The Week in Fact-Checking: 7 things to consider

The latest news in fact-checking and accountability journalism.

Are you an aspiring fact-checker? Here’s what to consider before you jump in: Learn how misperceptions spread before you get into the business of debunking them; develop a clear and transparent methodology; build a great team of curious generalists with their hearts in the right place. Read the full list on Poynter.org.

Fact-checking in the U.S.

Quote of the week
“…for undecided voters, independent voters, voters willing to be swayed by the facts, non-partisan fact-checking is a real plus. All the fact-checkers can do is do their jobs thoroughly and fairly, throw their findings out there and hope for the best.” — Rem Rieder in USA Today

Tips for better fact-checking
Should journalists even bother trying to disprove a conspiracy theory? For example, the one about the “murder” of U.S. Supreme Court justice Antonin Scalia? An Ohio State professor examines why people believe conspiracies and proposes the idea of “thinking slowly” to combat the nonsense. Read it.

Fact-checking frustration
After examining the back-and-forth on U.S. Supreme Court nominations, the Washington Post’s Fact-Checker gives the whole mess an upside-down Pinocchio and laments that “no wonder Americans so often hate politics.”  Read it.

Fact-checking Hollywood
You might not care if your favorite “based on a true story” movie contains any actual truth. And that’s OK. But just for fun, check out the Washington Post’s color-coded accuracy scale while you’re watching the Oscar awards on Sunday.

Fact-checking around the world

Fact-checker of the week: British media on Brexit
On February 19, European leaders agreed on the renegotiation deal concerning Britain’s role in the EU. Full Fact published a great round-up of legal explainers; predictably its Europe section got more traffic in a couple of days than it had in the previous month.
The Financial Times and Channel 4 got in on the fact-checking action by scrutinizing London mayor Boris Johnson’s reasons for backing the “Leave” vote. (Does the EU really regulate the size of condoms?)

Fact-checking infographic of the week
From El Sabueso on the relationship between oil prices and economic growth in Mexico.

 

Quick fact-checking news
(1)  Attending the International Journalism Festival in Perugia? Don’t miss the fact-checking panel (3) Dogruluk Payi co-founder Ferdi Özsoy is profiled by Hürriet Daily News (4) Pagella Politica experiments with a fact-checking podcast.

The post The Week in Fact-Checking: 7 things to consider appeared first on American Press Institute.

from American Press Institute http://ift.tt/1TI6OQi