Media literacy against disinformation: the vision of South American fact-checkers

Abstract

In recent years, media literacy has been proposed as one of the alternatives with the greatest potential to fight disinformation, while reducing its effects and consequences for society. In this aspect, fact-checking organizations (known as fact-checkers) also play a relevant role in denying all types of hoaxes and fake news. Therefore, this article aims to know the vision of the people who work within these organizations on media literacy and their role in the face of disinformation. Using empirical research techniques that combine observation and analysis of a series of personal interviews, this study will investigate the perceptions, opinions and assessments of these organizations on media literacy as a tool to combat disinformation. Semi-structured interviews were carried out with journalists from the data verification agencies of each of the countries mentioned below: Chequeado (Argentina), Colombiacheck (Colombia), Fast Check CL (Chile) and Aos Fatos (Brazil), all of them signatories of the International Fact-Checking Network (IFCN). In addition, the main media literacy strategies developed by these fact-checkers and published on their websites are presented, trying to identify common patterns in their strategies. The results of the interviews indicate that media literacy is a strategy considered fundamental by fact-checkers in South America. These entities consider that, although their main task is verification, media literacy seems to be the most appropriate solution to combat disinformation and therefore carry out a variety of actions ranging from workshops and conferences to resources, guides or tools hosted on their websites.