As part of our mission to educate students and professionals in editorial fact-checking, we regularly offer fact-checking seminars and workshops for journalists, newsrooms, and classrooms. Some of the related material can be found on this page.
If you're interested in learning more about our educational initiatives or inviting us to speak, please contact us.
With the help of Lahari Nanda and Uday Rana, we have created two sample digital fact-checking folders, available here. Following the methodology of the Truth in Journalism Fact-Checking Guide (as described here), the fact-checking folders each contain:
The folders have been formatted according to our preferred styles and conventions for naming, commenting, and annotating.
With the help of Angel Xing, we have compiled a list of useful resources and case studies related to editorial fact-checking and journalism ethics (with a slight bias for Canadian examples), many of which are referenced in the Truth in Journalism Fact-Checking Guide. The resources listed below have been separated into four categories: fact-checking guides, related readings, fact-checking case studies, and reporting and style guides.
Feel free to contact us with any suggested additions to this list.
The Chicago Guide to Fact-Checking by Brooke Borel, 2016 (University of Chicago Press)
This is a comprehensive guide to editorial fact-checking in the twenty-first century. Borel includes the perspectives of 200 writers, editors, and (freelance and in-house) fact checkers from a variety of media—including books and documentaries. In addition to teaching the basic skills of fact-checking, the guide also provides helpful advice for anyone interested in building a career as a freelance fact-checker, including how to develop relationships with publications and work on a tight budget.
After the Fact: A Guide to Fact-Checking for Magazines and Other Media by Cynthia Brouse, 2007
This guide to editorial fact-checking includes plenty of detail and practical examples (some of which are slightly out of date). Any aspect of traditional magazine fact-checking you’d like to know more about—how to check the letters page, how to check proper names, how to work as a freelance fact checker—is likely explained somewhere in this book.
The Fact Checker's Bible by Sarah Harrison Smith, 2004 (Anchor Books)
In this guide, Smith, who previously fact-checked for The New Yorker and New York Times Magazine, covers the basics of fact-checking for magazines. Although some of the material here may be slightly out of date, her explanations of the underlying philosophy and methodology of editorial fact-checking—including how to read an annotated draft, assess sources, check quotations, understand legal liabilities, and even look for plagiarism—are instructive for fact-checkers of any level.
“The Rise and Fall of Facts” by Colin Dickey, 2019 (Columbia Journalism Review)
In this article, Dickey provides an overview of the history and contemporary practice of editorial fact-checking, explaining along the way why fact-checking is an essential aspect of journalism.
“How to Fact Check The Atlantic” by Yvonne Rolzhausen, 2018 (The Atlantic)
Rolzhausen, head of resesearch at The Atlantic, explains how she fact-checked a piece for the magazine written by Graeme Wood about “What ISIS Really Wants." She shares her detailed fact-checking notes and provides step-by-step instructions for anyone who would like to follow along, making this a pertinent article for any journalist interested in seeing basic fact-checking in action.
“The State of Fact-Checking in Science Journalism” by Brooke Borel, 2018 (The Knight Science Journalism Program at MIT)
For this report, researchers at MIT conducted a large-scale survey of the English-language science journalism industry, focusing on the state of fact-checking practices. The results are interesting for anyone interested in working as a fact-checker today; they also highlight the importance of improved fact-checking education and coordination across the industry.
The Essentials of Journalism, by Tom Rosenstiel & The Committee of Concerned Journalists (online)
Here is a series of brief guides, written by a group of prominent journalists at the turn of the century, that lay out the core principles of the practice—including the importance of verification for good journalism. The guides define key concepts for the field, such as "journalist," "objectivity," and "bias," and also provide practical advice for reporting and verification.
“How Do We Exit the Post-Truth Era?” by Viviane Fairbank, 2021 (The Walrus)
In this piece, Fairbank talks about her personal experiences working in the fact-checking industry. Along the way, she explains the difference between political and editorial fact-checking, assesses the impact of the internet and "fake news" on the fact-checking industry, and argues for the importance of inclusion and diversity in contemporary fact-checking practices.
“Objectivity is a Privilege Afforded to White Journalists” by Pacinthe Mattar, 2020 (The Walrus)
With an account of her experiences as a racialized journalist, Mattar challenges the longstanding ideal of journalistic objectivity, especially when reporting on stories about racism. This is a foundational read for anyone interested in thinking more about the relationship between fact-checking, ethics, and objectivity.
“Sources of Accuracy” by Jay Mathews, 2003 (The Washington Post)
Mathews, a veteran reporter for the Washington Post, defends his decision to show drafts of his articles before publication to the people he interviewed, so that they can verify the accuracy of the content. While this is considered bad journalistic practice by some, Mathews finds it results in more accurate journalism—and a happier readership.
“Rolling Stone’s investigation: ‘A failure that was avoidable’” by Sheila Coronel, Steve Coll, & Derek Kravitz, 2015 (Columbia Journalism Review)
This landmark report was issued by the Columbia School of Journalism in 2015, concluding the department's lengthy investigation into editorial and fact-checking practices at The Rolling Stone. The investigation was prompted by the magazine’s infamous retraction, due to factual inaccuracies, of its 2014 feature “A Rape on Campus: A Brutal Assault and Struggle for Justice at UVA”; the fact-checking for the piece had been neither thorough nor sufficient. The Columbia reviewers found that Rolling Stone had "set aside or rationalised as unnecessary essential practices of reporting that, if pursued, would likely have led the magazine's editors to reconsider publishing [the main source's] narrative so prominently, if at all." This report is an informative read for anyone interested in best practices for reporting on and fact-checking stories about sexual violence.
“The Deep Pathology at the Heart of a Scandal at Der Spiegel” by Elisabeth Zerofsky, 2019 (The New Yorker)
This article tells the story of Claas Relotius, one of the most famous reporters working for Der Spiegel over the past decade, who was found to have fabricated details in dozens of his stories for the magazine. Though many journalists have fabricated stories for fact-checked publications in the past (Stephen Glass is another notable example), Relotius's case is especially interesting because of the magnitude of Der Spiegel's editorial fact-checking department—one of the largest in the world—which he managed to circumvent.
“Sign of the Times” by James Harkin, 2021 (Harper’s)
Harkin reports on the making (and unmaking) of the New York Times's Caliphate podcast, which tells the story of a young man named Shehroze Chaudhry who claimed to have traveled from Canada to Syria in 2014 and briefly joined the Islamic State. The podcast was seemingly thoroughly fact-checked and aired in 2018 to great success (earning it a Peabody Award and a Pulitzer nomination). Soon after, however, the New York Times launched an internal investigation into the making of the podcast, found that Chaudhry had “almost certainly never been to Syria,” and published an editorial note acknowledging that the podcast “did not meet our standards for accuracy.” Emphasizing the challenges of reporting on conflict and terrorism and the dangers of using digital sources, Harkin examines the actions of the reporters and fact-checkers who worked on the debunked podcast.
“We should have worked harder to get the Ismael Abdulle story right” by Donovan Vincent, 2022 (The Toronto Star)
In 2010, Toronto Star reporter Michelle Shepherd travelled to Somalia and interviewed a young man named Ismael Abdulle about his past experience as a captive of the terrorist group al-Shabab. Years later, Abdulle admitted that he had misled Shepherd about certain key details of his story. In this piece, Vincent, the newspaper's public editor, discusses what the Toronto Star might have done to better fact-check Abdulle's story, taking into consideration the fact that conflict zones present persistent challenges to fact-checking. (Shepherd writes about her own experience of the situation here.)
"Retraction" by Ira Glass, 2012 (This American Life)
In this episode of This American Life, Glass tells listeners that one of the show's most popular episodes, about an Apple product manufacturer in China, contained a number of inaccuracies despite having been fact-checked. Host Ira Glass speaks with the episode's reporter, Mike Daisey, about his fabrications during the reporting and fact-checking process.
"Baby Book: Documenting Undocumented Motherhood" Editor's Note, 2021 (Briarpatch)
In 2021, Briarpatch published a (fact-checked) first-person account of someone’s experience as an undocumented immigrant in Canada. Later on, the source admitted to having misled them about some details of her immigration status, and the magazine published a lengthy correction and editorial note on the issue. We consider this note particularly interesting because of the editors' firm belief that some facts—such as details about individuals' legal immigration status—cannot always be fact-checked in an ethical way.
The Verification Handbook Series edited by Craig Silverman (European Journalism Centre)
With insights from leading journalists and verification experts around the globe, this series of handbooks covers a range of pertinent topics to help journalists with the verification process online, including when reporting on emergency crisis situations, conducting investigative journalism, and combatting disinformation and media manipulation.
Science Editing Handbook by the Knight Science Journalism Program, 2022 (MIT
This source on science journalism addresses many of foundational questions of the practice. With a hefty section on misinformation, this is a useful guide to help ensure clear and accurate transmission of scientific knowledge through journalism.
The Essential Guide to Conscious Language by Karen Yin (The Conscious Style Guide)
This webpage search engine is designed to help journalists find specific style guides on topics related to diversity and style.
The Diversity Style Guide by Rachele Kanigel, 2022 (online)
Similar to the Conscious Style Guide, this webpage is a list of terms and definitions that has been compiled from two dozen style guides, journalism organisations, and other resources. It includes definitions for concepts such as “Black Codes” and “White Flight,” all arranged in alphabetical order.
The Inclusivity Style Guide by the American Chemical Society, 2022 (online)
This is another resource focused on appropriate language, catered to journalists who are reporting on marginalised communities. It also provides tips for choosing images and creating accessible text.
Language, Please by Vox Media, 2022 (online)
This style guide is catered to journalists who are reporting on social, cultural and identity-related topics. On top of a searchable list of terms, it includes additional editorial tools and an inclusivity reader directory.
Symmetry Style Guide: Writing about people with dignity by Kathryn Jepsen, 2022 (Symmetry Magazine)
Symmetry's style guide discusses the importance of diversity, equity, and inclusion in journalism and presents guidelines for writing about people with dignity. Jepsen suggests strategies for journalists to avoid replicating harmful patterns in reporting and to focus on accurate reporting. Specific sections address writing about aging and disability, gender, sex and sexual orientation, and culture, ethnicity, and race.
“Why should I tell you? A Guide to Less-Extractive Reporting” by Natalie Yahr, 2019 (Center for Journalism Ethics at the University of Wisconsin-Madison)
This is a required reading for anyone interested in reporting on marginalized communities and stories of trauma. For this introspective and insightful guide, Yahr interviewed a number of prominent journalists about the conditions that can make journalism about trauma helpful, morally justifiable, and not voyeuristic. Based on the resulting conversations, she presents twelve principles for ethical, "non-extractive" reporting.
Elements of Indigenous Style: A Guide for Writing By and About Indigenous Peoples by Gregory Younging, 2018 (Brush Education)
We heartily recommend this book for any journalist or researcher working on a piece about Indigenous peoples. Younging articulates important principles for thinking about style, terminology, culturally appropriate publishing practices, and historical research, among other things.
Indigenous Writes: A Guide to First Nations, Métis & Inuit Issues in Canada, by Chelsea Vowel
Anyone reporting on Indigenous issues should read this book, which is extensively footnoted and provides a comprehensive overview of common factual errors and confusions when it comes to Indigenous people, communities, and cultures in North America.
Indigenous Peoples: Language Guidelines by the University of British Columbia, 2021 (online)
This document, written by University of British Columbia staff and faculty, reflect on Canada’s historical relationship with Indigenous communities and on the fact that the media has consistently used harmful terms to describe them. The guidelines they propose providing crucial insights on terminology related to Indigenous people, such as when to use peoples versus people. It should be used in tandem with the other reporting and style guides mentioned here.
"Indigenous Reporting Guides" by the Native American Journalists Association (online)
With links to a variety of other guides for reporting on Indigenous communities, this webpage is a handy resource for journalists who are covering the diverse experiences of Indigenous peoples. While some content is specific to the United States, it also provides general lessons on historical narratives, offensive terminology, and expert testimony.
NABJ Style Guide by the National Association of Black Journalists, 2022 (online)
Similar to the other search engines in this bibliography, this guide includes an alphabetized list of definitions that journalists can use for language relating to the Black community. It includes recommendations for usage as well as information about the historical context of certain terms.
“AAJA Guide to Covering Asian America” by AAJA National, 2012 (online)
This source provides helpful terminological guidance and a list of definitions for writing on Asian Americans. Some of the words are specific to the United States, lbut most are relevant for use throughout North America.
Cultural Competence Handbook by the National Association of Hispanic Journalists, 2020 (online)
This handbook sets out guidelines for fairly, accurately, and inclusively covering the Latino community. It was written with the United States in mind but can also be understood in a broader geographical context.
Race and Gender Hotline by the Society of Professional Journalists (online)
This hotline was designed for reporters and editors who are on a short timeline and need to ask an expert a quick question about race and gender for their reporting work. It is confidential and nonjudgmental, and anyone can submit a question through the online portal.
“Reporting on Gender-Based Violence” by Equal Press, 2020 (online)
This source looks at the frequently problematic nature of the wording, tone, and focus of journalism that touch on gender-based violence. It provides advice to journalists for addressing and rectifying sensationalism, inaccurate and inappropriate vocabulary, victim-blaming language, lack of diversity, and failure to contextualise instances of gender-based violence.
Use the Right Words: Media Reporting on Sexual Violence in Canada by Femifesto & Collaborators, 2015 (online)
This helpful guide to reporting on sexual violence was informed by a series of surveys, interviews, events, and focus groups conducted from 2011 to 2015. It provides a variety of different resources—from interviewing tips, to reporting checklists, to advice for journalists who are themselves facing work-related sexual violence.
“Focus On: Interviewing and Editorial” by The 519, 2022 (The 519 Media Guide)
The 519 Media Guide is a practical resource for journalists who are collaborating with 2 Spirit, queer, and trans sources. The interactive guide helps journalists to avoid perpetuating stereotypes, fetishizing, exoticizing, or sensationalising the stories they cover. It also provides advice for interview tips, a helpful checklist for reporting, and a nuanced discussion on objectivity and impartiality in journalism.
Trans Journalists Association Style Guide by the Trans Journalists Association, 2020 (online)
More than a style guide, this webpage provides guidance on diversifying newsrooms, avoiding harmful stereotypes, and covering anti-trans hate and disinformation. It also has a list of definitions and of terms to avoid so that journalists can accurately and appropriately cover stories about trans people.
TransWhat? A Guide Towards Allyship by TransWhat (online)
This glossary contains a wide variety of terms, definition, and important details about the language journalists should use when covering issues related to the LGBTQ+ community, especially trans people.
Stylebook on LGBTQ Terminology by NLGJA: The Association of LGBTQ Journalists, 2021 (online)
Journalists can use this search-engine-style guide to find and define appropriate words for reporting on the LGBTQ community.
"The Radical Copyeditor’s Style Guide for Writing About Transgender People" by Alex Kapitan, 2017 (The Radical Copyeditor)
Similar to the resources listed above, this guide provides guidance for language- and word-choices related to reporting on the transgender community. Kapitan includes helpful discussion on the purpose and usefulness of the guide, which is meant to help journalists to center people in their reporting, not just words, and should not be used to police (is there a better word??) other people’s language choices.
"Best Practices" by the Borderless Editorial Team (Borderless Magazine)
Borderless is a magazine that focuses on immigration issues, and their Best Practices page provides a helpful set of foundational guidelines for covering stories related to imimgration. This page includes detailed recommendations for journalists before, during, and after an interview with a source.
“How Journalists Can Do a Better Job of Talking About Refugees” by Francesca Fionda & Alia Dharssi, 2018 (The Discourse)
This set of guidelines is the result of several workshops and interviews conducted by The Discourse with refugees, newcomers, settlement workers, and academic researchers about journalistic coverage of refugee issues in Canada. It includes recommendations for journalists about how to interview refugees, use appropriate language, and ensure good editorial practice.
“Interviewing in the Aftermath of Trauma” by Kimina Lyall, 2022 (Dart Center for Journalism and Trauma)
This guide is designed for journalists, photographers, camera operators, and other media workers who may cover events that involve trauma. After explaining the psychological workings of trauma, Lyall provides advice on how to prepare in advance of an interview, how to create a safe environment for the source during the interview, and how to take care of oneself as a journalist after the interview.
"The Dart Center Style Guide for Trauma-Informed Journalism" by Isobel Thompson, 2021 (The Dart Center)
This style guide focuses on the appropriate terms to use when covering traumatic stories, looking at psychological and scientific terminology. It also acknolwedges special considerations for trauma related to racism and sexual violence.
“Reporting on Violence against Children: A guide for journalists” by the World Health Organization, 2022 (online)
In this guide, the WHO provides advice for journalists who are reporting on violence against children, which they consider to be a global crisis. The guide is designed to help journalists amplify the voices of children who have been abused while maintaining ethical considerations.
“I Survived a Mass Shooting. Here’s My Advice to Other Journalists” by Selene San Felice, 2019 (Poynter)
In this poignant essay, Felice writes about her experience in June 2018, when a gunman opened fire in her newsroom, and journalists' coverage of the event afterward. Noting several mistakes that she saw journalists make, and how those mistakes affected her as a source, she offers advice for appropriate interviewing and coverage of traumatic events.
“Recommendations for Reporting on Mass Shootings” by Suicide Awareness Voices of Education, 2017 (online)
Here is an easy-to-read infographic guide on how journalists should report on mass shootings. It also details the damage media can do when it does not consider the harms that may arise from the coverage.
Mindset: Reporting on Mental Health by the Canadian Journalism Forum on Violence and Trauma, 2020 (online)
With detailed information about mental health, stigma, and treatment, this guide seeks to inform journalists on best practices in covering several related issues, including suicide, addiction, and mental illness among marginalized groups and young people.
“Sharing Your Story Publicly” by the National Eating Disorders Association (online)
In a short but descriptive list of do's and don't's, this guide aims to help journalists provide a more balanced coverage of eating disorders while minimizing harm.
“Research 101: A Manifesto for Ethical Research in the Downtown Eastside” by Louise Bolevin, Jules Chapman, Lindsay Deane, Caroline Doerksen, Greg Fresz, DJ Joe, Nicolas Leech-Crier, Samona Marsh, Jim McLeod, Scott Neufeld, Steven Pham, Laura Shaver, Patrick Smith, Martin Steward, Dean Wilson, & Phoen Winter, 2018 (University of British Columbia)
This paper is the result of six community workshops that were conducted in early 2018 on the topic of ethical research on the Vancouver Downtown Eastside. Members of the DTES found that academics and journalists who conducted research on their community would often misrepresent them, perpetuate stigma against people who use drugs, undermine community initiatives, and trigger trauma. In the manifesto, they provide a set of guidelines for better, more ethical research practices, emphasizing the importance of trust between local communities and institutions such as mainstream journalism.
Stigma Primer for Journalists: A Guide to Better Reporting on Substance Use and the People it Impacts by the Canadian Centre on Substance Use and Addiction, 2021 (online)
Providing a list of terms to avoid and terms to use instead, this source is beneficial for journalists looking to report on substance use disorders. It also touches on the power of appropriate imaging and visual choices.
Reporting on Addiction: Expanded Style Guide by Reporting on Addiction, 2021 (online)
With a condensed version available, this comprehensive webpage compiles information from a variety of different sources on topics related to addictions and commonly used substances.
“What Words We Use—and Avoid—When Covering People and Incarceration” by Akiba Solomon, 2021 (The Marshall Project)
In the same vein as many other guides in this list, this guide provides a list of preferred terms and definitions as well as advice for journalists who are interested in using appropriate language and avoiding stigma and stereotypes when reporting on incarceration and the criminal justice system.
“Sex Work Style Guide: Writing Accurately and Ethically about Sex Work”, by SWOP-Seattle, 2015 (online)
This style guide provides a list of definitions for preferred terms related to sex work, and it explains how journalists should write ethically about the topic.
Resources for Reporting on Disability by the National Center on Disability and Journalism (online)
Here is a list of references and resources for reporters covering disability, including experts lists, interviewing tips, data-reporting methodologies, and style guides.
Disability Language Style Guide" by the National Center on Disability and Journalism, 2021 (online)
Also available in Spanish, Italian, and Romanian, this guide provides basic guidelines for reporting on disabilities. Above all, it recommends journalists to ask sources how they prefer to be described and to be faithful to language when quoting sources directly.
“Guidelines for Reporting and Writing about People with Disabilities” by the National Disability Rights Network (online)
This resource includes clear, digestible guidelines for reporting on people with disabilities, including a comprehensive section on appropriate terminology and portrayals.
Disaster Through a Different Lens: a guide for journalists covering disaster risk reduction by UNDRR, 2011 (DIRAJ)
This manual addresses what journalists should know when covering stories about natural disaster and the climate emergency. It includes case studies about the Indian Ocean tsunami, Mount Pinatubo's eruption in the Philippines, Hurricane Katrina in the USA, and the Kashmir earthquake in Pakistan.
Media Takes: On Aging by the International Longevity Center, 2009 (Aging Services of California)
This report is focused on examining journalistic coverage of age and aging, such as stories about elder abuse, and rectifying ageist terminology used by journalists. It provides recommendations for journalists as well as people who work in entertainment and advertising.