Trainer Bios

Karol Ilagan is a Filipino journalist and a journalism educator. Since 2008, she has been reporting for and is now managing the Editorial Desk of the Philippine Center for Investigative Journalism (PCIJ), a Manila-based investigative nonprofit. Karol also teaches investigative reporting and data journalism at Philippine universities.

Mr. Aribowo Sasmito is one of the original founders of MAFINDO and is currently the organization’s Head of Fact Checker Committee. He leads fact-checking teams and manages MAFINDO’s various media channels (including their social media accounts, the turnbackhoax.idwebsite which is the database of fact-checked results articles). MAFINDO is a non-profit organization combating false information (or hoax as they are commonly called in Indonesia) by training and convening journalists, educating consumers of online media, and by building communities of online fact-checkers

Deborah Nelson is professor of investigative journalism at the University of Maryland. Before joining the faculty in 2006, she shared in a Pulitzer Prize at The Seattle Times for a series that led to sweeping reforms of a U.S. government housing program for low-income Native American families. Stories she co-edited at the Los Angeles Times and Washington Post also received Pulitzer Prizes. From her academic perch, she has written a critically acclaimed book on the U.S. war in Vietnam and award-winning stories for Reuters on climate change, superbugs and the military. She teaches courses in media law and ethics and in investigative reporting. Her students have produced their own award-winning work. Recent class projects include series on homelessness, criminal justice and worker safety that appeared in the national press. Ms. Nelson has a B.S. in journalism and a J.D. in law.