Fact check is the process of evaluating claims in a story for accuracy and reliability. It’s a critical part of journalism and can be done at the beginning of a piece, when it is easier to spot errors, or after a story has been published and is more difficult to fix.
Fact checking involves reading a story line-by-line and comparing each statement to its source. This may involve calling sources, consulting public data and authenticating photos or videos. It’s a time-consuming and labor-intensive process, but it can help readers make informed decisions and feel confident that the information they’re reading is accurate.
To facilitate the process, it’s important that you keep a research package (including all your back-up material) throughout reporting and writing. This way, your fact checker can see all of the sources you used in a clear and organized way.
The research package should include the name and contact information for each of your sources, a copy of any documents you provided them with, and any notes or transcripts of conversations with them. It should also be clear which sources you chose to reach out to and which ones you decided not to include in your story.
It’s important to note that while previous studies have shown that some automated fact-checking tools are effective at detecting misinformation, many of these studies were based on small samples and manual processes, which can lead to inconsistent assessments of accuracy. In order to improve these tools, more research needs to be conducted that evaluates them using a wider range of methodologies.