The Role of Advanced Google Tools in Supporting Fact-Checking Journalism Among Arab Journalists: A Field Study

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The Arab media environment has undergone rapid digital transformation, enabling broad information flows while simultaneously expanding the circulation of misinformation and creating growing challenges for journalists and fact-checking practices. This study investigates the role of advanced Google tools in supporting fact-checking journalism among Arab journalists by examining their awareness, patterns of use, and the factors influencing professional adoption. A descriptive-analytical approach was employed within a mixed-method design. Data were collected from 56 Arab journalists through an online questionnaire, complemented by in-depth interviews. The findings indicate a high level of awareness of the importance of advanced Google tools in verification practices: 94.6% of respondents recognized their importance. However, the use of some advanced tools remained limited; for example, only 7.1% reported using Pinpoint. The results also reveal a clear gap between awareness of the value of these tools and the ability to use them effectively. Although 87.5% of respondents reported receiving training related to fact-checking, the findings indicate a continuing need for more specialized and practice-oriented training. Daily work pressures and insufficient specialized training emerged as the main barriers to effective adoption. The study concludes that strengthening Arab journalists’ capacity to counter digital misinformation requires coordinated institutional intervention beyond individual effort. This includes integrating digital verification skills into journalism curricula and establishing sustainable professional development programs that provide practical, continuous training in advanced verification tools and techniques.