Fact-Checking Exercise
Objective: Learn to verify and fact-check community stories while maintaining respectful relationships with contributors.
- Receive a submitted story from a community member.
- Read and document the received community story
- Note the contributor’s name and submission date
- Identify key facts, dates, and claims within the story.
- Highlight key facts, dates, people, and locations
- Create a list of specific claims requiring verification
- Note ambiguous or unclear information needing clarification
- Conduct research using primary and secondary sources to verify information.
- Search authoritative databases and primary sources
- Cross-reference facts with multiple reliable sources
- Document all sources used and findings
- Prepare a fact-checking report, noting confirmed facts, unclear/unverifiable claims, sources consulted and any discrepancies found.
- Suggest respectful ways to address any inaccuracies with the story contributor.
- Prepare specific evidence to support corrections
- Draft talking points that maintain positive community relations