{"id":16157,"date":"2020-09-14T10:22:35","date_gmt":"2020-09-14T10:22:35","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/factcheckni.org\/?p=16157"},"modified":"2022-03-02T13:50:28","modified_gmt":"2022-03-02T13:50:28","slug":"factcheckni-awarded-funding-by-joseph-rowntree-charitable-trust","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/factcheckni.org\/articles\/news\/factcheckni-awarded-funding-by-joseph-rowntree-charitable-trust\/","title":{"rendered":"FactCheckNI awarded funding by Joseph Rowntree Charitable Trust"},"content":{"rendered":"\n

14 September 2020<\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n

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FactCheckNI, Northern Ireland\u2019s first and only dedicated fact-checking service, has been awarded funding by the Joseph Rowntree Charitable Trust to conduct our work entitled \u201cEmpowering People Through Facts\u201d. The Joseph Rowntree Charitable Trust (JRCT) aims to fund work which will contribute to the ongoing transformation of the Northern Ireland conflict.<\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n

The core aims of FactCheckNI resonate with JRCT\u2019s priorities, namely that by supporting a public discourse which is based in a commitment to non-partisan, non-sectarian and accurate information, in tandem with emphasising the need for individual engagement and participation in political, social and economic debates.<\/span><\/p>\n\n\n\n

The proliferation of what has been termed \u201cfake news\u201d, particularly on social media platforms, has in effect eroded trust in reliable sources of information. It risks undermining public confidence and further reducing participation, distancing those most in need of engaging with public and policy discourses on issues impacting them, effectively placing another hurdle between people and accurate information. In this period of the COVID-19 pandemic, misinformation can prove to be a life and death issue. In Northern Ireland, it also is a source of inter-community tension. FactCheckNI\u2019s \u201cEmpowering People Through Facts\u201d will:<\/span><\/p>\n\n\n\n