Fact Check:Outwitting

falsehoods with information

literacy slights of hand.

Nicole BranchSanta Clara University Library

Image courtesy of Flickr user Thomas Leuthard

Today we will…• Identify factual errors

• Identify nebulous practices that convey falsehood

• Apply journalistic practices to fact check current events

Society of Professional Journalists Code of EthicsThere's "no other job where you get paid to tell the truth...we are detectives for the people." – Wayne Barrett, Village Voice

• Seek the truth and report it• Minimize harm• Act independently• Be accountable and transparent

Fact Checking FactsThere are facts

They can be verified

Fact Checking Verifiable Facts• Names (people and places)

• Dates and times

• Numbers

• Quotations

• Historic facts

• Images

Corrections

Example: Quotation

Example: Quotation

Example: Statistics

Example: Statistics

Fact Checking Conveyed Falsehoods• Data/quotes taken out of context or incomplete• Recycled content• Vague or missing details• Exaggeration• Bad or unqualified sources• Cherry picking• False attribution, including causation

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Post

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Example: Numbers in Context

Fact

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Safe

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The Checklist• Check verifiable facts

• Check the authority of sources

• Find primary/original sources

• Find an alternate viewpoint

• Assess bias

Fact Check Resources• Google

• Government Websites

• Wayback Machine

• Organizational websites and press releases

• Data sources

• Resources listed on the guide

Debrief• What did you discover?

• What was easy to find?

• What was difficult?

• Other observations?

Closing• Next Up: Choose a contemporary topic related to your book

• Questions?

• Comments?