International Fact-Checking Day Date in the current year: April 2, 2024

Fact-checking is the process of verifying the accuracy of statements and reporting, which can be conducted before (ante hoc) or after (post hoc) the content is disseminated. It can be done by the publisher (internal fact-checking) or by a third party (external fact-checking). The main goal of fact-checking is to reduce the accidental or deliberate spread of false information.

The emergence of modern fact-checking was a response to the rise of the so-called yellow journalism in the second half of the 19th century. It became even more relevant during the social media era, when the viral spread of fake news via Facebook, Twitter and other social media networks began to gain momentum. In a world where news comes from multiple sources, it is easy to manipulate information to affect public opinion and even change the outcome of elections.

Independent organizations specializing on external post hoc fact-checking started to emerge in the United States in the early 2000s. In the 2010s, the concept of external fact-checking gained popularity and spread to other countries. The idea of having an international awareness day dedicated to fact-checking first voiced during a conference for journalists and professional fact-checkers at a conference that was held at the London School of Economics in 2014. However, it remained just an idea for a few more years.

Following the 2016 United States presidential election, which was plagued by disinformation and the dissemination of fake news, the idea resurfaced again, and so International Fact-Checking Day was born. It was established in 2016 and observed for the first time on April 2, 2017.

International Fact-Checking Day is coordinated and promoted by the International Fact-Checking Network (IFCN) at the Poynter Institute of Political Studies, an international organization that works to bring together professional fact-checkers from around the globe and combat against misinformation.

International Fact-Checking Day is meant to highlight that professional fact-checkers shouldn’t be the only ones to fight misinformation. Everyone should do their part in debunking false information to maintain a healthy information ecosystem. This include those who consume information; you shouldn’t blindly believe every piece of news you come across. In the modern world, critical thinking and fact-checking skills are essential.

There are many ways to observe International Fact-Checking Day if you’re interested. You can participate in one of the IFCN’s webinars, take an online fake news trivia quiz to test your fact-checking skills, donate to nonprofit fact-checking projects such as FactCheck.org or PoliticFact.com, and spread the word using the hashtags #InternationalFactCheckingDay, #FactCheckingDay and #FactCheckingIsEssential.