VRT News joins forces with other newsrooms for Fact-Checking Marathon ahead of elections

8 out of 10 Flemings feel that disinformation, fake news intended to mislead people, is a problem. More and more people regularly wonder what is true and what is not, both online and offline. Worldwide, the World Economic Forum sees disinformation, whether created using artificial intelligence or not, as the greatest short-term danger. Especially in a year like 2024, when democracy takes centre stage due to numerous elections around the world this is a major issue.

This is why, today, on International Fact-Checking Day, the Flemish public broadcaster's news service is announcing the first-ever Fact-Checking Marathon. From 27 May, barriers between different newsrooms and national borders will briefly fade away, as VRT News, Knack, Factcheck.Vlaanderen, deCheckers.be, RTBF, Algemeen Dagblad, the investigative programme Pointer (KRO/NCRV) and Nieuwscheckers join forces.

From text to audio and video

During the marathon, journalists will work together from a shared newsroom at VRT Centre in Brussels. Each day, at least two factchecks will appear in text, video and audio. Proposals put on the table by politicians, figures juggled by candidates and images spread by parties on social media: they will all be scrutinised.

"Every day, with an enthusiastic team of about 20 journalists, we will review statements made by politicians and action groups," says Luc van Bakel, editor-in-chief of the Fact-Checking editorial team at VRT NWS. "This can involve things said in a television or radio studio or that they share on social media. By joining forces over a two-week period, we reach a much larger audience and can refute or clarify incorrect or misleading information more quickly. And we will do this on as many platforms as possible: from television to social media."

One of the Dutch partners heading to Brussels is Pointer, the investigative programme of Dutch public broadcaster KRO-NCRV. Their journalists have long been working with VRT within a larger partnership to combat Dutch-language disinformation.

"There is a lot at stake in the European elections. It revolves around big issues like climate change and migration - topics where misinformation lurks. That is why we think it is important to organise a Fact-Checking Marathon in the run-up to the elections so that voters can cast their votes based on the facts," explains René Sommer, editor-in-chief of journalism at KRO-NCRV. "By collaborating with Algemeen Dagblad (AD) and Nieuwscheckers, as well as with Belgian colleagues at VRT, Factcheck.Vlaanderen, Knack and deCheckers, our factchecks can have a maximum impact."

From spending power to climate change

Stories will be featured on the various news platforms belonging to the media that are participating. Topics in the pipeline range from spending power to security, and from migration to climate. In other words, themes that play an important role in the Flemish, federal and European elections.

"Journalists from eight different newsrooms join forces to fact-check together, that really is unprecedented," says Griet De Craen, editor-in-chief at VRT News. "And this is necessary, because eight out of ten Flemish people think disinformation is a problem for our society. In times of elections, opinions are allowed to fly back and forth and clash, but preferably this should happen on the basis of real facts and figures."

The Marathon of the Low Countries is based on a Dutch original, which has already had three outings.

Public at large can make suggestions

Anyone can forward statements or messages to be fact-checked during the marathon. Flemings can do so via the website or social media channels of deCheckers.be. All factchecks from the marathon will appear on the VRT News website and app, on social media and in election programmes on radio and television.

The Fact-Checking marathon is launched on 27 May and runs until Election Day 9 June (6 June in the Netherlands) via all VRT News platforms as well as on decheckers.be.