Shadows and lights on fact-checking research: trends, methodologies, and empirical approaches

Abstract

Fact-checking is not new in journalism, nor is disinformation a novel threat to newsrooms. Yet, the digital information overload poses new challenges to verification practices. In this context, fact-check platforms have gained relevance, including geographical contexts marked by polarization such as Southern Europe. This article presents a systematic review of 108 peer-reviewed articles on fact-checking, published between 2020 and 2023 in Southern Europe and indexed in Scopus. Specifically, we analyze trends, practices, methodologies, topics covered and main empirical findings. This systematic review was conducted in accordance with the PRISMA guidelines. Most publications originate from universities in Spain (74%), where research emphasizes journalistic practices. Italian studies often focus on the intersection of fact-checking and artificial intelligence, while Portuguese contributions lack thematic specificity. Our findings also suggest statistically significant variations from country to country, meanwhile, research objectives typically revolve around fact-checking guidelines and disinformation narratives, though the effectiveness of fact-checking remains underexplored, partly due to methodological limitations. Quantitative methods, especially content analysis, dominate the corpus, frequently using fact-checking content as data sources. The study highlights the need to expand fact-checking research in Southern Europe, suggesting more diverse methodological approaches and broader thematic agendas. Additionally, qualitative insights are especially needed to deepen understanding in this field.