Misinformation and disinformation remain among the most pressing global risks for 2025, according to the World Economic Forum’s Global Risks Report, as the world grapples with climate disasters, geopolitical tensions and eroding social cohesion. 

This growing crisis continues to undermine public trust in science, fuel polarisation and complicate policy responses to urgent global challenges.

In response, the 13th World Conference of Science Journalists will place the fight against misinformation at the centre of its programme when it convenes in Africa for the first time from December 1 to 5, 2025. 

The global gathering will be hosted at the Council for Scientific and Industrial Research in Pretoria, South Africa.

The rise of scientific misinformation has had serious consequences in recent years, influencing attitudes and policies on public health, climate action and new technologies. Studies show that across 25 countries, 72% of people believe the spread of false information online poses a major threat to their societies, a trend driven largely by the dominance of social media as a primary source of news, particularly for younger audiences.

Lynne Smit, Senior Editor at Nature Africa and a member of the WCSJ organising committee, said the challenge extends beyond the false information itself. “The challenge we face is not just misinformation itself but the complex ecosystem that allows it to thrive – algorithms, social media networks, and the public’s evolving news habits. 

Our role as science journalists is to reclaim trust and empower audiences with factual, clear science,” she said.

In Africa, the fight against misinformation is shaped by unique and layered factors. Many communities still rely on oral communication while digital access varies widely across regions, influencing how falsehoods spread and how journalists work to counter them.

Limited newsroom resources, gaps in science communication training and politically polarised environments can further complicate fact-checking efforts.

In some contexts, misinformation is deployed deliberately, leading to confusion around public health interventions or casting doubt on climate adaptation strategies. Journalists often work in environments where press freedom may be restricted, requiring them to balance safety with the responsibility to inform.

Engela Duvenage, freelance science journalist, author, and chair of the WCSJ programme committee, noted that while misinformation has long existed, its current scale is unprecedented. “Misinformation is not a new problem but its scale and consequences are unprecedented. 

Especially in regions with limited science communication infrastructure, falsehoods can spread unchecked, jeopardising public health and environmental policies,” she said. 

“This conference will spotlight innovative ways journalists around the world are tackling misinformation head-on with new tools and collaborations.”

The conference will explore how political polarisation, digital news consumption and social media have created an “infodemic,” overwhelming citizens with information while reducing their confidence in discerning credible sources.

 Recent research indicates that fewer than half of adults feel confident in judging the truthfulness of what they encounter online—an uncertainty that risks discouraging public engagement in scientific and civic issues.

Through plenaries, workshops, field visits and newsroom training sessions, the WCSJ 2025 aims to equip journalists with strategies to strengthen fact-checking, rebuild trust with audiences and deepen science literacy in their communities. 

The event will also examine the rapidly evolving role of artificial intelligence in journalism and its implications for both misinformation and newsroom innovation.

The overarching theme of the conference, “Science journalism and social justice: journalism that builds understanding and resilience,” reflects an emphasis on reporting that helps societies navigate crisis, inequality and change.

 It will also mark the first time the conference is hosted in Africa, co-organised by the South African Science Journalists’ Association, the Science Diplomacy Capital for Africa, the National Department of Science, Technology and Innovation and the CSIR.