How to Be a Fact-Checker

As the amount of online information continues to grow, the ability to discern fact from fiction is becoming increasingly important. One way to do this is to learn how to be a fact-checker. In this blog post, we’ll cover:

• What it means to be a fact-checker
• Why fact-checking is important
• What skills a fact-checker needs
• How to become a fact-checker

Whether you’re a journalist, a student, an editor, or just someone who wants to be better informed, this post will provide the tools you need to become a skilled fact-checker.

What Does a Fact-Checker Do?

A fact-checker is a professional who verifies the accuracy and truthfulness of information presented in various forms of media, including:

• News articles
• Videos
• Social media posts
• Podcasts
• Books
• Documentaries
• Articles and blog posts
• Reports

A fact-checker’s primary responsibility is to ensure that the information presented is truthful, unbiased, and supported by credible sources. Typical tasks of a fact-checker include:

• Conducting research to verify claims made in a piece of content
• Analyzing sources to determine their credibility
• Communicating with writers and editors to make necessary corrections

A fact-checker’s work is an essential part of the editorial process. Fact-checking helps improve content quality and prevent the publication of false information. These functions are vital because publishing false information could lead to legal repercussions (such as accusations of defamation, libel, and plagiarism) for an individual or organization.

You can read more about the fact-checking process in our blog post “What Is Fact-Checking, and Why Is It Important?”

Fact-Checking Across Industries

As established above, many different forms of media may require fact-checking. Fact-checkers are employed across a wide range of industries, from media and journalism to book publishing and business writing. The rapid development of artificial intelligence (AI) and the huge popularity of social media platforms have only increased the need for professional fact-checkers.

The use of AI tools such as ChatGPT is becoming more commonplace among businesses and content creators. AI tools have benefits – you can use them to speed up the content production process, automate tedious tasks, and improve efficiency. Unfortunately, using AI tools in this way also has disadvantages. There is no guarantee that AI-generated information is correct. AI tools work by taking information from various online sources. These sources are not vetted in any way, so they may include biased or even entirely false information.

Similarly, social media has played a big part in the spread of “fake news.” A 2019 poll Centre for International Governance poll found that 86% of the 25,000 people surveyed had seen fake news stories online. For content creators using the internet as a research source, being able to assess whether information is credible is an essential skill.

What Skills Does a Fact-Checker Need?

A professional fact-checker needs a combination of hard and soft skills to excel at their job.

Important hard skills include:

• Great attention to detail
• Well-honed research skills
• The ability to identify credible sources
• Familiarity with data analysis methods
• Critical thinking
• The ability to work to tight deadlines

Fact-checkers need to be able to sift through vast amounts of information and quickly identify what’s accurate and what’s not. They should know how to verify sources, double-check information, and cross-reference data to ensure the accuracy of their findings.

Soft skills are equally important for fact-checkers. These individuals need to be:

• Excellent with communication (so they can convey their findings clearly and persuasively)
• Good on teams (so they can work well with other team members, editors, proofreaders, and subject matter experts)
• Curious
• Open-minded
• Willing to challenge assumptions
• Ethically strong (with a commitment to objectivity and accuracy)

How to Become a Fact-Checker

If you’re new to fact-checking, gaining hands-on experience is crucial. Although theoretical learning is valuable, practical skills are essential if you want to impress employers and stand out in a competitive job market. Below, we’ve provided some tips to help you break into this field.

1. Develop the Right Skills

The fact-checking landscape is constantly evolving, so you need to keep your knowledge up to date. You can do this by:

• Taking a fact-checking course to get to grips with the basics and best practices
• Attending industry seminars and workshops (e.g., this annual fact-checking summit) to build and hone your knowledge
• Staying informed about current affairs and developing technologies (such as AI); for example, you could sign up for updates from reliable news sources and read industry blogs and articles

2. Update Your Resume and Portfolio

Updating Your Resume

Your resume should provide a clear, concise overview of your relevant work experience, skills, and achievements. As a new fact-checker, you may want to consider using a skills-based resume, which will emphasize your transferable skills (and that’s great when you don’t have much experience).

When updating your resume, remember to:

• Keep it clear and concise (include only the most relevant information)
• Use an easy-to-read, scannable format
• Make sure it’s free of spelling, grammar, and punctuation errors
• Highlight transferable skills you’ve developed in other roles (e.g., research, project management, or editorial)
• List any relevant degrees or training courses you’ve done

You should also tailor your resume to each job application, incorporating keywords and phrases from the job description. Doing so makes it more likely that your application will be noticed. Keywords and phrases help recruiters quickly identify whether you have the skills they’re looking for.

Updating Your Portfolio

Creating a portfolio can help showcase your skills and experience to potential employers. Your portfolio should include:

• An elevator pitch that describes your mission and values
• Examples of your work, showing the range of your experience (e.g. articles, books, or podcasts); make sure you provide context for each project
• Testimonials from individuals and companies you’ve worked with

If you don’t have much experience yet, you can include examples that demonstrate any transferable skills you’ve picked up through your education or previous roles.

For example, have you written an essay as part of your studies? If so, you’ve got experience conducting in-depth research and cross-referencing sources. Or perhaps you work with data as part of your job. Then you’ve likely got great attention to detail and the ability to analyze information critically. Did you complete practice exercises or graded tests as part of a fact-checking course certification? Those are also worth highlighting!

Once you’ve gathered examples of your skills and experience, it’s time to select the best format to showcase your work. Several online tools are available that can help you build and share your portfolio. Depending on your personal preference and how strong your technical skills are, you could:

• Create your own website from scratch using a personal website platform, such as Squarespace or WordPress; choose a professional domain name that’s easy to remember, such as your name or a variation on it
• Use an existing website to host your portfolio (e.g., Behance or Canva); this option is typically less time-consuming and requires less technical skill than creating your own website

To organize your work within the portfolio, you should:

• Use tags, categories, or sections to group similar projects for better management and prioritization of projects
• Create a clear and organized navigation structure to help visitors easily locate specific types of work; do this using bullet lists, headings, and subheadings to make the portfolio easy to skim

By following these guidelines, you can ensure that your portfolio is well organized and easy to navigate and presents your work in the best possible light.

3. Look for Fact-Checking Jobs

The key to finding fact-checking jobs is being proactive. Whether you’re completely new to the industry or you’re simply looking for your next project, don’t wait for opportunities to come your way – actively seek them out! Make your intentions and interests known.

Look for Internships or Entry-Level Positions

News organizations, media outlets, and fact-checking organizations often offer internships and entry-level positions. Keep an eye out for opportunities with organizations such as BBC Verify, Snopes, and Media Matters for America.

Check Job Boards

Job boards can be a great place to find freelance and permanent roles. Regularly check general (such as Glassdoor and Indeed) and specialized (such as Mediabistro and Journalism Jobs) jobs boards for fact-checking positions.

Check Freelance Marketplaces

Freelancers can use online markets such as Fiverr, Upwork, and PeoplePerHour to find and apply for long- and short-term roles. These sites can benefit someone new to the field because they offer a chance to gain experience.

Reach Out to Employers Directly

Take a proactive approach by contacting potential clients or companies directly. By sending a speculative email, letter, or connection message, you may discover a great job opportunity you wouldn’t have otherwise known about!

To make the most of reaching out, here are some practical steps to follow:

1. Start by listing which organizations you’d like to work with. Research each company to identify which ones align with your career goals and interests.

2. Prepare a template for your resume and cover letter. Personalize each document to the specific company you’re reaching out to. Highlight your relevant experience and skills to tailor them to the company’s needs.

3. Try to find out who’s responsible for recruitment at each company so you can address your email to them directly. If you can’t find this information, look for general contact details on the company’s website.

4. Contact organizations directly to inquire about job opportunities or request to be added to their list of approved freelancers. Be proactive and follow up if you’re still waiting to hear from them. Doing so will demonstrate your interest in and enthusiasm for working with them.

4. Prioritize Networking

Networking allows you to connect with other professionals, share knowledge and industry insights, and collaborate on projects. Building a solid network can help you establish yourself as a credible fact-checker within the industry, leading to more job opportunities. You can network by:

• Attending industry conferences and events, where you can meet and connect with other professionals
• Joining online groups and forums where you can participate in discussions with other members
• Follow industry influencers (e.g., fact-checking organizations, journalists) on social media platforms, such as X and LinkedIn. Engage with influencers by liking, commenting on, and sharing their posts

Become a Fact-Checker

Are you looking to enhance your content creation skills and unlock job opportunities in the digital space? Look no further than our How to Fact-Check course! With this course, you’ll learn how to fact-check like a professional and create trustworthy content that stands out in today’s crowded digital landscape. Don’t let misinformation and unreliable sources hold you back – enroll today and take the first step toward becoming a fact-checking expert!