RSF launches ‘trust’ certification for media

France-based NGO Reporters Without Borders (RSF) launched its "Journalism Trust Initiative" yesterday, a platform aimed at battling disinformation by identifying and promoting "trustworthy" news sources.  The online tool allows media organisations to apply for certification as a trustworthy source through a three-step process that includes self-assessment and an external audit.  RSF hopes it will encourage third parties, including internet search engines and social media companies, to differentiate more clearly between sources of information.  In a statement, the organisation described it as a "game-changing transparency tool... with the aim of building a healthier news ecosystem, identifying and rewarding reliable reporting and restoring audiences' confidence in journalism at large." The project was first announced in 2018 and has been co-funded by the European Commission and Craig Newmark Philanthropies.