aPEaSE - Checking the fact-checkers: practices and effectiveness in southern Europe

Checking the fact-checkers: practices and effectiveness in southern Europe

Checking the Fact-checkers observes the main practices, agenda impact, audience attitudes and effectiveness of three fact-checkers in three
southern European countries, Portugal, Spain and Italy; through cross-country surveys and newsrooms observation, interviews, focus group
meetings and the application of an agenda-setting model based on machine learning. These countries have different histories and experiences in
relation to fact-checking, but they all face similar challenges related to disinformation and the current political context, which justifies the relevance
of this investigation.

This project seeks to deepen the understanding of the practice of fact-checking, addressing its journalistic processes, audience perception and
effectiveness in correcting false information. With a holistic approach, this project proposes specific objectives, such as identifying and analyzing
fact-checking strategies, understanding the challenges faced by this journalistic movement and evaluating its ability to monitor the proliferation of
online disinformation.

The project is based on four axes. The first focuses on the analysis of fact-checking as a profession, examining the working methods of fact-
checkers.

The second aspect addresses the public's perception and attitude towards fact-checking, understanding the level of familiarity of the practice, as
well as news consumption habits. The third axis proposes the assessment of the impact and effectiveness of fact-checking on social media,
exploring the challenges posed by recommendation algorithms in filter bubbles and partisan echo chambers. Finally, the fourth axis is based on the
analysis of how fact-checking influences different political agendas (main parties and political agents) and media agendas (national online
newspapers).

Coordinator

João Baptista

Team

Fábio Ribeiro
Anabela Gradim
Daniela Fonseca
Concha Pérez-Curiel
Rubén Rivas-de-Roca
Pedro Rodrigues Costa
Florence Oliveira
Francisco Conrado

Consultants

Andreu Casero-Ripollés

Project Manager

Ana Vilar Bravo