Fact-Checking: How to ace it!

poslední aktualizace úterý, 30/01/2024

As we are bombarded by a plethora of information and fake news today, cross-verifying the facts in a piece of writing such as a news article or a speech becomes an imperative asset. Alternatively, This technique is known as ‘Fact-checking.’

In this article, and after talking with Maria Murumaa-Mengel, associate professor of media studies at the University of Tartu in Estonia, we unpack the 10 tips for fact-checking a piece of information as proposed by the Baltic Engagement Centre for Combating Information Disorders.

The 10 fact-checking tips

1.    Do you really want to believe it? Do you like the message? Is our brain the greatest propagandist?

As Maria states, the first step of the fact-checking process is to be critical towards ourselves. What are the preconceptions we already have and which side are we on?

However, as the professor underlines, science needs to be always upfront since it is the one responsible for constructing the common ground (i.e., common sense) and explaining the mechanisms behind the world.

2.    Is it fact-checkable? Or is it someone’s opinion?

This point becomes quite important today, as content creators seem to be more influential than ever before. According to Maria, the best way to understand if a statement constitutes an opinion is to observe the usage of some specific verbs.

The phrases ‘I like’ or ‘I think’ not only help you understand if someone is expressing an opinion but also help you find out their resources. For example, if someone said, ‘Based on the X video from the Z creator, I believe’, you will automatically find out which and where he/she watched the aforementioned clip.

3.    Develop a fine-tuned crap-detector: does it sound “too” weird, good, outrageous, emotion-rushing?

The crap – detector developed by Howard Rheingold teaches us about online crap detection. It ‘puts together intelligence dashboards using online filters from trusted sources.’ Alternatively, it is how we feel towards anything we read or see online; is it too outrageous to be true?

4.    Get to know the journalistic standards: How is the story written? Are there any attention-grabbing phrases, or non-neutral words used? Who is providing the information. Are any perspectives missing from the narrative?

As Maria highlights, there are theories a journalist has to know, such as the public opinion theory or other related ones. However, as she states, usually every country has its own code of conduct and standards. These standards often can shape your expectations towards journalism.

For example, in Estonia, there is a press council which is responsible for overseeing and checking if any code of conduct has been broken. If a behaviour is considered inappropriate, it might proceed to further actions.

5.    Explore different platforms, do not just stick to YouTube, TikTok, or only one website.

© Tim Mossholder/ unsplash

The point here is clear, you have to cross-verify what you see or read. The good news is that you do not have to do it for any new piece of information you receive.

As Maria said: ‘Check what is important to you somehow!’ The important thing is what is alleged with your life, your personal values and your decisions. In addition, it must not be forgotten that social platforms’ algorithms are not perfect, therefore seeing something multiple times does not make it a fact.

6.    Is there something in the news about it (local, regional, national or global)?

Not much to say here, just check the news. Many organisations responsible for publishing the news today remain among the most trusted sources of information. So, always check the local, regional, national and global news sources you trust the most.

7.   Is it a hoax? 
8. Constantly develop ninja-search skills (e.g., Bellingcat, Google Dorking) and knowledge about how platforms and systems work.

Tips 7 and 8 go together. Initially, if something sounds weirdly interesting but there is nothing in the news, we have to check if it is a hoax.

To do that we mainly need basic search skills. For example, you google a piece of information and next to it you write the word ‘hoax.’

Checking if a piece of information is a hoax can be a longer procedure in case you want to use some more specific tools and websites such as Google Fact Check toolbox, snopes.com, poynter.org, factcheck.org.

If you want to go deeper into boosting your knowledge of verifiable methods of ethical digital investigation and understand how platforms and systems work, do not forget to check out Bellingcat’s open-source research and Google Dorking method.

9.    Talk to others! Collective crap-detection, communal correction.

Get knowledge from the people surrounding you, and ask your friends if something concerns you. We do not have to overwhelm the experts. Sometimes, just check the information through each other.

Ask the ones you trust the most for help, make more questions (e.g., Where did you find it?, Who wrote it?) and tell them to help you make sense of it.

10.    What does science say about it? 

As it was stated at the beginning, science needs to be always upfront, it is our trusted partner. Even though the role of science is to argue on different topics, Maria underlines that not everything that looks like science is actually science. Thus, it is quite important to check the validity and the index of every journal presented as a scientific one.
There are some great online tools that can help us find scientific research and papers. Some of them are: Google Scholar, Consensus.app and ResearchGate.

In this article, we analysed the ten tips for fact-checking a piece of information as suggested by the Baltic Engagement Centre for Combating Information Disorders. What stands out is not the number of fact-checking tools we listed; One may like a tool that someone else does not. What is worth remembering from this text is the necessity of putting our logic first when it comes to ‘consuming’ a piece of information.

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Meet the authors

Yiannos Christoforou

Hi, I’m Yiannos and I’m from Cyprus. Currently, I’m a communication trainee at the European Monitoring Centre for Drugs and Drugs Addiction.
As someone who loves marketing, I enjoy dealing with data. In my opinion, writing is the form of an act that demonstrates your ability to illustrate data and create meaningful stories. This is what data journalism does, and that’s why it is one of my favourite forms of journalism. I am here to climb out of my comfort zone and enrich my content creation skills.

This article reflects the views of the authors only. The European Commission cannot be held responsible for it.