The truth is still worth fighting for
A preference for truth is a universal human value. People have an innate desire for truth and dislike of liars. All the world’s religions urge truthfulness: We are told we shall not bear false witness, the truth shall set us free, truthfulness leads to righteousness, and truth alone triumphs.
For years now, we’ve witnessed societal shifts that threaten the foundation of informed self-government. Democracies seem less stable. There’s widespread disillusionment with civic life and frustration with government. Social media, rather than connecting us, contribute to a culture of division and distraction. Political propaganda and divisive attacks are common in countries as varied as Brazil, the United States, the Philippines, Serbia, South Korea, and Georgia. Our politics is no longer a conversation among citizens with different opinions, but a contested battle between enemies seeking total victory.
This week, fact-checking journalists from around the world converge in Rio de Janeiro for GlobalFact 2025, our annual conference. We arrive at a moment that is deeply challenging for all of us who care about truth, reasoned argument, and intellectual integrity.
Related Knowledge Center: Fact-checking and its detractors
Fact-checking has become a familiar tool for political reporters to hold office-holders and candidates accountable. But critics ask if fact-checkers sometimes miss the forest for the trees, and if the practice often struggles with false equivalency the way conventional political coverage does.