FACT-CHECKERS ON THE WEB

         FACT-CHECKERS ON THE WEB

               Social Media Warriors Have Arrived

In India, in 2018 alone, at least 25 people have been lynched or beaten to death over a fake WhatsApp message. Growing internet penetration, low level of media literacy and rapidly decreasing credibility of traditional media have compounded the problem, triggering the process of ‘fact-checking.’ In an era when distrust of politicians and democratic institutions is shaping voter choices, fact-checking seems to be the accountability mechanism everyone is reaching out to. According to a survey by Reporters’ Lab, a centre for journalism research in the Sanford School of Public Policy at Duke University, the number of active fact-checking projects around the world now stands at 156 and the number is growing steadily. In India, people who had started fact-checking out of genuine concern have now turned it into a serious profession. Though the number of dedicated fact-checking initiatives is still smaller than the rest of the world, it is important to understand their ownership patterns, business models and overall functioning.

Here is a lowdown on some of India’s prominent fact-checking initiatives…

FACT-CHECKERS ON THE WEB

Akhilesh Patil

October-December, 2018