The Chicago Guide to Fact-Checking

Description

“A column by Glenn Garvin on Dec. 20 stated that the National Science Foundation ‘funded a study on Jell-O wrestling at the South Pole.’ That is incorrect. The event took place during off-duty hours without NSF permission and did not involve taxpayer funds.”  Corrections such as this one from the Miami Herald have become a familiar sight for readers, especially as news cycles demand faster and faster publication. While some factual errors can be humorous, they nonetheless erode the credibility of the writer and the organization. And the pressure for accuracy and accountability is increasing at the same time as in-house resources for fact-checking are dwindling. Anyone who needs or wants to learn how to verify names, numbers, quotations, and facts is largely on their own. Enter The Chicago Guide to Fact-Checking, an accessible, one-stop guide to the why, what, and how of contemporary fact-checking. Brooke Borel, an experienced fact-checker, draws on the expertise of more than 200 writers, editors, and fellow checkers representing the New Yorker, Popular Science, This American Life, Vogue, and many other outlets. She covers best practices for fact-checking in a variety of media—from magazine articles, both print and online, to books and documentaries—and from the perspective of both in-house and freelance checkers. She also offers advice on navigating relationships with writers, editors, and sources; considers the realities of fact-checking on a budget and checking one’s own work; and reflects on the place of fact-checking in today’s media landscape. “If journalism is a cornerstone of democracy, then fact-checking is its building inspector,” Borel writes. The Chicago Guide to Fact-Checking is the practical—and thoroughly vetted—guide that writers, editors, and publishers need to maintain their credibility and solidify their readers’ trust. Contents Introduction Chapter One: Why We Fact-Check Chapter Two: What We Fact-Check Chapter Three: How We Fact-Check Fact-Checking Magazine Articles Fact-Checking Other Media Navigating Relationships with Editors, Writers, and Producers Fact-Checking on a Budget Fact-Checking Your Own Writing Chapter Four: Checking Different Types of Facts Basic Facts Numbers Quotes Concepts Analogies Images Physical Descriptions Sports Historical Quotes and Stories Product Claims Foreign Languages Foreign Outlets “Common Knowledge” Headlines and Cover Lines Facts from Anonymous or Sensitive Sources Conflicting Facts Gray Areas Litigious Material Plagiarism and Fabrication Chapter Five: Sourcing People Interview Recordings and Transcripts The Internet Maps and Atlases Press Releases Books Newspapers Academic Literature Chapter Six: Record Keeping Paper Backup Electronic Backup Chapter Seven: Test Your Skills Conclusion Acknowledgments Appendix One: “Test Your Skills” Answer Key Appendix Two: Suggested Reading and Listening References Index