Regional Facts Matter: A Comparative Perspective of Sub-State Fact-Checking Initiatives in Europe
After a significant surge of active fact-checking organisations over the past decade, fact-checkers now operate in more than 100 countries. Although the fact-checking movement is diverse, the majority of organisations function at a national level. However, some organisations operate on a sub-state s...
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| Format: | Article |
| Language: | English |
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Cogitatio
2024-12-01
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| Series: | Media and Communication |
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| Online Access: | https://www.cogitatiopress.com/mediaandcommunication/article/view/8758 |
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| author | Ferre Wouters Michaël Opgenhaffen |
| author_facet | Ferre Wouters Michaël Opgenhaffen |
| author_sort | Ferre Wouters |
| collection | DOAJ |
| description | After a significant surge of active fact-checking organisations over the past decade, fact-checkers now operate in more than 100 countries. Although the fact-checking movement is diverse, the majority of organisations function at a national level. However, some organisations operate on a sub-state scale, based either on community or geographic region. These fact-checkers investigate statements relevant to specific populations that might otherwise go unaddressed. In Europe, signatories of the International Fact-Checking Network are active in regions with federal or devolved power. This study brings a comparative analysis of regional fact-checkers in Europe, combining qualitative interviews with editors and managers of these organisations with complementary document analysis. Our findings highlight how organisational formats influence fact-checking motivations, the difference in scope between political fact-checking and debunking routines, and the collaborative relations regional fact-checkers maintain with national and international organisations. This article contributes to the debate surrounding the global fact-checking movement by raising awareness of regional and local fact-checking, which helps address so-called fact deserts. |
| format | Article |
| id | doaj-art-629c7ecda8c04999a2ee2a842ac1efe2 |
| institution | Kabale University |
| issn | 2183-2439 |
| language | English |
| publishDate | 2024-12-01 |
| publisher | Cogitatio |
| record_format | Article |
| series | Media and Communication |
| spelling | doaj-art-629c7ecda8c04999a2ee2a842ac1efe22024-12-09T10:58:10ZengCogitatioMedia and Communication2183-24392024-12-0112010.17645/mac.87583894Regional Facts Matter: A Comparative Perspective of Sub-State Fact-Checking Initiatives in EuropeFerre Wouters0Michaël Opgenhaffen1Media, Information & Persuasion Lab, KU Leuven, BelgiumMedia, Information & Persuasion Lab, KU Leuven, BelgiumAfter a significant surge of active fact-checking organisations over the past decade, fact-checkers now operate in more than 100 countries. Although the fact-checking movement is diverse, the majority of organisations function at a national level. However, some organisations operate on a sub-state scale, based either on community or geographic region. These fact-checkers investigate statements relevant to specific populations that might otherwise go unaddressed. In Europe, signatories of the International Fact-Checking Network are active in regions with federal or devolved power. This study brings a comparative analysis of regional fact-checkers in Europe, combining qualitative interviews with editors and managers of these organisations with complementary document analysis. Our findings highlight how organisational formats influence fact-checking motivations, the difference in scope between political fact-checking and debunking routines, and the collaborative relations regional fact-checkers maintain with national and international organisations. This article contributes to the debate surrounding the global fact-checking movement by raising awareness of regional and local fact-checking, which helps address so-called fact deserts.https://www.cogitatiopress.com/mediaandcommunication/article/view/8758boundary workeuropefact-checkingjournalistic practiceslocal misinformationregional media |
| spellingShingle | Ferre Wouters Michaël Opgenhaffen Regional Facts Matter: A Comparative Perspective of Sub-State Fact-Checking Initiatives in Europe Media and Communication boundary work europe fact-checking journalistic practices local misinformation regional media |
| title | Regional Facts Matter: A Comparative Perspective of Sub-State Fact-Checking Initiatives in Europe |
| title_full | Regional Facts Matter: A Comparative Perspective of Sub-State Fact-Checking Initiatives in Europe |
| title_fullStr | Regional Facts Matter: A Comparative Perspective of Sub-State Fact-Checking Initiatives in Europe |
| title_full_unstemmed | Regional Facts Matter: A Comparative Perspective of Sub-State Fact-Checking Initiatives in Europe |
| title_short | Regional Facts Matter: A Comparative Perspective of Sub-State Fact-Checking Initiatives in Europe |
| title_sort | regional facts matter a comparative perspective of sub state fact checking initiatives in europe |
| topic | boundary work europe fact-checking journalistic practices local misinformation regional media |
| url | https://www.cogitatiopress.com/mediaandcommunication/article/view/8758 |
| work_keys_str_mv | AT ferrewouters regionalfactsmatteracomparativeperspectiveofsubstatefactcheckinginitiativesineurope AT michaelopgenhaffen regionalfactsmatteracomparativeperspectiveofsubstatefactcheckinginitiativesineurope |