Item
Beyond Verification: The Evolving Role of Fact‐Checking Organizations in Media Literacy Education for Youth
- Author
- Lucia Mesquita , Margarida Maneta , and Maria José Brites
- Year
- 2024
- Publisher
- COGITATIO
- DOI/Link
- https://doi.org/10.17645/mac.8690
- Abstract
-
This research investigates the crucial role of fact‐checking organisations in promoting media and information
literacy (MIL) amid the challenges of widespread misinformation. By educating and empowering individuals,
these organisations and their educational branches are identified as emerging components within MIL
ecosystems, particularly focusing on engaging youth. Using qualitative research methods, our study analyses
the activities of seven prominent fact‐checking organisations and two university‐affiliated projects across
Spain, Catalonia, Poland, Hong Kong, the Philippines, Argentina, and Brazil. Thus, our study aims to
understand why fact‐checking organisations have become involved in MIL education and training for youth
and what types of MIL, approaches, and subjects fact‐checking organisations employ in their MIL education
and training initiatives for this audience. Our findings reveal a shift in these organisations toward actively
promoting MIL education through dedicated divisions and teams driven by mission‐oriented action and
peer collaboration. Various institutions and political and educational policies support or hinder this
transformation. A significant issue observed is the limited availability of open‐access materials and general
opacity regarding their pedagogical approaches. Although these organisations have integrated educational
components into their models, achieving financial sustainability remains challenging. - Language
- ENGLISH