Academic year
2025-26
Is found in:
- International programmes Media, Design and IT
This is a single course unit.
Study load:
4 credits
It is not possible to enrol in this course unit under
- exam contract (to obtain a credit).
- exam contract (to obtain a degree).
Co-ordinator: Frateur Wouter
Languages: English
Scheduled for: Semester 1
This course unit is marked out of 20 (rounded to an integer).
Prerequisites
There are no prerequisites for this course.
Re-sit exam: is possible.
Possibility of deliberation: This course unit is eligible for deliberation according to the criteria as determined by the degree programme you are enrolled in.
Total study time: 104,00 hours
Short description
You fact-check three claims of politicians and public figures. You use online tools, you interview experts who can confirm - or not - the claim you are investigating. The factchecks can be published on the website of international fact-checking project eufactcheck.eu.
Course content
Within the pan-European EUfactcheck project (www.eufactcheck.eu) you perform 3 factchecks. You investigate 3 claims on European themes politicians and other public figures are stating in the (social) media.
In factchecking it is all about finding out whether a claim is true, mostly true, mostly false or false.. And maybe you will find out that a statement can't be checked in full. It remains 'uncheckable'.
You will have to talk to experts who can help you assess the claims, you will read research reports, you will dive into internet to find out if there is material confirming the claim you are investigating. And imagine how proud you will when you find out that a politician is quoting numbers that are really not accurate.
Besides the 3 factchecks, you write 3 blog posts in which you talk about your experiences, reflections and thoughts while you were factchecking.
With the project we want to contribute to a public debate that is based on facts and not on emotions, half truths and lies, as we have seen in the Brexit discussion and still see in the debate on e.g. migration and climate change.
Study material (text): Mandatory
Educational organisation (list)
Evaluation (list)
Evaluation(s) for first exam chance
| Moment | Form | % | Remark |
| 1st examination period | Skills assessment permanently during class weeks (Permanent evaluation) | 100,00 | |
Evaluation(s) for re-sit exam
| Moment | Form | % | Remark |
| 2nd examination period | Project assignment | 100,00 | |
Evaluation (text)
You perform the assignments in Factchecking in a small group of 2-4 students. You will be permanently assessed: your contribution to the fact-checking process (60%) and the final products you present (40%).