FAKE NEWS & FACT CHECK - A STUDY OF PRAJAVANI FACT CHECK DURING

THE MONTH OF MAY 2023

Fake News and Fact Check: A study of Prajavani Fact Check Column during the
Month of May 2023

Shamaprasad H P1, Someshwar R Gurumath2 Chethan M 3

Abstract

In the current situation, the globe has emerged with immense technological solutions and
advancements to enhance the capacity of media. We can divide the media into virtual and
non-virtual oceans. The non-virtual ocean consists of daily newspapers, magazines, novels,
storybooks, and journals. Though the virtual ocean consists of the digital elements of the non-
virtual ocean, it has expanded its powerful reach in the form of social media. If the branch of
social media alone is termed the root of the multi-facilitation communication segment that
consists of Facebook, Instagram, Twitter, and many other platforms, it has given birth to the
new section known as pseudo-news. Here we have undertaken ‘Prajavani," the non-virtual,
physical form of news disseminating print media, to study the ‘fact-check’ segment. May
2023 is considered the democratic battle and legislative settlement period for Karnataka due
to the assembly elections. The timeframe has given rise to socio-economic and sociocultural
impacts on the larger population. Many studies have proven and nations have witnessed the
impacts of fake news. The dimension of research goes with what kind of news subjects the
‘‘fact-checks" of Prajavani were conducted with a qualitative approach of secondary data
consisting of a period of one month. It is important to understand that the unavoidable
responsibility for factual dissemination rests on the shoulders of authentic media
representatives. Whether it’s political, social, economic, civic, law-justice, celebrity,
communal, or sports, the genre of news that is most considered for "fact-checking" can be the
most impactful one for society.

Key Words: Virtual oceans, non-virtual oceans, pseudo-news fact-check, information

*Post-Graduation Student, Dept. of PG Studies and Research in Journalism & Mass

Communication, SDM PG Centre, Ujire1, 2,

*Assistant Professor , Dept Of Physics, Jain University, Banglore 3

 FAKE NEWS & FACT CHECK - A STUDY OF PRAJAVANI FACT CHECK DURING
THE MONTH OF MAY 2023

Introduction

Fact-checking is the process of systematically verifying the accuracy and truthfulness of

claims, statements, or information presented in news articles, speeches, social media posts, or
other sources of information. It involves conducting thorough research, investigating
evidence, and cross-referencing reliable sources to assess the veracity of the information
being analyzed. Fact-checking organizations and professionals play a crucial role in assessing
the accuracy of information, debunking misinformation, and promoting informed decision-
making. Their work helps counter the spread of fake news, fosters media literacy, and
upholds the integrity of reliable information sources.

In the current scenario, fact-checking plays a crucial role in combating the spread of
misinformation and fake news. Here are some key reasons why fact-checking is important:
 Ensuring accuracy and credibility: Fact-checking helps verify the accuracy of
claims, statements, and news articles. It involves rigorous investigation,
analysis of evidence, and cross-referencing reliable sources. By debunking
false information, fact-checking ensures that accurate and trustworthy
information reaches the public, promoting informed decision-making.
 Countering the spread of misinformation: Fake news spreads rapidly,
particularly on social media platforms, where misinformation can reach a wide
audience within minutes. Fact-checking acts as a vital antidote to this
phenomenon by promptly identifying and debunking false or misleading
claims. By providing accurate information and correcting falsehoods, fact-
checkers help prevent the rapid dissemination of misinformation.
 Preserving public trust: Trust in media and institutions is essential for a
functioning democracy. Misinformation erodes this trust by distorting public
perception and sowing confusion. Fact-checking serves as a defense
mechanism against the erosion of trust by holding accountable those who
propagate false information. By providing evidence-based assessments, fact-
checkers help restore trust and reinforce the credibility of reliable news
sources.
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THE MONTH OF MAY 2023

 Promoting critical thinking and media literacy: Fact-checking encourages

individuals to question information, develop critical thinking skills, and
evaluate sources critically. It raises awareness about the prevalence of
misinformation, equipping people with the tools to distinguish between
reliable and unreliable information. By promoting media literacy, fact-
checking empowers individuals to make well-informed decisions and reduces
their susceptibility to manipulation.
 Combating the negative impact on society: Misinformation can have far-
reaching consequences, including social divisions, public health risks, and
electoral interference. Fact-checking helps combat these negative impacts by
providing accurate information and countering false narratives. By addressing
misinformation, fact-checking contributes to a more cohesive and informed
society.
 Encouraging accountability and responsible journalism: Fact-checking holds
public figures, politicians, and media organizations accountable for their
claims and statements. It discourages the spread of falsehoods and encourages
responsible journalism. By highlighting inaccuracies and distortions, fact-
checking fosters a culture of transparency, accuracy, and integrity in the media
landscape.

Methods and Tools to Assess the Accuracy of Claims

 Sourcing and corroboration: Fact-checkers search for credible and reliable

sources that can provide evidence or information relevant to the claim being
examined. They cross-refer multiple sources to ensure consistency and verify
the accuracy of the information.
 Expert interviews: Fact-checkers may consult subject-matter experts or
specialists in the field to obtain their insights and verify the accuracy of
specific claims. These experts can provide valuable context and expertise to
assess the veracity of the information being fact-checked.
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 Data analysis and research: Fact-checkers often use data analysis and research
techniques to examine statistical claims or evaluate the reliability of data
sources. They may analyze official records, studies, surveys, or other relevant
data to verify the accuracy of the information presented.
 Contextual analysis: Fact-checkers consider the broader context surrounding a
claim to assess its accuracy. This includes examining the motivations of the
source, any potential biases, and the historical or social context in which the
claim is made. Understanding the context is crucial for providing an accurate
assessment of the claim's veracity.
 Transparency and accountability: Fact-checkers provide clear and detailed
explanations of their methodology and sources. They strive to be transparent
about their processes, enabling readers to understand how they arrived at their
conclusions. They also take responsibility for any errors and make corrections
when necessary.

The proliferation of fake news in today's digital age has become a pressing concern, posing
significant challenges to individuals, societies, and democratic processes. This research paper
aims to provide a comprehensive investigation into the phenomenon of fake news, exploring
its origins, characteristics, impact, and the most essential aspect that got emphasized during
the month of May 2023.

The study begins by examining the fact check column of Prajavani Newspaper, tracing its
roots from traditional media to the digital landscape. It delves into the motivations and
techniques employed by purveyors of fake news, including the exploitation of cognitive
biases, manipulation of emotions, and utilization of sophisticated disinformation campaigns
that were mentioned by the organization while providing the fact check. It investigates the
role of fake news in shaping electoral outcomes, undermining trust in institutions, and
fostering societal divisions. Additionally, it explores the psychological effects of exposure to
fake news, such as the formation of false beliefs and the erosion of critical thinking skills.

Objectives of the Research

1. To find out the actual issues and subjects on which the fact check column of Prajavani
newspaper was relying during the time of election. I.e. May 2023.
 FAKE NEWS & FACT CHECK - A STUDY OF PRAJAVANI FACT CHECK DURING
THE MONTH OF MAY 2023

2. To ascertain the number of fact checks published by “Prajavani”, and the sources it relies
upon

3. To understand the various dimensions of impact it produces during the election period

Fact Check – Modern Combating tool against the fake news.

It is always said that one may require a strong tool to fight against disastrous forces. Why do
they exist? How have they infiltrated the system? What remedies can be used to overcome
the hazards that are created by them? These are some of the important questions that arise
during the fact check. Fake news and misinformation are menaces to the public sphere,
democracy, and society, with sometimes irreversible consequences. Evangelos Lamprou,
Nikos Antonopoulos, Iouliani Anomeritou, and Chrysoula Apostolou mention in their
research, "Characteristics of Fake News and Misinformation in Greece: The Rise of New
Crowdsourcing-Based Journalistic Fact-Checking Models," published on July 13, 2021, that
Journalists in the new era seem not to be able or willing to play their traditional role of
gatekeeper, and social media have made the problem even more intense. The need for truth is
unavoidable in modern democracies. That’s why another study by Bettina Berendt, Peter
Burger, Rafael Hautekiet, Jan Jagers, Alexander Pleijter, and Peter Van Aelst, published on
November 11, 2020, says Fact-checking has always been a central task of journalism, but
given the ever-growing amount and speed of news offline and online, as well as the growing
amounts of misinformation and disinformation, it is becoming increasingly important to
support human fact-checkers with (semi-)automated methods to make their work more
efficient. Within fact-checking, the detection of check-worthy claims is a crucial initial step
since it limits the number of claims that require or deserve to be checked for their
truthfulness.

Social media and user-generated content (UGC) have become increasingly important features
of journalistic work in several different ways. However, the growth of misinformation means
that news organizations have had to devote more and more resources to determining its
veracity and publishing corrections if it is found to be misleading. People in the sphere of
journalism should take it as a challenge, as suggested by the study that got published on July
6, 2023, by Rob Procter, Miguel Arana-Catania, Yulan He, Maria Liakata, Arkaitz Zubiaga,
Elena Kochkina, and Runcong Zhao. Some Observations on Fact-Checking Work with
 FAKE NEWS & FACT CHECK - A STUDY OF PRAJAVANI FACT CHECK DURING
THE MONTH OF MAY 2023

Implications for Computational Support. Through which one can consider it as the modern
combating tool to fight against the pseudo news.

Data Analysis
1. The number of days the column was published out of 31 in May 2023.

Days of Publised

Not Publised ; 12; 39%

Publised ; 19; 61%

Publised Not Publised

● , The column was published only in 19 days out of 31 in May 2023 indicating its
inconsistency.
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THE MONTH OF MAY 2023

2 Fact checks were done by external sources

Fact Check Source

Opinion ; 1; 5%

Not Mentioned ; 1; 5%
The Quint India ; 2; 11%

Logical India ; 9; 47%

Alt News ; 6; 32%

The Quint India Logical India Alt News Not Mentioned Opinion

● 17 of the 19 fact checks were done by external sources, indicating that they were not
done by Prajavani.
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THE MONTH OF MAY 2023

3. Fact Checked Attribution

Fact Check Related On

Civic Issue ; 2; 11% Others ; 1; 5%

Political ; 2; 11%

Religious ; 14; 74%

Religious Political Civic Issue Others

● 14 of the 19 fact checks attributed to religious concerns, two each concerned to civic
and politics issues,. 1 to others
4. Fake News Report

Fake news From

Websites ; 1; 5%

Social Media ; 18; 95%

Websites Social Media

● There are 18 fake news reports on social media and one on websites.
 FAKE NEWS & FACT CHECK - A STUDY OF PRAJAVANI FACT CHECK DURING
THE MONTH OF MAY 2023

Findings from the fact check

As the graphical representation mentions, one can observe in Fig. 1 that around 39% of the
data analysis was missing during the month of May. Nearly 61% of the reports of fact checks
were published within 19 days. And most of these fact checks were derived from sources
such as "The Quint India", ‘The Logical Indian’, and ‘Alt News’. And some others did not
have any proper sources. Fig. 2 mentions clearly the percentage share of these sources.
Around 47% of the dependent source of Prajavani newspaper goes to the Logical Indian.
Most of these fact checks focused on religious concerns (Fig. 3). A total of 74% of the share
goes to religious issues during the month. Followed by political issues at 11%, Civic issues at
11%, and the others at 5%. And at last, surprisingly, 18 fake news stories out of 19 were
reported on social media. Only one was disseminated through websites.
In Karnataka during the month of May we all have observed ‘state elections’. The election
month had played vital role in impacting the life, decision, cognitive behavior and systems of
the people. Through the above data we can analyze that the issues on which the Prajavani fact
check column had focused more were the one, which might’ve proliferated highly with the
intention of misleading masses. Since politics is the major aspect in democratic setup to build
healthy government and exchange systems with regards to the decision of voters, the fake
news can play a major role in impacting the decisions of people. When we derive that most of
it was related to the religious issues by the above chart, we can say that religious matters are
highly sensitive and impactful in nature. Therefore, one can always look forward to
emphasize more upon this segment to guide the public. Secondly the promotion of political
thoughts, ideas, manifesto’s and their ethical oppositions to the other orientation might help
in certain cases to identify the fake news. Moreover, the people will be very conscious in
these months, they read, watch more news as well as at least they try to analyze their
constituencies behavioral patterns.
Suggestions and Limitations.
Limitations:
1. Our study was focused mainly upon one major Kannada newspaper. If we had collected
from multiple newspapers and magazines, the aspects of fact-checking content and genre
would be diverse in nature.
2. It is very challenging to start regional fact-checking corporate in an individual newspaper
house. Even Prajavani was dependent on major fact-checking firms, and the authenticity of
these firms is still a question mark in certain cases.
3. Majorly, our study was streamlined to one month of the newspaper. If this was extended to
a minimum of three months, the study could have given a more authentic picture.

Suggestions
Some key avenues of research that can enhance fact-checking methodologies, address
emerging challenges, and improve the overall effectiveness of fact-checking initiatives.

1. Automated Fact-Checking Systems: One significant area for future research

improvement lies in developing and refining automated fact-checking systems. While
FAKE NEWS & FACT CHECK - A STUDY OF PRAJAVANI FACT CHECK DURING
THE MONTH OF MAY 2023

significant progress has been made in this field, there is still ample room for
improvement. Enhancements could include the development of more accurate natural
language processing algorithms, the incorporation of machine learning techniques for
real-time fact-checking, and the creation of comprehensive databases that facilitate
the automated verification of claims. Exploring ways to increase the efficiency and
accuracy of automated fact-checking systems will revolutionize the way
misinformation is identified and debunked.
2. Cognitive and Psychological Factors: Understanding the cognitive and psychological
factors that contribute to the spread and acceptance of misinformation is crucial for
effective fact-checking. Future research should focus on investigating the underlying
mechanisms that influence people's susceptibility to misinformation, such as
confirmation bias, cognitive dissonance, and the impact of emotions. By gaining a
deeper understanding of these factors, fact-checkers can tailor their approaches and
messaging to counteract cognitive biases and increase the impact of their
interventions.
3. Misinformation in Visual and Audio Formats: The rise of deep fakes and other
manipulated visual and audio content presents a significant challenge for fact-
checkers. Future research should prioritize the development of advanced techniques
for detecting and debunking misinformation in visual and audio formats. This could
involve exploring new methods of analyzing video and audio data, such as computer
vision and voice recognition technologies, as well as studying the cognitive and
psychological factors that contribute to the effectiveness of manipulated media.
4. Evaluating Fact-Checking Impact: Measuring the impact of fact-checking efforts is
essential to gauge their effectiveness and inform future strategies. Future research
should focus on developing standardized methodologies for evaluating the impact of
fact-checking interventions, both at the individual and societal levels. This could
involve conducting longitudinal studies to assess the long-term effects of fact-
checking on individuals' information consumption habits, political attitudes, and
behavior. Additionally, exploring innovative ways to present fact-checks to maximize
their persuasive impact is a promising area for future research.
5. Collaborative Fact-Checking and Information Ecosystems: Building collaborative
fact-checking networks and strengthening the overall information ecosystem is crucial
in the fight against misinformation. Future research should explore the dynamics and
effectiveness of collaborative fact-checking initiatives, including the role of
technology platforms, journalists, researchers, and the public. Additionally, studying
the impact of media literacy programs and interventions aimed at improving critical
thinking skills can enhance the overall resilience of individuals against
misinformation.

Conclusion - As misinformation continues to pose a significant threat to public

discourse and societal well-being, research advancements in the field of fact-checking
are imperative. By prioritizing areas such as automated fact-checking systems,
cognitive and psychological factors, and visual and audio misinformation, impact
evaluation, and collaborative fact-checking initiatives, researchers can pave the way
for more effective strategies to combat misinformation. Here, the selected daily,
"Prajavani," has made some measures to combat such fake news to the best of its
ability. In addition to praising the paper's efforts, our paper advises a person to gain
more knowledge in order to become more conscious of his immediate surroundings.
 FAKE NEWS & FACT CHECK - A STUDY OF PRAJAVANI FACT CHECK DURING
THE MONTH OF MAY 2023

By embracing these future research improvements, we can build a more resilient and
fact-based society.

End Notes:

Prajavani – It is a Kannada-language daily newspaper published in Karnataka, India. It is one

of the leading newspapers in the state and has a wide readership. Prajavani, which translates
to "Voice of the People" in English, covers a range of topics including politics, current
affairs, sports, entertainment, and more. It was first published in 1948 and has since become a
trusted source of news and information for the Kannada-speaking population in Karnataka
and beyond.

The Quint India"- The Quint is an English-language digital media platform based in India. It
was founded in 2014 and covers a wide range of topics including news, politics, sports,
entertainment, culture, and social issues. The Quint aims to provide unbiased and
comprehensive news coverage, analysis, and opinion pieces.
Alt News is an Indian fact-checking website and news organization that focuses on
debunking misinformation and false narratives in the Indian media landscape. It was founded
in 2017 by Pratik Sinha, an engineer and entrepreneur, with the aim of countering the spread
of fake news and promoting accurate reporting.

The Logical Indian is an Indian digital media platform that focuses on news, opinions, and
social issues. It was founded in 2013 by Abhishek Mishra, a software engineer, and Anurag
Mishra, an entrepreneur. The platform aims to provide a platform for citizen journalism and
raise awareness about critical social, political, and environmental issues.

Automated fact-checking systems - Automated fact-checking systems are software tools or

algorithms designed to assess the accuracy and veracity of claims, statements, or information.
These systems use various techniques, such as natural language processing (NLP), machine
learning, and data analysis, to analyze and verify the factual accuracy of content.
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THE MONTH OF MAY 2023

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