Data Journalism Backup Site

Here is my optional tagline

Dec 8 Class

by | Dec 8, 2016 | Fall 2016 Daily-Class

Class Evaluation

untitled

 Thursday’s Class

Fact Check Assignment

This following process is designed to detect errors of all shapes and sizes before publication. It takes time, so be prepared. We are doing this to minimize errors and help produce the best possible stories for our readers.

 

This fact check process was perfected by Sandra Banisky, former Assistant Managing Editor of the Baltimore Sun and Deborah Nelson, J.D., a three time Pulitzer Prize winning journalist. Both are media lawyers and teach at the Univ. of Maryland. They do not mess around.

 

Key points:

–Trust your instincts. If something doesn’t sound right, just flag it and we will examine the material. If something doesn’t seem to add up, let me know.

–Embellishments: This is the time to cut anything that has been massaged, stretched or, God forbid, made up.

–Attribution: Everything must be nailed down with attribution. If not, it will be cut.

–Confirmation: If you can’t confirm something, let me know. Do not let it slide.

 

******

Here are the instructions:

 

In the Google Drive you will find the FACT CHECK COPIES folder.

 

Put your fact-check copies into the individual story fact-check story name folder as soon as you can.

 

1) Check your own work:

For example, check an organization’s name against its official website and put the link in the footnote + your initial. If a fact comes from a report or the U.S. Census, cite file name and page and Google Doc link. All documents used as sources should be uploaded to your story folder.

 

Check all quotes.  Are they accurate? Are they in context? Listen to the audio files on the Google Drive if you have questions.

Go word by word and RE-check every name, job title, number, date, location, and fact against the source — and then footnote the source and INITIAL THE FOOTNOTE.

 

  • Names, emails of sources: Put the names and phone numbers of all your sources into footnotes so that your fact checker can call.
  • Documents: Upload web links or any documents cited in your stories into the Fact Check folder.
  • Each story must be footnoted.  For example, if you have written that Hispanics have a high mortgage rejection rate, you should footnote that fact and show us where you got that information so that the fact checker can find it.  Make the footnotes clear because your colleagues will be checking these stories.

 

5) We have more than one reporter working on some stories. All of you will check the portions of the story that pertain to your reporting. Each one must initial the footnote that s/he has checked so nothing falls through the cracks.

On Thursday, you will fact check someone else’s story or portions of the story:

YOU are responsible for mistakes, including any that your instructors have written in. Fact check and correct ALL facts/ language that we add to your stories during the editing process.

REMEMBER: Fact checking counts toward your grade.

https://drive.google.com/drive/folders/0B9N10qKqBa2zVGtWbVctNU9kZTQ

Personal Finance Sidebar

–Nanci, Isabel, Grant, Braden, Chandler, Taylor:

Review all of the interviews so far and extract any tips on how consumers can navigate the home buying process. Put these into a story and write it up today. Use this document. Shoot for 300 words or so. Suggest any photos or graphics. Insert Fact Check footnotes.

https://docs.google.com/document/d/1zOwf8HQb0fEd4RzFfNGmsNOPXLS8Se7mMypP4qFmG4U/edit

 

Link to the Drive

https://drive.google.com/drive/folders/0B9N10qKqBa2zVGtWbVctNU9kZTQ