An accessible, one-stop guide to the why, what, and how of contemporary editorial fact-checking.
Over the past few years, fact-checking has been widely touted as a corrective to the spread of misinformation, disinformation, conspiracy theories, and propaganda through the media. “If journalism is a cornerstone of democracy,” says author Brooke Borel, “then fact-checking is its building inspector.”
In The Chicago Guide to Fact-Checking, 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 editorial fact-checking in a variety of media—from magazine and news articles, both print and online, to books and podcasts—and the perspectives of both in-house and freelance checkers.
In this second edition, Borel covers the evolving media landscape, with new guidance on checking audio and video sources, polling data, and sensitive subjects such as trauma and abuse. The sections on working with writers, editors, and producers have been expanded, and new material includes fresh exercises and advice on getting fact-checking gigs. Borel also addresses the challenges of fact-checking in a world where social media, artificial intelligence, and the metaverse may make it increasingly difficult for everyone—including fact-checkers—to identify false information. The answer, she says, is for everyone to approach information with skepticism—to learn to think like a fact-checker.
The Chicago Guide to Fact-Checking is the practical—and thoroughly vetted—guide that writers, editors, and publishers continue to turn to maintain their credibility and solidify their readers’ trust.
By:
Brooke Borel
Imprint: University of Chicago Press
Country of Publication: United States
Edition: Second Edition
Dimensions:
Height: 216mm,
Width: 140mm,
Spine: 18mm
Weight: 286g
ISBN: 9780226817897
ISBN 10: 022681789X
Series: Chicago Guides to Writing, Editing, and Publishing
Pages: 256
Publication Date: 17 August 2023
Audience:
Professional and scholarly
,
Undergraduate
Format: Paperback
Publisher's Status: Active
Introduction Chapter One: Why We Fact-Check Chapter Two: What We Fact-Check Chapter Three: How We Fact-Check The Magazine Model The Newspaper Model The Hybrid Model Fact-Checking Other Media Navigating Relationships with Editors, Writers, and Producers Fact-Checking on a Budget Fact-Checking Your Own Writing How to Get a Fact-Checking Job Chapter Four: Checking Different Types of Facts Basic Facts Numbers and Measurements Polls Quotes Concepts Analogies Images Physical Descriptions Sports Historical Quotes and Stories Product Claims Languages Other than English Outlets outside the United States “Common Knowledge” Headlines and Cover Lines Facts from Anonymous or Sensitive Sources Sensitive Subjects: Trauma, Abuse, and More Conflicting Facts Gray Areas Litigious Material Plagiarism and Fabrication Chapter Five: Sourcing People Interview Recordings and Transcripts Search Engines and Wikis Maps and Atlases Press Releases Books Newspapers Other Publications Academic Literature Chapter Six: Record Keeping Paper Backup Electronic Backup Chapter Seven: Test Your Skills Conclusion Acknowledgments Appendix One: “Test Your Skills” Answer Keys Appendix Two: Suggested Reading and Listening References Index
Brooke Borel is an award-winning journalist and the articles editor at Undark. She is the author of Infested: How the Bed Bug Infiltrated Our Bedrooms and Took Over the World, and her writing has appeared in Popular Science, BuzzFeed News, the Guardian, Scientific American, Nature, and Science, among other outlets.
Reviews for The Chicago Guide to Fact-Checking, Second Edition
"""This new edition is clear-eyed in addressing emerging challenges such as social media, Ai, and virtual environments and presents practical, adaptable strategies for professional fact-checkers and editors. . . . Highly recommended."" * Choice *"
