4 Verification and Source Evaluation Free Online FlashCards

What is verification in journalism?

Verification means checking whether information is accurate before publication and revisiting it as a story develops.

How should journalists treat a source’s claim?

A source’s claim is evidence to investigate, not a substitute for reporting. Journalists remain responsible for accuracy.

How should expertise and access be assessed?

Assess whether the source has relevant knowledge or firsthand access to the specific claim; expertise in one area may not establish another fact.

Why check whether sources are independent?

Check whether sources know the facts independently. Many sources repeating one original claim do not provide strong corroboration.

What makes corroborating evidence stronger?

Seek evidence from different routes, such as a firsthand account, a contemporaneous record, and an independent expert or witness.

What should journalists check when verifying a document?

Seek the original document or a complete, reliable copy, then check its origin, creator, date, purpose, and how it was obtained.

How can journalists check an image’s claimed place and time?

Compare landmarks, signs, language, weather, and other details with independent evidence to test the claimed place and time.

How should an online claim be traced and checked?

Trace the information to its original source; reposts and search results are not confirmation. Check the post’s date, context, and supporting evidence.

How should a journalist report when verification remains incomplete?

State what is known, what remains uncertain, and who is making the unverified claim rather than overstating what the evidence proves.

What does a source’s possible interest tell a journalist?

A source’s personal, political, or financial stake matters when weighing a claim, but an interest does not automatically make the source unreliable.

How can a broad claim be made checkable?

Break the claim into who, what, when, where, and how so each part can be checked.

Why does an authentic document still need scrutiny?

A genuine document can still be incomplete, outdated, altered, or misinterpreted; check relevant context and details.