How Fact-Checkers Define and Apply “Objective Journalism”. Cases of Study of Italy and Spain

Abstract

The process of fact-checking has emerged as a specialised practice within the news media industry. This research aims to examine how fact-checkers contribute to the construction of “objectivity” through their verification practices, with a specific focus on the methods and sources that they employ. In addition, it analyses how fact-checkers distinguish themselves from traditional practices of legacy media in how they define themselves. To achieve this, we looked into two cases of study involving two fact-checkers from Italy and two from Spain. We conducted a qualitative analysis of the self-presentation of each media outlet and a content analysis of the news they published over the course of a year. The findings reveal differences between the Spanish and Italian fact-checkers in terms of the topics covered and the sources used for debunking. Despite their perceived image as champions of “journalistic purity” and advocates of “truth”, we criticise this aspect, particularly with regard to their selection of information sources. We question how the fact-checkers’ image and identity directly impact journalism and the broader information ecosystem.