A reflection on the epistemology of fact-checking journalism: challenges and dilemmas

Authors

DOI:

https://doi.org/10.26441/RC19.1-2020-A14

Keywords:

journalism, fact-checking journalism, fake news, social networks, disinformation

Abstract

Fact-checking journalism has progressed worldwide and has a greater impact on public debate. This article raises a thought focused on the epistemological challenges and dilemmas of fact-checking journalism to achieve the triple objective of this new journalistic genre to be fulfilled: ensure the veracity of the information disseminated on social networks and platforms, address scrutiny of power and transform the information in knowledge assumed by the citizens. Through the analysis of the methodology of Latin American Spanish-speaking fact-checking media, several issues related to the verification, dissemination and reception process are discussed. Likewise, the citizen's role in the fact-checking journalism process is analysed as well as the data dissonance in the two main fact-checking lists (International Fact-Checking Network and the Duke Reporter's Lab).

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Author Biography

Carlos Rodríguez Pérez, Universidad de Ibagué

Magíster en Comunicación Política e Institucional en el Instituto Universitario de Investigación Ortega y Gasset de Madrid, Magíster en Marketing, Consultoría y Comunicación Política en la Universidad de Santiago de Compostela y Doctorando en Ciencias de la Información en la Universidad Complutense de Madrid. Es Profesor del Programa de Comunicación Social y Periodismo de la Universidad de Ibagué (Colombia) donde imparte, entre otras asignaturas, Periodismo digital y multimedios

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Published

10/03/2020

How to Cite

Rodríguez Pérez, C. (2020). A reflection on the epistemology of fact-checking journalism: challenges and dilemmas. Revista De Comunicación, 19(1), 243–258. https://doi.org/10.26441/RC19.1-2020-A14

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Papers