How To Do Your Own Fact-Checking

Mastering fact-checking in the age of political debates

George J. Ziogas
Publishous

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Photo by Megan Lee on Unsplash

When American vice-presidential contenders J.D. Vance and Tim Walz faced each other in a live televised debate on October 1, NPR announced that its reporters would be live blogging and fact-checking the debate in real time.

“Fact-checking” appears to be one of the buzzwords of the 2024 presidential election, with news outlets and pundits seemingly trying to outdo one another with how quickly and how accurately they can check the truth of the candidates’ every statement.

But how do they actually do that? Here are a few tips to learn how to do your own fact checking.

What is fact checking?

Fact-checking turns out to have a surprisingly fascinating history, but there’s no mystery as to what it is. The name says it all. Fact-checking is the “process of verifying the factual accuracy of questioned reporting and statements.”

There are also two widely recognized types of fact-checking: ante hoc, and post hoc. Ante hoc fact-checking refers to the checking of references and sources (most often of printed materials) before statements are made publicly; post hoc fact-checking refers to the type of fact-checking used during the vice-presidential debate, when…

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George J. Ziogas
Publishous

Vocational Education Teacher | HR Consultant | Personal Trainer | Manners will take you where money won't | ziogasjgeorge@gmail.com