelligence (OSINT). Additional sessions will focus on the existential threat posed by AI-driven propaganda, offering attendees professional insights into how to identify, navigate, and neutralize deceptive content encountered in their daily digital interactions.
The forum is part of the BBC World Service’s broader, long-term initiative to foster media literacy and strengthen public trust in journalism. By hosting these forums—the second of which will follow a similar event in São Paulo earlier in August—the BBC seeks to move beyond traditional news reporting to actively partner with the public in the fight against misinformation. This dual-pronged strategy aims to solidify the BBC’s position as a bastion of verified reporting while simultaneously empowering citizens to become critical consumers of the information they consume.
Fiona Crack, the Interim Global Director of BBC News, emphasized the urgency of this mission, framing disinformation as the preeminent challenge for modern journalism. According to Crack, the danger lies not just in the confusion generated by false narratives, but in the potential for such content to incite conflict and destabilize societies. She asserted that the BBC has a dual responsibility: to remain a primary, trusted source of news and to provide audiences with the intellectual tools necessary to scrutinize the digital ecosystem in which they live.
Registration for the Lagos event is expected to be highly competitive, with free tickets becoming available on the BBC Shows and Tours website starting August 14. Organizers are inviting members of the public, academic stakeholders, and media professionals to participate in the day’s discourse, which will conclude with refreshments and networking opportunities. By fostering this collaborative dialogue in the heart of Lagos, the BBC hopes to create a blueprint for media literacy that can be adapted and applied in diverse regions across the globe.
