To read this content please select one of the options below:

How Hispanic digital native media combat disinformation? Analysis of their ethical codes

María-Ángeles Chaparro-Domínguez (Department of Journalism and Global Communication, Complutense University of Madrid, Madrid, Spain)
Victoria Moreno-Gil (Department of Communication and Media Studies, University Carlos III of Madrid, Madrid, Spain)
Ruth Rodríguez-Martínez (Department of Communication, Pompeu Fabra University, Barcelona, Spain)

Journal of Information, Communication and Ethics in Society

ISSN: 1477-996X

Article publication date: 20 August 2024

Issue publication date: 22 November 2024

45

Abstract

Purpose

Given the considerable challenges posed by disinformation to both society and journalism, how do news media outlets in Hispanic America and Spain address this pervasive global phenomenon? The purpose of this study is to evaluate the extent to which these outlets embrace recommendations from academic, professional and institutional spheres for countering false contents.

Design/methodology/approach

A qualitative content analysis was used using variables linked to transparency, verification and potential errors incurred. This study comprehensively analyses the ethical codes of 34 digital native outlets spanning 12 Hispanic American countries (Bolivia, Chile, Colombia, Cuba, Ecuador, Guatemala, Honduras, Mexico, Paraguay, Peru, Uruguay and Venezuela), as well as Spain.

Findings

The key findings reveal significant variations in adherence to the recommended guidelines. Particularly striking is the disparity between compliance with transparency and verification compared to notably higher adherence to measure aimed at rectifying errors. This exploratory study paves the way for further research on additional countries.

Originality/value

Ethical codes are a fundamental instrument of media accountability. Nevertheless, their utility in the fight against misinformation has barely been addressed. This study is pioneering in the field of disinformation and ethical codes within digital native media outlets in Hispanic America and Spain.

Keywords

Acknowledgements

Funding: This study is part of a research project FACCTMedia. Accountability tools in the face of misinformation: Impact of fact-checking platforms as accountability tools and curriculum proposal, funded by Ministry of Science and Innovation of Spain (PID2019-106367GB-I00/AEI/10.13039/501100011033).

Citation

Chaparro-Domínguez, M.-Á., Moreno-Gil, V. and Rodríguez-Martínez, R. (2024), "How Hispanic digital native media combat disinformation? Analysis of their ethical codes", Journal of Information, Communication and Ethics in Society, Vol. 22 No. 4, pp. 373-391. https://doi.org/10.1108/JICES-03-2024-0034

Publisher

:

Emerald Publishing Limited

Copyright © 2024, Emerald Publishing Limited

Related articles