When are Fact-Checks Effective? An Experimental Study on the Inclusion of the Misinformation Source and the Source of Fact-Checks in 16 European Countries

Van Erkel, Patrick F. A.Van Aelst, PeterDe Vreese, Claes H.Hopmann, David N.Matthese, JörgStanyer, JamesCorbu, Nicoleta2025-07-222025-07-222024Van Erkel, P. F. A., Van Aelst, P., De Vreese, C. H., Hopmann, D. N., Matthes, J., Stanyer, J., & Corbu, N. (2024). When are Fact-Checks Effective? An Experimental Study on the Inclusion of the Misinformation Source and the Source of Fact-Checks in 16 European Countries. Mass Communication & Society, 27(5), 851–876. https://doi.org/10.1080/15205436.2024.2321542ISSN: 1520-5436https://doi.org/10.1080/15205436.2024.2321542https://www.tandfonline.com/doi/full/10.1080/15205436.2024.2321542#abstracthttps://debdfdsi.snspa.ro/handle/123456789/1099This is an open access article under the CC BY 4.0 license, available at: https://www.tandfonline.com/doi/full/10.1080/15205436.2024.2321542#abstract The author Nicoleta Corbu is affiliated to SNSPA, of the College of Communication and Public Relations of the National University of Political Studies and Public Administration.Despite increasing academic attention, several questions about fact-checking remain unanswered. First, it remains unclear to what extent fact-checks are effective across different political and media contexts. Second, we know little on whether features of the fact-check itself influence its success. Conducting an experiment in 16 European countries, this study aims to fill these gaps by examining two features of fact-checks that may affect their success: whether fact-checks include the political source of the misinformation, and the source of the fact-check itself. We find that fact-checks are successful in debunking misperceptions. Moreover, this debunking effect is consistent across countries. Looking at features of fact-checks, we find no indication that it matters whether fact-checks include the political source of the misinformation claim. Comparing fact-checks from independent organizations with those from public broadcasters, we do find, however, that who the fact-checker is matters, especially in combination with trust in this source.enMisinformationFact-checkingMedia and communication studiesWhen are Fact-Checks Effective? An Experimental Study on the Inclusion of the Misinformation Source and the Source of Fact-Checks in 16 European CountriesArticle