The Fact Checking in Spain. Journalistic projects, practices and distinctive features

Abstract

Fact Checking platforms have become a movement that, born in the United States, has spread throughout the world. It is now a tool to fight against misinformation, misperceptions and fake news in the new communicative ecosystem in which social media acquire relevance as a source of information, and in which it is increasingly easy - and accessible to millions of citizens - produce, edit and distribute (false) information. Almost all literature and case studies have focused on the United States. About fact checking in Spanish, only have been investigated those included in the Duke reporter's Lab in 2018; and nine initiatives in Spanish that have emerged since 2010 in six Latin American countries. In this article, after a theoretical framework, through a qualitative analysis, we identify and analyze the verification websites and information check activities in our country. This is complemented by interviews with journalists who have carried out fact checking initiatives in our environment. The reality of the fact checking in Spain, as will be shown, is yet in its begginings.