Check the checks: A comparison of fact-checking practices between newspapers and independent organizations during 2020 U.S. election presidential debates

Abstract

By conducting content analyses of 440 fact checks (N = 440), the study examined the fact-checking practices of three leading national newspapers (i.e., The New York Times, The Washington Post, and USA Today) and three independent fact-checking organizations (i.e., FactCheck.org, PolitiFact, and Snopes.com) in the United States during the 2020 presidential debates and town halls. The results found differences in fact-checking within three independent organizations, in terms of candidates, ratings, and used sources. Meanwhile, the three news outlets had differences in fact-checked candidates but consistency in sources and ratings. H1 was supported suggesting that three news organizations fact-checked Trump’s statements more than Biden’s, and as incorrect, compared with three independent organizations.