What are verifiers and how do they work
At the opposite pole of the concepts of misinformation or fake news are the words verification or fact-checking. Although information verification is part of the daily work of a journalist, in the times of the infodemic a new type of professionals has emerged dedicated to checking the veracity of the information that circulates in the media, social networks and other digital platforms: verifiers or fact-checkers. Its main objective is to identify errors, inaccuracies, half-truths or false contents, and offer citizens contrasted and contextualized information and explaining transparently what their research process has been.
Unlike internal verification by journalists before publishing a news item, fact-checkers focus on external review. This means that they analyze political statements, viral content or any publicly disseminated information that may generate confusion or deception. His work allows us to clarify what is true, what is partially true and what is false, providing context and nuances that are often lost in journalistic information.
How do fact checkers work?
The work of the fact-checkers follows rigorous methodologies. First, they select the messages to be verified according to their relevance, the scope they have had and the importance of the source that has disseminated them. Then, they consult reliable and proven sources, which can be official records, databases, experts… ensuring the transparency and traceability of the information used, which they later expose in their verification articles. In some cases, they also contact the author of the claim to offer the possibility of clarifying or correcting their data before publishing the piece.
Once the check is complete, the results are disseminated in different formats to reach different audiences. The fact-checkers publish articles on their websites, infographics, videos, podcasts or interactive content on social networks. They use an explanatory language to contextualize the information and clarify doubts, avoiding limiting themselves to a binary verdict of “true” or “false”. This is especially useful in the face of half-truths and misleading claims that combine true facts with subtle manipulations.
Who checks the verifier?
And why should I trust what they say? Globally, there are networks and organizations that group fact-checkers and establish quality standards. The International Fact-Checking Network (IFCN) and the European Fact-Checking Standards Network (EFCSN) define codes of transparency, impartiality and good practices, and periodically audit the member entities. A kind of ‘peer-to-peer review’ like those used in scientific journals. These rules seek to ensure that verifications are carried out independently, plurally and ethically.
In the case of Spain, most fact-checking organizations that currently exist are part of both the IFCN and the EFCSN. This is the case of Newtral, Maldita.es, EFE Verifica, Verificat, Infoveritas and AFP, which includes the Spanish version in the French matrix. The only verification entity that is not part of these two organizations is VerificaRTVE which, being part of a public corporation, has so far not wanted to join initiatives and organizations such as IFCN or EFCSN, which arise from private initiative and make its members pay fees to be part and obtain quality accreditations.
What challenges does fact-checking have today?
Although fact-checking is increasingly widespread, it faces certain challenges. Economic sustainability, protection from network harassment and the need to expand their hearing are some of the issues that these organisations must face.
The work of verifiers is key to ensuring reliable information, transparency and responsibility in communication, thereby strengthening democracy and people’s right to access truthful information.
