1. Fact Checking for Independent Journalists Presented by Librarians of Radical Reference www.radicalreference.info February 2005

2. “A little skepticism...is much to be desired, but if it is fed over and over again with a diet of misinformation, it eventually becomes cynicism, which is a different thing entirely. Then we are turned off. Then we cease to listen to each other at all, and so the journalist is in danger of becoming extinct—or being ignored, which amounts to the same thing.” Sarah Lippincott, former head of fact-checking at The New Yorker

3. 3 The fact-checking process Research tools for you and the fact- checker Radical Reference and integrating us into your fact-checking process overview

4. 4 why fact check? Someone other than the reporter filing the story verifies all factual material prior to publication so that: The work can’t be dismissed as propaganda or rumor Legal risks associated with printing inaccuracies can be avoided An even more interesting story might be discovered Sources are kept happy Embarrassment—or worse—can be avoided

5. 5 the fact checker will Determine and highlight all facts in a story Go beyond spelling and dates—look for causal links, attributions, reporter assumptions, facts contained within quotes, and memories Evaluate sources used by the reporter Confirm everything, using multiple sources for controversial facts

6. 6 before meeting with your fact-checker Organize sources used to write the story –Contact info for interviewees –Website addresses –Copies of documentation Highlight potential areas of concern

7. 7 meeting with the fact-checker Discuss sources and potential areas of concern Identify which sources were used for which part of the story Keep copies of your documentation for yourself Quotes—checked or not? Facts within? Remain available to your fact-checker

8. 8 post-check Discuss the story a final time. The fact checker will be concerned with accuracy. Suggestions about reworking the story will relate solely to factual issues. Unless the editorial policy dictates otherwise, it's your name on the story, and your final call.

9. 9 research resources for journalist and fact-checker Books Serials –magazines (Newsweek, the Nation, World Press Review) –[scholarly] journals (Third World Journal, American Political Science Review) –trade publications (Library Journal, Pig International) –Newspapers (The New York Times, the Daily News) Websites –Advocacy (FAIR, Prison Activist Resource Center) –Business (Monsanto, The New York Times Company)MonsantoThe New York Times Company –News (IndyMedia, Fox News)IndyMediaFox News –Informational (American Heritage Dictionary, Critical Mass)American Heritage Dictionary –Personal (Makezine, Street Librarian) Databases –Subscription (can get access through library) Commercial (Academic Universe, MasterFILE Premier)MasterFILE Premier Scholarly (PAIS International, Alternative Press Index) –Free(ish) Commercial (New York Times, the Guardian)New York Times Government (American Factfinder, Library of Congress American Memory)American Memory

10. 10 evaluation criteria Authority (auspices) Accuracy Objectivity (perspective, bias) Currency (time, not money) Coverage (scope, mission) Much of the evaluation section was inspired by or taken directly from Evaluating Web Resources by Jan Alexander and Marsha Ann Tate which can be found at http://www2.widener.edu/Wolfgram-Memorial- Library/webevaluation/webeval.htmJan Alexander http://www2.widener.edu/Wolfgram-Memorial- Library/webevaluation/webeval.htm

11. 11 radical reference www.radicalreference.info --Ask a reference question --Links to radical information sources --Search archive of questions fact_IMC.ppt, factchk.doc on Radical Reference site under files on the left of the page.

12. 12 Integrating fact checking into your production schedule While investigating—post research queries to Radical Reference, but try to give us enough time to come up with a quality response. Follow up, if necessary. Rout stories to fact checking or "research" during the editorial process. Arrange to have one or more librarians in- house or offsite, but dedicated to the project during production.

13. 13 contact us info@radicalreference.info this presentation on the web: http://radicalreference.info/node/479 Look for us in the streets during demonstrations. We’ll be wearing hats with the Radical Reference logo.