A lot of people (including me) complain about "fact checkers". An organization that is actually doing something about it is the Society Library. They use curated argument mapping to exhaustively link claims, counterclaims, and references on controversial topics.
The idea that controversial and complex arguments can proceed in any other way (e.g. by outsourcing your opinion to an opaque and possibly incompetent or corrupt fact-checking authority) is counterproductive, to say the least.
The Society Library has in fact been hired by Poynter’s International Fact-Checking Network (mentioned in the article above) to create an educational curriculum for fact checkers.
Most worrying is the complete shutdown of dissent. Even things once considered cold, hard, uncontested fact have been successfully shot down by a proper dissent. The fast and loose open-to-interpretation "fact checks" don't stand much of a chance.
Lately, I have to read a variety of sources, most of them non-American, to legitimize news of a geopolitical nature. Nobody respects mainstream media, be it online or print. Technical data or medical information is usually verifiable from larger university studies, but you again have to follow the funding. Words are plentiful, but truth and accuracy are a delicacy rarely enjoyed these days!
A lot of people (including me) complain about "fact checkers". An organization that is actually doing something about it is the Society Library. They use curated argument mapping to exhaustively link claims, counterclaims, and references on controversial topics.
The idea that controversial and complex arguments can proceed in any other way (e.g. by outsourcing your opinion to an opaque and possibly incompetent or corrupt fact-checking authority) is counterproductive, to say the least.
The Society Library has in fact been hired by Poynter’s International Fact-Checking Network (mentioned in the article above) to create an educational curriculum for fact checkers.
See: https://societylibrary.medium.com/improving-fact-checking-by-improving-context-checking-93af262baac1
Most worrying is the complete shutdown of dissent. Even things once considered cold, hard, uncontested fact have been successfully shot down by a proper dissent. The fast and loose open-to-interpretation "fact checks" don't stand much of a chance.
Well written article Katherine. Right now, I think many people are questioning the integrity of all fact checking media. Media in general.
Kathleen Foster
I think calmatters has some quality journalists and good ethics.
Lately, I have to read a variety of sources, most of them non-American, to legitimize news of a geopolitical nature. Nobody respects mainstream media, be it online or print. Technical data or medical information is usually verifiable from larger university studies, but you again have to follow the funding. Words are plentiful, but truth and accuracy are a delicacy rarely enjoyed these days!