Google India Adds Five New Languages to its Network of Training

Google, the tech giant, has expanded its News Initiative Training Network to include five languages, including Punjabi, Assamese Gujarati Odia, and Malayalam. Google also announced the Fact-Check Academy in partnership with DataLeads, according to a statement.

It said that about 100 new trainers were inducted to aid journalists and newsrooms to combat climate misinformation, verify misleading data, and claim false numbers.

In 2018, the Google News Initiative India Training Network was launched. This network, along with DataLeads has 39,000+ journalists and media educators in India. It also includes journalism students from more than 2300 newsrooms in at least 10 different languages.

The Network helps journalists and newsrooms to acquire the digital skills necessary to combat online misinformation.

"This four-year journey wouldn't have been half as special had it not been for the passion, commitment and collaborative spirit of the network trainers - 239 journalists, fact checkers and media educators from different newsrooms and colleges who came forward to lead this challenge and shared their learning with others in the ecosystem, "Google India stated.

Tech giant also invited journalists, a journalism professor, and fact-checkers from the Fact-Check Academy. This will help the media combat misinformation. They will learn verification skills and techniques directly from experts. The 3-day boot camp will train the trainers and help candidates improve their verification skills. Google stated that the deadline for applying is July 30.