TruthBuzz: The Viral Fact-Checking Contest
We are no longer accepting applications for TruthBuzz.
Fake news orbits the planet in an instant on social media. Is the truth keeping pace?
We want to make sure it does. Our global TruthBuzz challenge aims to invent new ways to help verified facts reach the widest possible audience.
We want your creative solutions for taking fact-checking beyond long-form explanations and bullet points. We’re looking for ideas — — from everyone, not just journalists — that turn fact-checking into engaging, visual and interactive stories that are instantly understandable and shareable.
We welcome entries in any digital format and in all languages.
Submit your entry using this link.
The first-place winner will receive a cash prize of US$10,000. After the contest closes, we’ll showcase all of the entries on a public site where the global truth-telling community can learn from and use these fact-check storytelling strategies.
TruthBuzz is supported by the Craig Newmark Foundation.
What We’re Looking for:
A successful entry to TruthBuzz will refute or clarify a false or misleading report or statement in an engaging, entertaining way that convinces audiences of its veracity and encourages them to share it.
The entry can take the form of a digital-media creation such as a video, cartoon, graphic, animated GIF, photo, quiz, audio file, game, or something we haven’t even thought of. In addition to submitting an entry, you must submit a short application. Your application should:
- Explain how your project corrects a falsehood
- State which sources are used to determine the facts
- Describe how your project uses innovative techniques to spread the truth quickly
- Include a sample social media post that uses your fact-checking invention
Applications must be filled out in English. Entries will be accepted in all languages, and should be able to serve as a model that others can replicate.
To help you hone your ideas, ICFJ will host a webinar soon. The webinar will focus on best practices for creating well-sourced, viral content and tips for creating a competitive entry.
What it Takes to Win:
An international panel of judges will select three winners. Submissions will be evaluated based on the originality of the proposal and its potential to help audiences differentiate fact from fiction and spread the word widely. The top three winners will receive cash prizes of $10,000, $5,000 and $2,500 (USD) respectively.
Some Additional Resources:
First Draft News resources for fact-checking and verification
The Dangers of Fake News Spread to Data Visualization, MediaShift
Fake news: an insidious trend that’s fast becoming a global problem, The Guardian
