Fact-checking in journalism 2700-ERASMUS-FCIJ
This course offers a comprehensive exploration of fact-checking in journalistic practice, combining practical workshops, group discussions, and individual projects to equip students with both theoretical knowledge and hands-on skills. The primary aim is to familiarize students with the concepts of misinformation and disinformation within the broader (social and cultural) context of the information society.
Students will analyse real-world examples of misinformation and disinformation in legacy and digital media, developing practical expertise in identifying, verifying, and addressing false or misleading content. The course emphasizes the verification of information, the tools and techniques involved in fact-checking, and the ethical and societal implications of these practices.
Through case studies and collaborative exercises, students will learn to critically evaluate information, understand the mechanisms of information dissemination, and develop strategies to combat disinformation. By the end of the course, participants will have the skills necessary to contribute to responsible journalism by ensuring accuracy, accountability, and trust in the media.
Discussed topics include:
• Introduction to fact-checking.
o Definition and history of fact-checking.
o The role of fact-checking in journalism.
o Overview of global and local fact-checking initiatives.
o International collaboration in fact-checking (e.g. IFCN).
• Verification of information in the media.
o Types of information disorders.
o The fact-checking process in the media: stages and techniques.
o Overview of the most popular fact-checking tools.
o Use of search engines and databases for verifying facts.
• Verification of sources and authors as well as numbers and statistics.
o Credibility of sources.
o Open Source Intelligence (OSINT) and its application in fact-checking.
o Methods for verifying reports and research studies.
o Examples of data manipulation in the media.
• Fact-checking in the political context and during crises.
o Analysis of disinformation in politics.
o Verification of politicians’ promises and propaganda.
o Challenges related to rapid dissemination of misinformation.
o Verification of information in times of crisis (e.g., pandemic, war).
• Ethics of fact-checking and its societal reception.
o Ethical challenges in fact-checking.
o The role of corrections and accountability in the media.
o Application of AI in journalism and fact-checking.
o The role of fact-checkers in building public trust in media.
• Fact-checking in practice – workshops.
Learning outcomes
After completing the course, students:
KNOWLEDGE:
• understand and can define key media phenomena such as fake news, misinformation, and disinformation,
• are familiar with the structure and functioning of fact-checking organizations and networks worldwide,
• demonstrate in-depth knowledge of the role and impact of new technologies on communication processes and their influence on social dynamics,
• comprehend advanced concepts related to data security in the online environment and understand the principles of safe and responsible information handling in new, digital media,
• recognize the technological methods used in the creation and dissemination of fact-checks and media content.
SKILLS:
• critically analyse and evaluate media phenomena such as fake news to assess the credibility of information and its communication processes,
• apply theoretical concepts to assess the trustworthiness of media information and design solutions for combating misinformation,
• are skilled in identifying and debunking false claims, whether they involve political, scientific, or social topics,
• demonstrate the ability to use fact-checking tools and methodologies to verify the information,
• can conduct thorough research using a variety of sources, including open-source intelligence (OSINT), to validate or refute claims,
• are able to trace the origin of disinformation and understand how it spreads across different platforms,
• adopt a critical approach to evaluating received content in digital spaces and actively participate in improving public understanding of credible information.
OTHER COMPETENCES:
• are prepared to uphold and promote the principles of professional ethics, actively contributing to maintaining the ethical standards of the journalistic profession,
• recognize the importance of seeking and assessing the truthfulness of information within social and organizational contexts,
• are ready to create safe and socially responsible content using new technologies, addressing the challenges of modern media,
• are prepared to engage in public discourse, correcting misinformation and promoting media literacy in society.
Assessment criteria
Assessment methods:
- description,
- explanation with elements of lecture,
- discussion,
- case studies,
- group tasks,
- project.
Assessment criteria:
- attendance (a maximum of 2 absences; the lecturer does not provide for the possibility of making up classes for which the student was absent; excused absences are included in the two admissible absences)
- active participation in the classes (activity, discussion, completing tasks - including homework),
- final assignment consisting of three analyses (fact-check of a statement, fact-check of an election promise, analysis of a fake news).
Students will be able to pass the course only after meeting all the listed assessment criteria. The lecturer does not allow for retaking or improving grades once they are positive.
Bibliography
1. Bąkowicz, K. (2023). Wolność a dezinformacja: o konieczności przyjęcia postawy odpowiedzialnej. Rozważania nad stanem badań. Studia Medioznawcze, 24(3), 230–245. https://doi.org/10.33077/uw.24511617.sm.2023.3.752 [English version: https://studiamedioznawcze.eu/index.php/studiamedioznawcze/article/view/752/642]
2. Bąkowicz, K. (2019). Wprowadzenie do definicji i klasyfikacji zjawiska fake newsa. Studia Medioznawcze, 20(3), 280–289. https://doi.org/10.33077/uw.24511617.ms.2019.2.106 [English version: https://studiamedioznawcze.eu/index.php/studiamedioznawcze/article/view/106/85]
3. Cherubini, F., & Graves, L. (2016). The rise of fact-checking sites in Europe. Reuters Institute for the Study of Journalism, University of Oxford. Retrieved from https://reutersinstitute.politics.ox.ac.uk/our-research/rise-fact-checking-sites-europe
4. Hoes, E., Aitken, B., Zhang, J., Gackowski, T., & Wojcieszak, M. (2024). Prominent misinformation interventions reduce misperceptions but increase skepticism. Nature Human Behaviour. https://doi.org/10.1038/s41562-024-01884-x
5. International Fact-Checking Network. IFCN code of principles. Poynter. Retrieved from https://ifcncodeofprinciples.poynter.org/
6. Keyes, R. (2004). The post-truth era: Dishonesty and deception in contemporary life. St. Martin's Press.
7. Koch, T. K., Frischlich, L., & Lermer, E. (2023). Effects of fact-checking warning labels and social endorsement cues on climate change fake news credibility and engagement on social media. Journal of Applied Social Psychology, 53, 495–507. https://doi.org/10.1111/jasp.12959
8. Poynter Institute. Fact-checking. Poynter. Retrieved from https://www.poynter.org/news/fact-checking/
9. Rosińska, K. (2021). Disinformation in Poland: Thematic classification based on content analysis of fake news from 2019. Cyberpsychology: Journal of Psychosocial Research on Cyberspace, 15(4). https://doi.org/10.5817/CP2021-4-5
10. Rosińska, K., & Brzóska, P. (2020). Analysis of individual susceptibility of social media users to fake news: Polish perspective. Studia Medioznawcze, 21(3), 661-688. https://studiamedioznawcze.eu/index.php/studiamedioznawcze/article/view/280/181
11. Sawiński, M., Stróżyna, M., Lewoniewski, W., Stolarski, P., Węcel, K., Księżniak, E., & Abramowicz, W. (2024). Supporting fact-checking process with IT tools. Procedia Computer Science, 246, 2052-2061. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.procs.2024.09.654
12. Vraga, E. K., & Bode, L. (2020). Defining misinformation and understanding its bounded nature: Using expertise and evidence for describing misinformation. Political Communication, 37(1), 136–144. https://doi.org/10.1080/10584609.2019.1643318
Dodatkowo: wybór tekstów pomocniczych do poszczególnych tematów zajęć. Additionally: selection of supplementary texts for individual course topics.
Additional information
Additional information (registration calendar, class conductors, localization and schedules of classes), might be available in the USOSweb system: