11 Top Fact-Checking Tools and Resources
The saying goes, “there are three basic types of lies: lies, damned lies, and statistics.” With so much information flying around at any given moment on the internet, it can be challenging to tell fact from fiction. That’s why it’s important to have reliable fact-checking tools and resources. Fact-checking is a vital part of our democracy. It’s the process of verifying information to ensure its accuracy.
In a world where “fake news” is all too common, it’s more important than ever to verify the sources of information that we come across online. Fortunately, several great fact-checking tools and resources are available on the internet. Here are a few of the best ones:
Snopes
Snopes is one of the oldest and most well-known fact-checking websites. It was founded in 1994 by David and Barbara Mikkelson, and it covers a huge range of topics, from politics to urban legends. This website is a great resource for checking the accuracy of claims you come across online. It’s also one of the few fact-checking websites that are nonpartisan. It has a strict fact-checking policy, and its articles are thoroughly researched. It also mentions sources in its articles so you can check them yourself. They have a fact-checking fellowship program if you want to work with this website. However, you must have strong research and writing skills to qualify for the program. Enrolling in a course on fact-checking might help you get the skills you need. And with CouponGot coupons, you can enroll in any course of your choice at a discount. So don’t wait any longer; start your fact-checking journey today!
Factcheck.org
Factcheck.org is a popular project of the Annenberg Public Policy Center of the University of Pennsylvania. It was founded in 2003, and it focuses on political claims. This website is nonpartisan and committed to accuracy. Its articles are well-researched and thoroughly explained. They offer internships for college students. The website mentions other fact-checking organizations at the end of its articles. They ensure that their content is free of ads and other distractions. It also offers a newsletter and a guide to help people spot false information.
Full Fact
Full Fact is a UK-based fact-checking organization. It was founded in 2009. It is nonpartisan and independent. Full Fact checks claims by politicians, the media, and other groups. It also provides resources for people to check facts themselves. FullFact offers internships for college students. The website mentions other fact-checking organizations at the end of its articles. They ensure that their content is free of ads and other distractions. It also offers a newsletter and a guide to help people spot false information. This website is helpful for people in the UK who want to check on claims made by politicians and the media.
PolitiFact
PolitiFact is a website that focuses on political fact-checking. It was founded in 2007 by the Tampa Bay Times and has won several awards, including the Pulitzer Prize. This website is a great resource for checking the accuracy of claims made by politicians and other public figures. It rates the accuracy of statements on a scale from “True” to “Pants on Fire.” The website also explains why a statement was rated a certain way. Working with PolitiFact can help you develop strong research and writing skills. They offer internships and fellowships for college students. By using coupons, you can join any writing or journalism course you want at a lowered price. So, don’t hesitate to check their website for more information.
AfricaCheck
AfricaCheck is a South African fact-checking organization. It was founded in 2012. It is nonpartisan and independent. AfricaCheck checks claim made by politicians, the media, and other groups. It also provides resources for people to check facts themselves. AfricaCheck offers a newsletter and a guide to help people spot false information. The website has a section in French and Portuguese.
Chequeado
Chequeado is an Argentine fact-checking organization. It was founded in 2011. It is nonpartisan and independent. Chequeado checks claims by politicians, the media, and other groups. It also provides resources for people to check facts themselves. This website uses the Creative Commons Attribution 4.0 International license. The Chequeado website has a section in Spanish. It offers a newsletter. People can search for fact checks by keyword, date, or tags using this site.
Efecto
Efecto is a Brazilian fact-checking organization. It was founded in 2015. Efecto is nonpartisan and independent. Efecto checks claims by politicians, the media, and other groups. It also provides resources for people to check facts themselves. The website has a section in Portuguese. It offers a newsletter. People can search for fact checks by keyword, date, or tags using this site. It is licensed under a Creative Commons Attribution 4.0 International license. On the website, you can browse their fact checks by category, date, or status. It has articles in both Portuguese and English.
UOL Boavista
UOL Boavista is a Brazilian fact-checking website. It was founded in March 2016. The website is part of UOL, the largest internet portal in Brazil. UOL Boavista checks claims by politicians, the media, and other groups. The website has a section in Portuguese. It offers a newsletter. People can search for fact checks by keyword, date, or tags using this site. This website features a blog with posts about the fact-checking process. It has a fact-checking mobile app called “Eu Fico Loko” for Android and iOS devices.
WhatCheck
WhatCheck is a Nigerian fact-checking website. It was launched in September 2016. The website is a project of the Wole Soyinka Centre for Investigative Journalism. WhatCheck aims to promote accuracy in public debate and decision-making. The website has articles in both English and French. It is a member of the International Fact-Checking Network. The website has some amazing features, such as:
- This site can check facts by keyword, date, or tags.
- This website features a blog with posts about the fact-checking process.
- It has a fact-checking mobile app called “Eu Fico Loko” for Android and iOS devices.
So if you’re looking for a great resource to help verify the information’s accuracy, be sure to check out WhatCheck!
IFCN Code of Principles
The International Fact-Checking Network (IFCN) is the main unit of the Poynter Institute. Its members include fact-checking organizations from around the world. The IFCN has a code of principles that all members must follow. The code includes a commitment to nonpartisanship, transparency of sources, transparency of funding and organization, and openness to corrections. IFCN also has a fact-checking directory, a great resource for finding fact-checking organizations in your country.
American Press Institute
American press institute has a fact-checking section on its website with tips and resources for journalists. They also have a helpful guide to identifying fake news websites. They also identify eight different types of misinformation. They search for the reverse image and look at the website’s “about” page. The institute also offers workshops and training. They also have a list of fact-checking organizations around the world. You can find all of these resources and more on their website.
On a Final Note!
In today’s age, it’s important to discern between what is true and what is false on the internet. With the proliferation of fake news, it is more important than ever to fact-check. Luckily, many resources and tools are available to help you do that. The above list is just a small sampling of the great work being done by organizations dedicated to fighting fake news. So next time you see a story that seems too good to be true, check it out with one of these amazing resources!
