feitcheckers

Feitcheckers are individuals and organizations that engage in fact-checking, the systematic verification of factual claims made in news, politics, and public discourse. They assess statements, claims, statistics, and quotes, and publish findings intended to help audiences judge accuracy. The term feitcheckers is used in some Dutch-language media to describe those doing this work; in English-language media the term fact-checkers is more common.

Activities include researching claims using primary sources, official records, scholarly literature, and expert testimony; cross-checking across multiple sources; contacting subject-matter experts; and publishing verdicts with transparent sourcing. Output typically includes a verdict scale (true, mostly true, mixed, false, or pants on fire) and a written explanation.

Feitcheckers may work within newsroom desks, as independent nonprofit organizations, or as community volunteers. They often participate in coalitions such as the International Fact-Checking Network (IFCN), which promotes codes of principles, transparency, and methodology. Major outlets such as PolitiFact, FactCheck.org, and Snopes illustrate the model; numerous national-level or issue-specific sites exist worldwide.

Impact and challenges: Fact-checking aims to reduce misinformation and improve informed citizenship, but it faces resource constraints, potential perceived bias, and political pressure. Journalists and researchers emphasize transparency, reproducibility, and correction policies to mitigate criticism.

History and context: The modern movement grew in the early 2000s with dedicated outlets and media partnerships. The term feitcheckers reflects the cross-linguistic spread of the practice and its integration into public media ecosystems.