Describe what you do in five words or less:

​Poke people in power.

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How do you fact-check information?

A base level of fact-checking is retracing the steps of how you came to a conclusion or how you formulated a word choice. 

Good fact-checking means actively attacking your own conclusions and suppositions — if they're still standing when you're done, there's a good chance you've got it right. It helps to have someone do that work, too.



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Free press means _________

​A well-financed press.
​
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What makes a ‘trusted’ source?

​One that has standard operating procedures. 

All credible outlets have rules and practises on how to vet and verify information, how to handle corrections, or what constitutes a conflict of interest. 

​There are plenty of outlets who bemoan the "mainstream press" or "fake news" who have none of these internal mechanisms.

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Tips for spotting fake news?

Look for the context clues around how information is provided. Are the conclusions in the article or report supported by the facts mentioned in the story?

Or, as is often the case, are there leaps and theories presented as "common sense" or so self-evident that they don't need corroborating information? 

​Look at the author's or reporter's track record, too — lots of journalists have gotten things wrong, but plenty of fake news peddlers are always wrong, or are constantly harping on the same theme over and over. 

​Finally: interrogate yourself. Are you buying into the report simply because you want to agree with it?





What’s your favourite verb?

​Uncover

Good fact-checking means actively attacking your own conclusions and suppositions — if they're still standing when you're done, there's a good chance you've got it right.
                                                                                                
​—Justin Ling
proactivecitizen.org