Rumours have it that the EJTA project EUfactcheck is definitely going to stop after 26 May 2019. The political debates died down, the EU elections are all over. However, we consider the rumours to be false.
Why would EUfactcheck continue to exist when there are no more election campaigns? That’s the argument behind the gossip and half-truths that could be heard through the grapevine.
We talked to the coordinator of the international fact-checking project, Nadia Vissers of Artesis Plantijn in Antwerp, Belgium. She is very strict in her conclusion: “Of course, we’re going to continue. We still have to decide which form exactly the project will take in the future, with some participants dropping out while new partners might join in. But you’d better keep an eye on us.”
Enthousiastic students and lecturers
Also the current participating Journalism schools show enthusiasm to go on. Elvira van Noort, Utrecht University of Applied Sciences, looks back in satisfaction: “Our students analysed some serious political claims very thoroughly and this resulted in great and interesting stories.”
Similar testimonials can be heard in Finland: “The project’s international dimension gives it an extra attraction”, according to Anne Leppäjärvi from Haaga Helia Helsinki. “Each region has its own way of practicing journalism. It’s not only very interesting to observe the differences and similarities, it’s also fascinating to set this to work.”
Conclusion: because of the above-mentioned plans and intentions, we consider the rumours that EUfactcheck would stop, false.
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