Fact-checking across media models: comparative disinformation dynamics in the 2024 European parliament elections

In a context strongly shaped by disinformation, particularly during elections, this article examines Elections24Check, a transnational fact-checking initiative coordinated by the European Fact-Checking Standards Network (EFCSN) during the 2024 European Parliament elections to monitor the spread of disinformation. Drawing on a content analysis of 536 fact-checking publications (N = 536) produced by 32 organizations across 28 European countries and applying a transnational analytical framework, the study highlights the characteristics of disinformation verified by fact-checking organizations, with attention to the media models of the countries in which they operate. The results show that clusters corresponding to more polarized media and political systems made the largest contributions to the project. The main disinformation narrative identified concerned European institutions, while migration and conflict were most prominent in countries within the polarized–pluralist model. The findings also reveal that environmental disinformation was particularly prevalent in countries belonging to the Eastern cluster. Overall, the study advances understanding of how disinformation spreads across Europe and its relationship with media systems, while contributing to research on the role and effectiveness of collaborative fact-checking in electoral contexts and its relevance to the broader process of European integration.