After Charlie Kirk’s murder, a friend sent me a social media video. I’m glad she did. I was able to send her a fact-checking article published by the Associated Press, “FACT FOCUS: Assassination of Charlie Kirk prompts flood of false and misleading claims online,” that dispelled the premise of the video, which had been edited by conflict entrepreneurs for the purpose of inciting rage toward people of the opposite political viewpoint.
The interaction reiterated two truths about our times:
- All social media videos, posts and articles that leave viewers mad at “others” are the work of conflict entrepreneurs and ideally should be dismissed without reading, commenting on or sharing.
- We need to routinely consult fact-checking sources we trust.
The “we trust” is the difficult part in this era of mistrust.
Fortunately, there are now a lot of sources to choose from, as well as those that help educate us about misinformation. If possible, please let me know which you use, and which you don’t trust.
List of Resources
Fact-checking orgs
A non-profit, non-partisan “consumer advocate” for voters that monitors the factual accuracy of claims made by U.S. political figures in ads, debates, and news releases. It is a project of the Annenberg Public Policy Center at the University of Pennsylvania.
This site, run by the Poynter Institute , a global nonprofit, rates the accuracy of statements made by elected officials and others involved in U.S. politics. Its “Truth-O-Meter” rates claims from “True” to “Pants on Fire.”
Originally known for debunking urban legends, Snopes is one of the internet’s oldest and largest fact-checking sites. It now also investigates online rumors, news stories, and misinformation.
An online outlet that evaluates the bias and credibility of news sources to help users make informed decisions about the media they consume.
Fact-checking journalism from news outlets
Associated Press (AP) Fact Check
This global news organization has a dedicated fact-checking team that works to combat misinformation and debunk false claims.
As one of the world’s largest news providers, Reuters has a fact-checking service that focuses on examining social media narratives and misinformation.
The Washington Post Fact Checker
This column assesses the factual accuracy of claims made by political figures and groups.
Broader resources for evaluating information
This resource provides readers with a platform to compare how news stories are covered from different political perspectives—left, center, and right—to better understand potential bias.
The lab maintains a database of fact-checking sites from around the world, allowing you to find reliable fact-checkers for international news
This non-partisan educational non-profit offers resources like its Rumor Guard feature to help people recognize and stop the spread of misinformation.
How to fact-check a news story yourself
Consider the source
Don’t just read the headline. Investigate the website’s mission, contact information, and history. Check for unusual domain names or signs of low-quality writing.
Check the author
Search for the author’s name to determine their credentials and credibility
Look for supporting sources: Reputable articles will cite their sources. Click on links to see if they actually back up the claims made in the story.
Beware of sensational headlines
Exaggerated or emotional language is a red flag. If it seems too shocking to be true, it likely is.
Reverse image search
Use tools like Google Lens to verify the origin of images, as photos can be manipulated or used out of context.
Examine the evidence
Be skeptical of stories that rely on unnamed experts or lack verifiable evidence to support their arguments.
More articles about fact-checking sources
Misinformation and Disinformation: Thinking Critically about Information Sources (College of Staten Island, City University of New York)
Real News/Fake News: Fact Checkers (Berkeley Library, University of California)
Reliable Sources of Fact Checking (League of Women Voters, Copper County, MI)
Resources for Reporting: Fact Checking (SMU Libraries)
News Literacy: how to evaluate news media (Penn State University Libraries)
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