Fact check is an investigative process to confirm the accuracy of information. It’s a critical skill for journalists and takes on new urgency for law enforcement, humanitarian workers and others who deal with user generated content and social media.
The goal of fact-checking is to restore truth and accuracy in a world where misinformation and falsehoods have spread quickly. This type of journalism can be done by individuals or in groups, and can take many forms — from a quick troll to a deeper investigation involving open-source intelligence tools like image geolocation and verification.
One of the first things to look for when fact-checking is whether a piece of information is objective or subjective. Objective statements convey factual information that can be validated or debunked; they’re the “gold standard” of reporting. Subjective statements, on the other hand, convey opinions, judgments, values, preferences, and biases — even if they involve facts.
Some factors to consider when checking a story are the source of the information, how old the information is, and whether it has been verified by other sources. Another is to find out if the information has been manipulated in any way, for example with editing software or by using Google’s reverse image search.
The best way to ensure that information is unbiased is to verify any claims with primary sources. That means contacting experts or eyewitnesses and asking them for documentation; seeking out the original documents, interviews, or recordings; and searching reputable academic databases that don’t appear on the web.