About Us

The proliferation of ‘fake news,’ misinformation, and harmful content on digital platforms poses significant risks to democracy, public health, and social cohesion.
As such, the CIIA emerges as a crucial initiative designed to combat these threats through innovative research, interdisciplinary collaboration, and public engagement.

Advance Research

Conduct cutting-edge, interdisciplinary research on information integrity, focusing on Africa’s unique context.

Support Journalism

Offer fellowships and resources for investigative journalism projects that require time and in-depth exploration.

Enhance Public Engagement

Develop workshops and courses to build public capacity in fact-checking, media literacy, and ethical media consumption.

Why CIIA Matters

The Centre for Information Integrity in Africa is crucial for promoting accurate and reliable information across the continent, helping to combat misinformation and support informed decision-making in both public and private sectors.

Protecting Democracy and Society

The integrity of information is foundational to a functioning democracy. Disinformation undermines informed decision-making, jeopardizes public health (e.g.misleading health information), and hampers critical environmental action. CIIA will tackle these issues head-on, promoting accurate, transparent, and reliable information, thereby reinforcing democratic processes and societal trust.

Addressing Critical Global Issues

The Centre’s research will address pressing global challenges such as health misinformation (e.g., COVID-19 ‘infodemic’) and climate change denial. By focusing on the unique dynamics within Africa and the Global South, CIIA will fill critical research gaps and offer tailored solutions, contributing to global knowledge and action.

Fostering Interdisciplinary Solutions

Disinformation is a multifaceted problem requiring diverse expertise. CIIA will foster collaborations between journalists, researchers, data scientists, and policymakers. This interdisciplinary approach will drive innovative solutions, enhance media literacy, and support effective regulatory frameworks.

Strengthening Investigative Journalism

With traditional media facing financial pressures and cutbacks, CIIA will provide essential support for investigative journalism. By offering a sustainable platform for long-term projects, the Centre will enable journalists to undertake critical work that can expose deception and hold power to account.

Building Resilient Media Environments

CIIA will focus on building resilient media environments. This includes supporting independent journalism, promoting media literacy, and fostering public engagement through educational initiatives and public-facing projects.

Meet our Staff

Herman Wasserman

Meet the Director of CIIA

Herman Wasserman is Professor and Chair of the Department of Journalism at Stellenbosch University, and a former newspaper journalist. His 17 books include Tabloid Journalism in South Africa; Media, Geopolitics; PowerMedia, Conflict and Democracy in Africa, and Disinformation in the Global South. He is a Fellow and Board Member of the International Communication Association and member of the Academy of Science of South Africa. His awards include the Georg Foster Prize from the Alexander von Humboldt Foundation (Germany), the Neva Prize (St Petersburg State University), a Fulbright Fellowship (USA) and the Stals Prize for Communication Science (Akademie vir Wetenskap en Kuns).

He has been a visiting professor at the universities of Groningen, Utrecht, Houston, Ludwig-Maximilians Universität and Tsinghua. He is Editor-in-Chief of the Annals of the International Communication Association and African Journalism Studies, and Associate Editor of International Communication Gazette. He holds an A-rating from the National Research Foundation. He has consulted for the World Health Organization, Deutsche Welle Akademie, OpenAI, AfricaCheck and others.