The fact checker reviews all the sources used in a story to confirm or refute specific statements. This is a crucial step that can be the difference between a misleading or inaccurate article and a strong piece of journalism. It can also help identify missing information, such as the details of an event or a source’s background.
The top read typically takes a few hours and ends with a list of questions or follow-ups for the fact checker to investigate, rectify in their checked copy, or ask the reporter (or their editor) to address. The list may include small clarifications or more substantial revisions. This list should be saved in the fact-checking folder for the publication’s records.
While it’s important to try to verify every claim in a story, some facts may be more difficult to prove than others. Rather than pursuing every avenue of inquiry, it is sometimes more pragmatic to prioritize the facts that have the most impact on readers’ understanding of the issue. Over time, a fact checker will develop a system for prioritizing which moves to complete for each individual statement in a story.
When checking quotes from sources, the fact checker considers whether they are a trustworthy source and if the quote in question is presented in context. If the fact checker finds a documentary source in a foreign language, they can send it to an interpreter and ask them to translate the document into English. They then save the interview audio recording, transcript, and translation in their fact-checking folder.