Fact-checkers start by sorting through and assessing the reporters’ research packages. They may also contact interview subjects to ask clarifying questions.
The top reader then has a list of follow-ups that they send to the reporter and handling editor (or save in their fact checking folder). These are often minor clarifications or distinctions such as distinguishing between correlation and causation.
1. Read the Story
The fact-checking process can vary from one publication to the next, but in general most start by reading the story and identifying its facts. Some fact-checkers use a simple color-coding system (as seen below) or a pen and highlighter to mark every fact in the story; others prefer more complex methods, like printing out the entire story and underlining each fact with different colored pens. The goal is to be consistent and make sure that all facts are marked in a way that will be easily cross-referenced in the future.
Ideally, the story will be delivered to the fact-checker when it’s as close to finished as possible–as soon as the journalist has completed editing and before copy-editing starts. In this ideal situation, the journalist will also provide annotations and back-up materials, such as interview recordings or transcripts, contact information for sources, and academic articles or reports. These can be provided via email, file-sharing services such as Dropbox, or in person.
It’s important to note that at this stage, the fact-checker is still working under the assumption that the source they’ve been given is authoritative and that all quotes from that source will be included in the story. However, some facts will be difficult or impossible to verify–perhaps the second party in a debate has vehemently refused to speak with journalists or the rare book needed to verify an assertion is currently on loan at a library. In these cases, the fact checker will have to find other ways of corroboration, while remaining transparent with readers about what they’re unable to verify.
After reading the story, the fact-checker will look for each source mentioned in the article and contact them as necessary. The fact-checker should ask each source about everything they were originally interviewed about, as well as any additional details that were not included in the original article. This step is important because it helps to ensure that the reader’s experience with the story is as accurate as possible.
The fact-checker will also read any other materials that are cited in the article, such as academic articles or reports and social media posts. When checking these, the fact-checker should pay particular attention to the style and tone of the writing, as well as spelling and grammatical errors.
2. Check the Sources
When reading online, look at the source of a claim. Does it come from a reputable news site? What is the website’s agenda? Some sites present research findings as ‘facts’ that may be false. For example, the report published in 1998 in The Lancet that suggested vaccinations caused autism has been retracted and found to be inaccurate.
There are many fact-checking websites and resources. Some of their tools include the Truth or Fiction tool which verifies the credibility of a news story. Another useful tool is a browser extension which analyzes a web page and ranks it according to its reputation for producing credible news. It classifies web pages as Fake, Satire, Extreme Bias, Clickbait, Junk Science, State News, Hate News and Proceed with Caution.
Discrepancies in ratings between the two sites may be due to differing priorities or methods. Other factors that can affect the accuracy of a fact-checking article include the time when it was written and when it was rated. For a comprehensive evaluation of news credibility, consider exploring this website. It is a news website, where news blossoms and ensures that the information you encounter is reliable.
3. Check the Quotes
Often, a fake news story will contain quotes from an authority that can be checked. These may be people such as politicians, doctors or scientists, or they may be attributed to a particular book or website. If you can track down a quote from a reliable source that corroborates the details of a claim, then you have evidence to support it. If you find a quote in context, it can also be helpful to see how it relates to the overall piece.
Ideally, when you are fact-checking a claim, you will be able to conduct interviews and get quotes directly from the source yourself. However, that isn’t always possible. So, what should you do when you can’t check with the person who made the claim? Look for information that comes from official sources such as verified social media accounts, company websites or news teams, and press releases from universities and libraries.
There are many tools for checking the facts, including search engines, wikis, and blogs. While these can be helpful, it is crucial to remember that the internet is a wild west when it comes to misinformation and false claims. Be skeptical of anything that sounds too good to be true, is unusual or wildly reactionary – these are red flags for fake news.
4. Check the Format
While not as important as the actual content of a news story, how a story is presented can make it more or less trustworthy. The goal of a journalist is to present factual information in an objective, straightforward manner. A well-written news article will have all of the relevant details and facts that are needed for readers to understand what is happening. It will also be free of any personal opinions or biases.
When reading a news story, look for a clear title that explains what is being covered. The headline should be followed by a short summary of the topic that is being discussed. This will help to quickly identify the main points of the article and will allow readers to decide if it is something they want to read more about or not.
Then, scroll down to the bottom of the article and check the sources cited. These should be reputable and well-known sources that can be used to verify any claims that are made in the article. If the article is based on a study or survey, be sure to check the date of publication and whether the information has been updated or replaced since that time. This will ensure that the reader is getting the most recent and accurate information.
Finally, look for a byline or name of the author to determine who is responsible for the article. This will give the reader a sense of credibility and if they know who to contact if they have any further questions about the topic.
While professional news organizations have the benefit of a staff of dedicated fact-checkers, anyone can do their part to help verify the accuracy of a news article. By following these simple tips, it is easy to spot false or misleading information in a news story. And by doing a bit of due diligence, you can be better informed when it comes to what is happening in our world. Good luck!