Professionalization of Fact-Checking and Its Constraints in a Non-Democratic Context: The Case of Hong Kong

A global fact-checking movement has emerged over the past decade in response to the rise of misinformation and disinformation. The movement was characterized by a remarkable trend toward professionalization, signified most importantly by the establishment of commonly accepted normative standards. While researchers have explored organizational and regional variations within the field, few have examined the development of fact-checking in non-Western, non-democratic societies through the perspective of professionalization. This study focuses on Hong Kong, where professional fact-checking has developed amidst societal autocratization. Through a review of five major fact-checking agencies’ websites, content analysis, and in-depth interviews with practitioners, this study analyzes the extent to which they adhered to internationally established principles of operation and practice. It then highlights how resource constraints, value dissension, and the political environment influenced the professionalization process. The findings enhance our understanding of the diverse experiences and challenges of fact-checking as international standards meet local (non-democratic) contexts.