Kari Suomalainen

I am a Doctoral Researcher in Communication Sciences, working in the Disinformation, Propaganda & Soft Power Research Lab (DPS-Lab: https://www.lut.fi/en/research-groups/disinformation-propaganda-soft-po…). My research interests include fact-checking, news, propaganda and disinformation. I am especially interested in fact-checking as a method for counteracting disinformation, cultivating trust for news organisations and fostering a healthier media environment for political dialogue. My current work explores themes such as the epistemology of fact-checking, the legitimacy of news organisations, and the detection and analysis of propaganda.

I have previously studied sociology in the University of Jyväskylä, and my Master's thesis focused on social media and social capital. My research skills include both qualitative and quantitative methodology. My wider interests include different forms of communication and their sociological and political implications.

Recent Publications:

Suomalainen, K., Nykänen, N., Seeck, H., Kim, Y., & McPherson, E. (2025). Fact-Checking in Journalism: An Epistemological Framework. Journalism Studies, 1–21. https://doi.org/10.1080/1461670X.2025.2492729.

Conference Papers:

Suomalainen, K., Seeck, H. & Nykänen N. (2025). Frames of Legitimacy in Fact-Checking: A Comparative Study of Global and National News Organisations in Southeast Asia. Association of Southeast Asian Studies 2025 Conference in Cambridge.

Suomalainen K., Nykänen, N., Seeck, H. & Rantasila, A. (2024).New Perspectives on Fact-Checking in European News Agencies: Towards an Integrative Model of the Fact-Checking Process. 74th Annual International Communication Association Conference.