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R0050/2026-03-31-02/Q003/H2

Research R0050 — Journalism Disciplines
Run 2026-03-31-02
Query Q003
Hypothesis H2

Statement

The taxonomy has been widely adopted as vocabulary and conceptual lens (in policy, training, academia) but has not been operationalized into structured classification procedures.

Status

Current: Supported

Supporting Evidence

Evidence Summary
SRC02-E01 First Draft used the taxonomy for newsroom training across 37+ newsrooms (Crosscheck project)
SRC03-E01 EU Code of Practice on Disinformation adopted the taxonomy terminology in policy
SRC04-E01 Verification Handbook uses the seven content types as conceptual categories, not decision procedures
SRC01-E01 Original report framed as "framework for research and policymaking," not a classification tool

Contradicting Evidence

Evidence Summary
None directly contradicts H2 H2 is the nuanced middle position

Reasoning

The evidence consistently shows the taxonomy has been adopted as vocabulary (mis/dis/malinformation is now standard terminology) and as a conceptual lens for understanding information disorder. It has been incorporated into EU policy, UNESCO materials, and newsroom training. But no organization has published structured decision procedures for classifying content into the three categories. The gap between adoption-as-vocabulary and adoption-as-tool is the key finding.

Relationship to Other Hypotheses

H2 occupies the middle ground between H1 (fully operationalized) and H3 (not adopted). It is the best-supported hypothesis.