The role of journalism in deconstructing misinformation in the mozambican context

Authors

DOI:

https://doi.org/10.5752/P.2237-9967.2026v15e36826

Keywords:

Social networks, disinformation, journalism

Abstract

This article reflects on the role of journalism in deconstructing misinformation, starting with publications surrounding the alleged assassination of a Mozambican political leader. Through exploratory research, the text analyzes information published on social networks such as Facebook and YouTube, and on news portals. The results show that misinformation is a real problem in Mozambique, with significant impacts on the lives of people and organizations. It concludes that the role of journalism was crucial in deconstructing misinformation about the alleged death, through the verification of content spread on social media. Responsible journalism acts as a filter of information and a promoter of credible news production, contributing to the education of society on the importance of discerning between true and false information.

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Author Biographies

Mateus Johane Sigaúque, Universidade Católica de Moçambique

PhD student in Communication Sciences at the Faculty of Education and Communication of the Catholic University of Mozambique, Nampula City. Master in Public Administration from the Faculty of Tourism Management and Informatics of the Catholic University of Mozambique, Pemba City. Bachelor and Licentiate in Teaching Mathematics from the Faculty of Natural Sciences and Mathematics of the Pedagogical University, Lichinga City. From 2012 to 2020 he taught Mathematics at Balama Secondary School. From 2013 to 2018 he worked as Coordinator of the Mpharama Community Radio of Balama. Since 2020 he has served as Head of the Planning and Local Development Department at the Balama District Secretariat.

Sadate Jafar Assane, Direcção Provincial de Saúde do Niassa

PhD candidate in Communication Sciences at the Faculty of Education and Communication of the Catholic University of Mozambique – Nampula. Master's degree in Public Health from the Catholic University of Mozambique. Specialist in Health. Bachelor's degree in Public Administration. Graduated from the Technical Secondary Course in Preventive Medicine and Environmental Sanitation – Specialization in Health Promotion and Disease Prevention. Since 2015, he has served as Provincial Manager of the Expanded Vaccination Program at the Niassa Provincial Health Directorate.

João Miguel, Universidade Eduardo Mondlane

Associate Professor at Eduardo Mondlane University (UEM); Master's and PhD in Communication Sciences from the University of Vale do Rio dos Sinos (UNISINOS) in Brazil; Bachelor's degree in Philosophy from the Jesuit Faculty of Philosophy and Theology (FAJE); Course in Leadership and Development of Communication Strategies for Health from the Center for Communications Projects at Johns Hopkins University, in Baltimore, in the United States of America; Has 19 years of experience teaching in higher education and managing academic processes; Was Director of ECA between 2015 and 2021 and Deputy Director of Undergraduate Studies between 2011 and 2014. Has a book, eleven chapters in books authored and co-authored, nine scientific articles in peer-reviewed journals and some opinion pieces; Has supervised three doctoral theses, fifteen master's dissertations; coordinated several research projects and participated in several scientific events within the country and abroad. He is a member of the Brazilian Chapter of the Latin Union of Political Economy of Information, Communication and Culture (ULEPICC-Brazil); he is a member of the research group Communication, Political Economy and Society (CEPOS), based at the Federal University of Sergipe – Brazil); he is President of the Mozambican Association of Information and Communication Sciences (ACICOM).

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Published

2026-03-10

How to Cite

SIGAÚQUE, Mateus Johane; ASSANE, Sadate Jafar; MIGUEL, João. The role of journalism in deconstructing misinformation in the mozambican context. Dispositiva, Belo Horizonte, v. 15, p. e36826, 2026. DOI: 10.5752/P.2237-9967.2026v15e36826. Disponível em: https://periodicos.pucminas.br/dispositiva/article/view/36826. Acesso em: 19 mar. 2026.

Issue

Vol. 15 (2026): Tema Livre e Dossiê temático: Nostalgia(s) nas mídias

Section

FREE THEME ARTICLES

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Copyright (c) 2026 Mateus Johane Sigaúque, Sadate Jafar Assane, João Miguel

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