Browsing by Author "Van Wyk, Annamarie"

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    Fact-checking in the Global South: Facts about non-profit journalism funding models – a case study
    (Stellenbosch : Stellenbosch University, 2017-03) Van Wyk, Annamarie; Rabe, Lizette; Stellenbosch University. Faculty of Arts and Social Sciences. Dept. of Journalism.
    ENGLISH ABSTRACT: Over the past two decades, fact-checking has grown from an in-house media function to 96 dedicated fact-checking organisations in 37 countries. Three of these organisations, located in the Global South and operating as non-profit organisations, were investigated as a case study for this research project: Africa Check (working from South Africa and Senegal), Chequeado in Argentina, and India’s FactChecker. The goals of this study were to establish how the three organisations are funded, and how the ideals encompassed by social responsibility theory guide their funding aspirations. Data was collected through semi-structured interviews with each fact-checking organisation’s founder/executive director, content analysis of relevant pages on the organisations’ websites, documents such as annual reports and budget, as well as media interviews with the founders/executive directors. What emerged is that all three organisations rely on philanthropic grants for most of their income, but in varying degrees, with Africa Check being the most reliant of the three on such funding, and Chequeado the least, as it has the most diverse revenue streams. As for the study’s second goal, the research showed that four of the functions social responsibility theory requires the media to carry out guide the funding aspirations of the three fact-checking organisations studied. These are to supply public affairs information and further debate on these matters, enlighten society, keep watch against government abuses, and ensure financial sustainability to avoid undue pressure from strong supporters. As guided by social responsibility theory the other two functions – to supply advertising and entertainment – are disregarded by the three fact-checking organisations.