factcheck

Fact-checking is the process of verifying the accuracy of statements, claims, or publications. It is used in journalism, politics, science, and public policy to assess whether assertions are supported by evidence from reliable sources. Fact-checking may be conducted by journalists, researchers, or independent organizations, and its results are typically published as reports, annotations, or verdicts attached to the original claim.

Typical methodology includes identifying the claim, gathering relevant primary sources, corroborating data with official records or expert testimony, and evaluating the claim against established facts. Many organizations publish their standards and sources to promote transparency. Verdicts commonly indicate the degree of accuracy, using labels such as true, mostly true, mixed, mostly false, and false.

Origins of modern fact-checking trace to journalism’s investigative roots and the growth of online media in the 2000s. Notable fact-checking organizations include FactCheck.org (a nonpartisan project of the Annenberg Public Policy Center), PolitiFact, Snopes, Full Fact (UK), and AFP Fact Check. International initiatives such as the International Fact-Checking Network (IFCN) promote shared principles and methodology. Fact-checking has influenced media literacy, public accountability, and political discourse, but faces challenges including resource limits, editorial bias concerns, political polarization, and the need for rapid verification in fast-moving news cycles.