Countering disinformation by training Latino content creators

This is a series on Better News highlighting replicable strategies from the American Press Institute’s 2025 Influencers Learning Cohort, designed to help local and community media deepen engagement with the communities they serve through new experiments with creators and trusted messengers.

This win comes from Olivia Rivarola, product and social media manager, at Factchequeado.

More on creator collaborations:

• API’s guide to influencer collaborations

Factchequeado is a nonpartisan, nonprofit organization that works to close the information gap affecting Latino and Hispanic communities in the United States. We focus on supporting media outlets and grassroots organizations serving Latino communities, including digital content creators who are a key source of information for our target audience. Our research shows that a significant percentage of Latino adults get their news primarily through social media — fertile ground for Spanish-language dis- and misinformation. However, many creators lack the training needed to address this challenge, putting both their credibility and the quality of their content at risk.

Therefore, we designed a culturally relevant modular training, co-created with Latino influencers, to provide practical tools on identifying dis- and misinformation, verifying data and promoting responsible communication. This project aims to empower these creators to inform accurately and protect their voice against possible criticism, ultimately strengthening trust and fostering informed digital communities. For Factchequeado, developing this resource is a key step to expand our mission and support Latino communities in digital environments.

The problem we were looking to solve

The Latino community in the U.S. faces a significant challenge: growing exposure to Spanish-language dis- and misinformation affecting social, political and cultural issues vital for their well-being. Recent data from the Pew Research Center shows that more than 70% of Latinos under 50 prefer to get news on digital devices, including social media, where false news circulation is frequent and often goes unnoticed. Additionally, 77% of Latino influencers lack formal training or affiliation with journalistic organizations, making them vulnerable to unintentionally spreading false information without protection or adequate strategies.

This problem is not only an individual challenge for each creator but a structural issue for the Latino information ecosystem, which requires affordable, accessible and culturally appropriate resources to break the cycle of dis- and misinformation. Our project fits within a strategic line that bets on working with “trusted messengers” who already have established audiences, enhancing the quality of information they share and fostering responsible Spanish-language narratives.

At Factchequeado, we have been working closely with content creators since last year. In 2023, we collaborated on promoting products designed for the 2024 elections, targeting Latino audiences. This year, we saw a 60% increase in social media traffic compared to the previous year; our collaboration with an international news content creator was one of the factors behind this growth.

This initiative is an important step within Factchequeado’s historical work with community journalists and creators in Spanish, aiming to broaden impact through a replicable and scalable training program, responding to the real needs of users.

How we did it

When we set out to create this training, we knew we had to approach media literacy differently. This time, our audience wasn’t beginners or aspiring journalists — they were established content creators with already built and loyal communities, defined personal brands and clear creative workflows. These were professionals with a distinctive tone and style, often tied to the dynamics of virality. And as we know, virality does not always align with verified, accurate content — sometimes, it’s quite the opposite.

That meant we couldn’t simply tell them how they “should” work or try to change their style; instead, we had to design a training that felt accessible, friendly and supportive rather than prescriptive or confrontational. To do this, we identified a shared pain point across creators: they want to inform correctly, but correcting misinformation — or even addressing controversial topics — can lead to “getting canceled,” which is one of their biggest fears.

By centering the training on that pain point, we were able to frame the modules as a tool that helps them protect their credibility and relationships while maintaining their creative voice. The curriculum was built around three steps every creator already follows — planning, recording and publishing — so that the skills would integrate seamlessly into their existing workflow. Our goal was to adapt to their pace, their communities and their concerns, while equipping them with practical, scenario-based strategies to ensure they share accurate, verified information without losing their connection with their audience.

Here are the steps we took:

• Collaborated with a specialized editorial and training team, together with well-known Latino influencers to co-create and validate content

Creating the training took us three months, and involved Factchequeado’s editorial and training experts, influencers like Camila Valero and the social media specialist team from Chequeado. Throughout this period, we iterated on content, pilot tested modules and ensured the training was culturally relevant and aligned with creators’ workflows. Valero contributed both in the initial brainstorming phase — helping shape the tone and structure of the training — and in the final testing stage, where her feedback was key to refining details and making the material more engaging and practical for creators.

• Conducted a needs assessment and review of relevant studies (Pew Research Center, Center for Social Media and Politics NYU 2024).

We mapped knowledge gaps, interviewed creators and reviewed key research to ensure our approach addressed real challenges. This step was critical because it grounded our design in evidence rather than assumptions. One surprising finding was that many creators relied entirely on social media as their primary information source, without established verification methods — highlighting the need for practical, easy-to-use tools. Skipping this would have risked producing irrelevant materials.

• Structured a modular course design with three units covering the entire content creation cycle.
  • Before recording: identifying reliable sources, biases, signals of dis- and misinformation and verification tools
  • During recording: distinguishing facts from opinions, correct attribution and responsible communication
  • After recording: transparent error correction and managing potential negative impacts

• Created visual and practical materials adapted to the logic and pace of creators’ production.

We mapped knowledge gaps through interviews and research, ensuring our design was evidence-based.

• Incorporated real-life examples illustrating risks and solutions.

We included real cases to show how dis- and misinformation can cause tangible harm:

• • A false post on X about a tariff pause triggered a $2.4 trillion market surge that vanished when the White House denied it
  • A viral WhatsApp rumor about police and military raids in Philadelphia caused fear and led residents to skip work and school
  • Fake “deportation letters” sold online mimic official documents, spreading fear and confusion about immigration processes

• Provided final documentation ready for use and future implementation by Factchequeado and partners.

We produced a comprehensive PDF that includes the full course, its justification and all modules in detail. In addition, we created a complete slide presentation — designed both for creators to read independently and for trainers to use when presenting and delivering the course. This dual format ensures the material can be easily adopted for self-learning or facilitated workshops, making replication by partners straightforward.

Examples for how to attribute information in a presentation designed for creators and trainers. (Courtesy of Factchequeado)

Our impact

• We developed a comprehensive, modular course — validated by Latino creators — that tackles their real concerns about dis- and misinformation, approaching the topic from their perspective, not ours as trainers or media professionals. We are currently seeking funding to launch the first cohort, which will lay the foundation for the Latino Content Creators Network, ahead of the 2026 elections where their contribution will be crucial.
• The material strengthened influencers’ ability to identify misleading signals, cite reliable sources and communicate responsibly, reducing the spread of false information.
• The course helps protect creators’ voices from public or legal criticism resulting from the inadvertent dissemination of falsehoods.
• We laid the groundwork for a broader network of informed Spanish-speaking creators and reinforced Factchequeado’s role as a leading actor in improving the Latino information ecosystem in the U.S.
• The project sparked interest among our partners to replicate and adapt the training to other contexts at the local level.

How to put this into practice for yourself

Here are some recommendations for organizations looking to replicate an initiative like this:

• Understand your audience well. Before designing any resource, research the specific needs, doubts and challenges of the creators or messengers you work with.
• Collaborate directly with targeted communities. Invite creators and users to participate from the design phase to achieve an authentic and culturally appropriate product.
• Make content practical and concise. Digital creators value resources that are easy to digest, which they can quickly apply in their daily work.
• Incorporate real and relevant examples. Showing concrete cases helps people understand the impact and facilitates internalizing best practices.
• Use approachable and empathetic language. Not everyone is an expert in journalism or fact-checking, so the tone should be accessible without losing rigor.
• Provide useful digital tools. Offer technological resources that ease verification and quick identification of dis- and misinformation.
• Plan for error correction. Teaching how to rectify dis- and misinformation is not only responsible but also strengthens trust with the audience.