FactCheck.org

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FactCheck.org is a nonprofit website whose mission is as follows:

We are a nonpartisan, nonprofit 'consumer advocate' for voters that aims to reduce the level of deception and confusion in U.S. politics. We monitor the factual accuracy of what is said by major U.S. political players in the form of TV ads, debates, speeches, interviews and news releases. Our goal is to apply the best practices of both journalism and scholarship, and to increase public knowledge and understanding.[1]

Prior to fiscal 2010 FactCheck.org is funded entirely by the Annenberg Public Policy Center, the Annenberg Foundation, and grants from the Flora Family Foundation.[2] Subsequently, donations from the general public have also been accepted.[2] The staff includes several journalists, and includes one science journalist.[3]

FactCheck.org accepts both general questions for fact checking,[4] and science-related questions for fact checking,[5] but its main focus is on political claims. FactCheck.org has written in detail about how to determine whether news is fake,[6] and keeps a list of the most common fake news.[7]

Most of its content consists of rebuttals to what it considers inaccurate, misleading, or false claims made by politicians. Other features include:

  • Ask FactCheck:[8] users can ask questions that are usually based on an online rumor.
  • Viral Spiral:[9] a page dedicated to the most popular online myths that the site has debunked. It clarifies the answer as well as links readers to a full article on the subject.
  • Party Lines:[10] talking points that have been repeatedly used by multiple members of a political party.
  • Mailbag:[11] a page for readers' sent letters and praise or disapproval of something said on the site.

Recognition[edit]

The site has gained recognition and won numerous awards for its contributions to political journalism.

  • In 2006, Time magazine named FactCheck.org one of the "25 Sites We Can't Live Without."[12]
  • In 2008, PC Magazine called it one of the "20 Best Political Websites."[13]
  • Between 2008 and 2012, the site won four Webby Awards in the Politics category, in 2008, 2010, 2011, and 2012; as well as four People's Voice Awards in Politics, in 2008, 2009, 2010, and 2012.[14]
  • FactCheck.org won a 2010 Sigma Delta Chi Award from the Society of Professional Journalists for reporting on deceptive claims made about the federal health care legislation.[15]

See also[edit]

External links[edit]

References[edit]