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International Fact-Checking Day: DW counters disinformation

To mark International Fact-Checking Day, DW emphasizes the urgent need to combat disinformation and presents its initiatives to promote media literacy and news verification.

DW-Factchecking Team
Image: Ayse Tasci/DW

The fight against disinformation and for independent reporting is becoming increasingly difficult: the big tech platforms no longer see a need for professional fact checkers, at least according to leading tech CEOs including Mark Zuckerberg and Elon Musk. In addition, the funding freeze at Voice of America and Radio Free Europe/Radio Liberty threatens to deprive millions of people worldwide of an important source of balanced and verified information. DW, on the other hand, is stepping up its commitment to fact-checking.

To mark International Fact-Checking Day on April 2,​​​​​the focus has been on fact-based reporting worldwide since 2016. It was founded by the International Fact-Checking Network (IFCN), which now comprises 151 certified fact-checking newsrooms worldwide,including DW.

Peter Limbourg, DW’s Director General: “Our fact-checking experts take a close look when the boundaries between fact and fiction become blurred or are deliberately blurred. They uncover false information, classify it and teach important skills to recognize disinformation. In a time of filter and information bubbles, this is extremely important.”

In focus: strengthening resilience, promoting cooperation

For International Fact-Checking Day, DW is publishing a fact-check quiz with which users can test their verification skills: AI-generated images, manipulated photos and fake websites are placed alongside real content to show how to distinguish between real and fake content. The fact check team also provides a comprehensive dossier with media literacy resources on fact-checking and verification , including explainers on how to spot AI images, fake websites, bots, state propaganda and deepfakes. All with one goal: to equip users with more knowledge and therefore more resilience against disinformation.

DW has recently expanded its fact checks. With significantly more fact-check articles, a central verification service for all 32 program languages and video formats in English, Arabic, Spanish and German, DW provides its global audience with up-to-date content. DW also invests in knowledge transfer and networking — the former through targeted fact-checking training for journalists, the latter through collaboration between different editorial teams on joint verification projects. Added to this is the cooperation with DW Innovation in the development and application of digital verification tools.

“This agile network enables us to respond to disinformation quickly yet thoroughly and based on facts. The linguistic and regional expertise of the 32 DW languages is a great asset for us when it comes to clarifying false narratives,” explains Joscha Weber, Head of DW Fact-checking.

You can find out more about the work of the DW fact check team here.

DW is Germany's international broadcaster. As an independent media outlet, we provide unbiased news and information in 32 languages around the world so that people can form their own opinions. DW's work focuses on topics such as freedom and human rights, democracy and the rule of law, world trade and social justice, health education and environmental protection, technology and innovation. DW's TV, online and radio services reach 320 million users every week. 

DW Akademie trains journalists worldwide, supports the development of free media, and promotes the German language with free learning opportunities.