Fact Checking 101 Course

Lesson 1 • Core Principles of Verification

Introduces the foundational rules that guide every fact-checking decision. These principles recur in every subsequent chapter as a decision-making framework.

Lesson 2 • The Information Ecosystem

Maps how information travels from source to audience across media channels. Students understand why misinformation spreads and where fact checkers intervene.

Lesson 3 • Anatomy of a Claim

Teaches students to dissect any statement into its checkable components. This skill is prerequisite for all research and sourcing work in later chapters.

Lesson 1 • Evaluating Source Credibility

Applies structured criteria to assess whether a source is trustworthy and relevant. Students practice scoring sources using a repeatable rubric.

Lesson 2 • Recognizing Conflicts of Interest

Trains students to detect financial, ideological, and relational biases in sources. This skill prevents over-reliance on compromised information.

Lesson 3 • Taxonomy of Sources

Categorizes sources by type, proximity to events, and institutional role. Provides a classification system students apply when building a source list.

Lesson 4 • Finding Primary Documents

Guides students to locate original records, data sets, and official publications. Connects directly to the verification principle of going to the original source.

Lesson 1 • Verifying Images and Videos

Covers metadata analysis, reverse search, and geolocation to authenticate visual media. Students practice detecting manipulated or miscontextualized images.

Lesson 2 • Documenting Your Research Trail

Establishes habits for recording every step of the verification process. Proper documentation supports transparency and enables editorial review.

Lesson 3 • Advanced Search Strategies

Teaches Boolean operators, search filters, and query construction for precise results. Students apply these techniques to reduce noise in research tasks.

Lesson 4 • Using Web Archives and Databases

Introduces archival tools that preserve deleted or altered online content. Students learn to retrieve historical versions of web pages and documents.

Lesson 1 • Coordinated Inauthentic Behavior

Examines how networks of fake accounts and bots amplify false narratives. Students identify signals of coordinated campaigns in online content.

Lesson 2 • Propaganda and Persuasion Techniques

Analyzes rhetorical and psychological tactics used to distort perception of facts. Students learn to identify these techniques in text, images, and video.

Lesson 3 • Cognitive Biases in Verification

Identifies how confirmation bias, motivated reasoning, and anchoring affect fact checkers. Students develop habits to counteract bias in their own research.

Lesson 4 • Categories of False Content

Distinguishes misinformation, disinformation, and malinformation by intent and impact. Clear categorization guides the appropriate fact-checking response.

Lesson 1 • Right of Reply and Fairness

Establishes the practice of contacting subjects before publication for comment. Students draft right-of-reply requests and evaluate responses for inclusion.

Lesson 2 • Selecting Claims to Check

Examines the criteria and risks involved in choosing which claims receive scrutiny. Students evaluate selection decisions for bias, impact, and public interest.

Lesson 3 • Core Ethical Obligations

Defines the ethical duties of accuracy, fairness, independence, and accountability. These obligations frame every editorial decision covered in this chapter.

Lesson 4 • Organizational Codes and Standards

Reviews the structure and purpose of editorial codes adopted by fact-checking organizations. Students draft a personal editorial standards statement.

Lesson 1 • Corroboration and Cross-Checking

Establishes the standard of multiple independent sources for any verified claim. Students practice triangulating evidence across source types.

Lesson 2 • The Verification Decision Tree

Presents a step-by-step decision framework for moving from claim to verdict. Students practice applying the tree to sample claims of varying complexity.

Lesson 3 • Speed vs. Accuracy Trade-offs

Addresses the tension between publishing quickly and verifying thoroughly. Students develop personal protocols for managing deadline pressure responsibly.

Lesson 4 • Rating Systems and Verdicts

Surveys common truth-rating scales and the criteria behind each rating level. Students practice assigning consistent ratings using defined rubrics.

Lesson 1 • Structure of a Fact-Check Article

Defines the standard components of a professional fact-check piece from headline to verdict. Students analyze published examples to internalize structural conventions.

Lesson 2 • Writing for Clarity and Accuracy

Applies plain-language principles to complex factual findings without oversimplifying. Students revise sample drafts to eliminate ambiguity and jargon.

Lesson 3 • Communicating Uncertainty Honestly

Teaches students to convey incomplete or contested evidence without misleading readers. Honest uncertainty communication builds long-term audience trust.

Lesson 4 • Citing and Attributing Evidence

Establishes standards for linking, quoting, and attributing every piece of evidence. Proper attribution is essential to transparency and reader trust.

Lesson 1 • Mentoring and Training Others

Develops the skills needed to teach verification practices to colleagues and newsrooms. Students design a short training module based on course content.

Lesson 2 • Building a Personal Verification System

Guides students to synthesize course learning into a personalized, sustainable workflow. Students produce a documented personal fact-checking methodology.

Lesson 3 • Measuring Impact and Effectiveness

Introduces methods for assessing whether fact checks change beliefs or behavior. Students evaluate published impact studies and apply metrics to their own work.

Lesson 4 • Investigating Complex Narratives

Addresses claims embedded in larger narratives that require systemic rather than isolated analysis. Students map narrative structures to identify checkable nodes.