| Full text | |
| Author(s): |
Lelo, Thales
Total Authors: 1
|
| Document type: | Journal article |
| Source: | JOURNAL OF COMMUNICATION; v. N/A, p. 14-pg., 2023-08-31. |
| Abstract | |
In the scholarly literature on journalism and political communication, there has been an expectation that fact-checkers would play an important role in ensuring democratic accountability, especially during pivotal political moments. This piece scrutinizes the level of agreement between five Brazilian fact-checking groups and the reasons for divergences in their verdicts during the presidential debates of the 2022 campaign. The emphasis is on claims checked by two or more organizations. Through a mixed-methods approach, it shows a widespread lack of consistency among fact-checkers, which is explained by their conflicting methods and interpretations of candidates' words. This study adds to the existing scholarship by challenging the dominant framework on fact-checking, putting into question its democracy-building role in critical circumstances, as well as the epistemology it relies on to assess the veracity of political discourse. Complementary, it introduces a valuable methodology for studying the rationale underlying fact-checking ratings. (AU) | |
| FAPESP's process: | 19/01330-0 - Communication and work in the Brazilian fact-checking landscape: a mapping of projects and professionals working in the sector |
| Grantee: | Thales Vilela Lelo |
| Support Opportunities: | Scholarships in Brazil - Post-Doctoral |