Bringing journalism back to its roots: examining fact-checking practices, methods, and challenges in the Mediterranean context

Abstract

The rise of fact-checking as an innovative tool aimed at improving democratic well-being has become a transnational movement in journalism. In June 2021, the Duke Reporters’ Lab database features 341 such initiatives around the world, including 33 active fact-checking projects in countries pertaining to the Mediterranean or Polarized Pluralist Model (Hallin; Mancini, 2004). Following previous research on fact-checking in other territories, this qualitative study expands the understanding of how this practice is performed by four platforms of countries belonging to this journalistic culture: Maldita.es (Spain), Les Surligneurs (France), Observador (Portugal), and Pagella Politica (Italy). Through in-depth interviews with their decision-makers, this work offers a deep understanding of the structure, agenda, practices, and values, the role of the public, and the challenges that these organizations face. Normally run by small but multidisciplinary teams, the studied initiatives show high levels of transparency and a tendency for continuous improvement and professionalization despite their limitations. Following the example of leading initiatives in the USA, the UK, Latin America and Europe, the analyzed organizations cover a wide range of thematic areas and make use of the latest digital tools. They employ robust methodologies when selecting the content they verify, consult an extensive range of sources, and set various control filters before publication, which proves their commitment to transparency and accountability. Furthermore, they guarantee the right of reply and are widely open to public participation and broader dissemination of their work through mainstream media. From difficulties in accessing public information to scarcity of resources and increased competition, fact-checking platforms in the Mediterranean context face major challenges that have forced them to rethink their role and find new revenue streams. These organizations highlight the need to enhance the impact of fact-checking among citizens, journalists, and politicians and, ultimately, to go back to the roots of journalism.

Explanatory Journalism within European Fact Checking Platforms: An Ally against Disinformation in the Post-COVID-19 Era

“…Firstly, the maturation of fact checking projects, which, more than a decade after their inception and despite their ongoing challenges, have succeeded in establishing robust and transparent working methodologies. This is evident in recent studies on the phenomenon in Spain [32,33]; in Spain and Italy [3]; in Spain, France, Italy and Portugal [5]; in Spain and Latin America [34,35] and in Latin America [36].…”

“…This methodology has evolved into an enhanced iteration of traditional source consultation, "an indispensable dimension, shared by all journalism professionals throughout its modern history" [4] (p. 1). Some scholars even argue that fact checking embodies a quasi-scientific [5] form of objectivity [6] that surpasses the declarative style of journalism -a contemporary classic in the field.…”

“…While journalists tend to prioritise accurately reporting what was said, fact checkers are more concerned with evaluating the accuracy of statements. Likewise, the social function of journalism serves as a guiding principle for the work of fact checkers, who are reviving the profession's core values [10], harking back to its origins [5]. Within this context, explanatory texts have recently emerged as common ground between the two fields.…”

El cumplimiento del código de principios de la International Fact-Checking Network en las plataformas de verificación españolas. Un análisis cualitativo

“…al, 2018). Esta motivación, la de rendir cuentas con el público, se traduce en trabajar por recuperar la credibilidad (Nicey, 2020) y volver a los orígenes del periodismo (Moreno-Gil et al, 2022), un efecto que convierte al movimiento en una nueva herramienta o institución democrática (Amazeen, 2020;Graves y Cherubini, 2016).…”

“…Mientras en Europa proliferan decenas de organizaciones de verificación sin ánimo de lucro desde distintos círculos profesionales, civiles y universitarios (Graves, 2016), en Estados Unidos las grandes plataformas han sido empresas desde los inicios. Trabajos como el de Moreno-Gil et al (2022) ponen de manifiesto que la tendencia dentro del contexto mediterráneo (Hallin y Mancini, 2004) es a colocarse a la vanguardia en la innovación y uso de nuevas tecnologías (Vizoso et al, 2018), a cubrir un amplio abanico de temas y a implantar metodologías robustas que aseguren el acceso a la información y la transparencia. Del mismo modo, se produce un fenómeno de hibridación en relación con las destrezas y conocimientos de los fact-checkers, que se traduce en la presencia de equipos multidisciplinares compuestos por expertos en distintas áreas, no solo en periodismo.…”