Fact check is the process of checking and verifying an assertion made in writing. As a journalistic tool, it is used to provide readers with the evidence that supports or refutes the claim they are hearing, so they can form an informed opinion.
For example, if a writer uses one study to support an assertion, the fact-checker might find another solid study that contradicts it. In these cases, the fact-checker must figure out how to cite both studies in the same article and which one to highlight. In addition, the fact-checker must decide whether to cite only peer-reviewed research or include other types of research as well.
Since the Duke Reporters’ Lab began producing its annual census of fact-checking in 2014, the number of projects has steadily grown, even during times of turmoil such as Brexit and Donald J. Trump’s White House campaign and presidency. Last year, the count reached 451 active projects, a number that has remained steady this year despite a reversal in some regions caused by the COVID-19 pandemic and the decline of Meta.
Many of the world’s fact-checking projects are based in countries where repressive governments and limited press freedom make it difficult to produce and disseminate reliable journalism. As a result, fact-checkers are often the target of attacks from people and groups that seek to sow mistrust in journalists and the media in general. While some new projects have launched, others have closed in recent years, with the number of launches and closures roughly equaling each other this year.