Fact-checking en Europa: el periodismo de datos como punta de lanza en la lucha contra la desinformación sobre COVID-19

José Casás; Xosé López-García; Alba Silva-Rodríguez

doi:10.4185/rlcs-2025-2413

Authors

José Casás University of Santiago de Compostela https://orcid.org/0000-0002-3004-5205
Xosé López-García University of Santiago de Compostela https://orcid.org/0000-0002-1873-8260
Alba Silva-Rodríguez University of Santiago de Compostela https://orcid.org/0000-0002-1221-5178

DOI:

https://doi.org/10.4185/rlcs-2025-2413

Keywords:

digital journalism, big data, data journalism, datafication, Fact-checking, verification, coronavirus, pandemic, COVID-19

Abstract

Introduction: This research analyses the content strategy of fact-checkers from five Western European countries and, within it, the way they used data journalism to fight against misinformation about COVID-19. Methodology: From a sample of 2,410 publications by 25 European fact-checkers, a content analysis is conducted to define the type of content published, the use or non-use of data journalism techniques, the level of development of these techniques (analysis based on the incorporation of visualizations, their production model, and their typology), and the inclusion of transparency elements. Results: Fact-checkers base their content strategy on a dual approach: the publication of fact-checks complemented by contextual content. Data journalism techniques appear in 35.9% of the total, with this percentage exceeding 40% in 12 of the 25 media outlets in the sample. The use of visualizations reaches 39.5% of the publications with data journalism, a percentage that exceeds 40% in 11 of the 25 outlets in the sample. Discussion: Data journalism played a significant role in the content strategy of fact-checkers, particularly in the creation of contextual content (reports). There is an uneven relationship between European fact-checkers and data journalism. Conclusions: The study proposes a categorization of fact-checkers based on their relationship with data journalism and describes pathways of convergence between the disciplines of fact-checking and data journalism at both methodological and transparency levels.

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Author Biographies

José Casás, University of Santiago de Compostela

José Casás holds a PhD in Journalism from the University of Santiago de Compostela and is a member of the "Novos Medios" Research Group (GI – 1641), whose research focuses on the analysis of strategies, rhetoric, and technological formats for emerging markets in communication. At the university, he teaches courses on communication and journalistic writing and has developed several service-learning (ApS) projects. Additionally, he is a project manager at a digital communication agency specializing in social media.

Xosé López-García, University of Santiago de Compostela

Xosé López García, a journalist and Professor of Journalism, is part of the Department of Communication Sciences at the Faculty of Communication Sciences of the University of Santiago de Compostela. He worked as a journalist for twenty years in media outlets in Galicia. At the university, he teaches courses on communication and journalistic writing, as well as electronic journalism, and he also directs the research group Novos Medios. He has published several works on the Galician press and is the co-author of various books on cyberjournalism.

Alba Silva-Rodríguez, University of Santiago de Compostela

Alba Silva holds a PhD in Journalism from the University of Santiago de Compostela and is a member of the "Novos Medios" Research Group (GI-1641), whose research focuses on the analysis of strategies, rhetoric, and technological formats for emerging markets in communication. She is the secretary of RAEIC (Spanish Journal of Communication Research).

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