How to check if a story or a fact is true?
Target group: Amateur writers/Bloggers
There are many news, information and stories flying around on the internet. Some are true, some are not and some are in the middle - not totally wrong and not totally correct.
With this easy steps you can identify false information and avoid to make certain mistakes if you write an article yourself.
Step 1: Look at the time stamp
- When was the information or an article published?
- When and where was a statement made?
- Are there several independent primary sources providing the same information at this time?
Step 2: Is there consistency?
- Is the story logical and content consistent throughout the article?
- Does the headline fit to the story?
- Are there any correction? Has the story been modified since first publication?
Step 3: Is the source itself trustworthy?
- Is the media outlet known to be serious? (Is it a satirical journal or is the outlet known for fake news?)
- Does an article fit to the authors previous style of writing? What else has she/he published? Might he be biased?
- Who is the primary source (references): Is the person an eyewitness, expert, politician, scholar, etc.? Was the information published by an institution, like the government, a NGO, IO or a company?
- What is the motivation to publish something? Who is behind the person/organization? Who gives the money?
Step 4: Methods used by the source
- Is it clear how the author got the information?
- Are there any kinds of data used? How were the information collected? See: http://www.statisticshowto.com/data-collection-methods/
- How has the information been processed?
- What kind of limitations could be there?
After the verification of sources there are still traps that could make you to appear not trustworthy.
Step 5: Is there any important information missing?
- Are all sides represented?
- Can you talk to any (reliable) experts to get more information about the topic and make your article more credible? → expert database (www.etis.ee)
Step 6: Take a step back
Ask yourself what is my bias? Is there anything I have not considered yet because of my bias?
Step 7: Publish
- Is my article easy to understand?
- Do I have references? Is everything transparent?
Step 8: Engage with your readers!
To check pictures or videos that might be an useful tool for you: Visual verification guide
Use fact-check websites:Database