fact-checking
Verifying claims systematically
Fact-checking is verifying whether claims are accurate, especially in journalism and public discourse.
A fact-checker examines statements against reliable sources before or after publication.
The practice has grown more prominent with the spread of misinformation online: The article was pulled after fact-checking revealed errors.
As a verb, to fact-check is to perform this verification: Can you fact-check this quote?
Evidence confirming another account
- validationConfirming truth or accuracy
- confirmationEstablishing something as true
- substantiationProof of truth
- authenticationConfirming genuine identity
cross-referencing · sourcing · vetting · documentation · proof · attestation · certification · audit
Formal examination of facts
- inquiryRequest for information
- methodologyFormal procedural framework
- analysisMethodical study of parts
- cross-referenceNotation pointing elsewhere
database · archive · fieldwork · interviewing · geolocation · deep-dive · backgrounding · transparency
Disproving widely held falsehoods
- refuteProve something untrue
- disproveProve something untrue
- exposeMake known publicly
- unmaskReveal true identity
discredit · contradict · invalidate · rebuttal · demystify · counternarrative · correction · retraction
One who gathers news
- newsroomMedia gathering hub
- editorialPublication's official viewpoint article
- bylineArticle author identification
- attributionAssigning origin or cause
sourcing · retraction · correction · deadline · integrity · ethics · accountability · investigation
Points of origin
- citationsAcknowledged source mentions
- documentationWritten proof or instructions
- referencesSources cited for verification
- dataFacts for analysis
statistics · records · testimony · witnesses · exhibits · corroboration · paper-trail · receipts
Intentional deceptive falsehoods
- hoaxDeliberate deception for effect
- propagandaBiased information for influence
- rumorUnconfirmed circulating story
- falsehoodDeliberate untrue statement
myth · fabrication · deepfake · clickbait · misleading · distortion · misrepresentation · debunked
corroboration
Evidence confirming another account
- validationConfirming truth or accuracy
- confirmationEstablishing something as true
- substantiationProof of truth
authentication · cross-referencing · sourcing · vetting · documentation · proof · attestation · certification · audit · triangulation
investigation
Formal examination of facts
- inquiryRequest for information
- methodologyFormal procedural framework
- analysisMethodical study of parts
cross-reference · database · archive · fieldwork · interviewing · geolocation · deep-dive · backgrounding · transparency
mythbusting
Disproving widely held falsehoods
unmask · discredit · contradict · invalidate · rebuttal · demystify · counternarrative · correction · retraction · clarification
reporter
One who gathers news
- newsroomMedia gathering hub
- editorialPublication's official viewpoint article
- bylineArticle author identification
attribution · sourcing · retraction · correction · deadline · integrity · ethics · accountability · investigation · correspondent
sources
Points of origin
- citationsAcknowledged source mentions
- documentationWritten proof or instructions
- referencesSources cited for verification
data · statistics · records · testimony · witnesses · exhibits · corroboration · paper-trail · receipts · screenshots
disinformation
Intentional deceptive falsehoods
- hoaxDeliberate deception for effect
- propagandaBiased information for influence
- rumorUnconfirmed circulating story
falsehood · myth · fabrication · deepfake · clickbait · misleading · distortion · misrepresentation · debunked · half-truth
Snopes
Misinformation verification site
- PolitiFactPolitical fact-checking service
- press ethicsjournalistic ethics, journalistic integrity, ethical journalism, editorial standards, ethical standards
- verification methodsvalidation, confirmation, authentication, corroboration, cross-referencing
- journalismreporters, interview, editors, student editors, school paper
- newspapersnewspaper, headlines, headline, news, articles
- pressnewspaper, press laws, free press, newsroom, press cards
- social mediaposts, post, influencer status, followers, tweet
fact-checkingblind trust
Complete unquestioning confidence
blind faith · taking at face value · credulity · gullibility · taking on faith
fact-checkingdisinformation
Intentional deceptive falsehoods
misinformation · spreading lies · propaganda · fabrication · lying
fact-checkingwillful ignorance
Purposely remaining uninformed
carelessness · negligence · confirmation bias · sloppiness · recklessness
check, fact, checking, factual, unchecked, checkers, checker, recheck, double-check