ARIJ and Google Launch Arabic-Language “Super Searchers” Program to Advance Digital Research Skills
In a major step toward improving digital literacy and critical research skills in the Arab world, the Arab Reporters for Investigative Journalism (ARIJ), with the support of Google, has launched the Arabic version of the global training program “Super Searchers.”
The program, which kicked off its first live session on Tuesday, July 8, 2025, is designed to equip participants with essential tools and techniques to critically evaluate and contextualise online information, understand AI-generated content, and improve information literacy. It is the first of its kind in the Arab region and is now available in Arabic after its global success, having trained over 15,000 individuals and reached nearly a million people worldwide.
The inaugural session was led by Saja Mortada, Arab Fact-Checkers Network Manager at ARIJ. She introduced participants to advanced research techniques using Google, including the SIFT method (Stop, Investigate the source, Find better coverage, and Trace claims), and addressed the growing need to verify sources in an age of artificial intelligence where information is fast-moving and digital literacy is more important than ever.
More than 400 journalists, researchers, educators, and students attended the live training, highlighting the broad appeal and urgent relevance of the topic across multiple sectors.
Key skills covered in the session included:
- Careful selection of search terms: Rephrasing and refining keywords to target more accurate results.
- Going beyond the first results page: Encouraging deeper exploration and use of tools like “More about this source” and “More about this image.”
- Critical evaluation of sources: Encouraging users to pause and verify a website’s credibility before trusting its information.
- Reverse image search: Teaching participants how to use tools like Google Lens to verify visual content.
- Avoiding online scams: Training users to identify suspicious links and protect themselves from fraud.
The “Super Searchers” program is open to anyone interested in sharpening their online research skills — from journalists and students to academics and everyday internet users. Graduates of the training are encouraged to pass their knowledge on to their peers, contributing to a broader culture of informed digital inquiry across the region.
