A fact check is an attempt to verify the accuracy of statements or claims. It is an important part of journalism, especially for high profile stories and for content that can cause public distress or confusion. Fact-checking has become a focus of attention for media organizations, particularly in light of the rising levels of misinformation on social media.
As a reporter you should consider how to make your work fact-check ready well before editorial work on your piece begins. This will require you to keep a careful record of the sources you have used in your research package and to communicate clearly with all interviewed sources about what their role is in the fact-checking process (this is particularly important with off-the-record or veiled sources).
The first step in the fact-checking process is for the fact-checker to contact any and all sources to whom a statement is attributed, including those who are on background or veiled. They will also go through all documents, links and other consulted sources included in the research package. This stage of the process is not a time to be changing your story based on the fact checker’s findings, however; these are issues that should be addressed by the handling editor and head of research during the editorial phase once the fact-checking is complete.
The goal of fact-checking is to reach a point of agreement between the two parties involved in the process. If you can achieve this, then the reader will be able to trust that what they have read is accurate and that all sides of the issue are represented. Studies have shown that consistency between fact-checkers can contribute to this effect.