4 Verification and Source Evaluation
Learn how to assess sources, corroborate claims, check documents and digital material, and report uncertainty without overstating what the evidence establishes.
and responsibility
means checking information before publication and revisiting it as a story develops. A source’s claim is evidence to investigate, not a substitute for reporting. Journalists remain responsible for accuracy even when a source seems knowledgeable or a claim is widely repeated.
If is incomplete, report what is known, what remains uncertain, and who is making the unverified claim. Do not present uncertain evidence as if it proves more than it does.
Assessing sources
Assess each source in relation to the specific claim. Consider what the person knows, how they know it, what interests may shape their account, and whether their information can be checked.
Expertise and access: A specialist may explain a technical issue but may not know what happened at a particular meeting. An eyewitness may describe what they saw but may not establish its cause.
Interest and perspective: A source could benefit from a particular account, be protecting someone, or have a personal, political, or financial stake. An interest is relevant to weighing the claim but does not automatically make the source unreliable.
Track record and evidence: Consider whether the source has provided accurate information before and whether they can point to records, data, direct observations, or other checkable evidence.
: Ask whether other sources know the facts independently or are repeating the same original claim. A large number of sources is not strong when they all depend on one person or post.
Identify sources as clearly as possible so readers can judge their relevance and credibility. Use anonymity only when justified, explain it to readers, and seek additional confirmation.
Corroborating claims
begins by breaking a claim into checkable parts: who, what, when, where, and how. Seek evidence that comes through different routes, such as a firsthand account, a contemporaneous record, and an independent expert or witness. Compare details and look for contradictions as well as confirmation.
For serious or disputed claims, contact the person or organization criticized and accurately report its response or lack of response. Different sources may establish different details; do not assume that any one source confirms every part of a claim.
For example, if a neighborhood group posts that a bridge closed after a collision, a journalist might check with the transportation agency, review available incident records, and speak with a witness. If the claim remains unverified, identify who is making it and state what is still uncertain.
Checking documents
starts with the original document or a complete, reliable copy, not just a screenshot, excerpt, or someone’s description. Check who created it, when, for what purpose, and how it was obtained. Where possible, compare it with an issuing organization’s official copy or records.
Inspect relevant dates, signatures, page numbers, attachments, and surrounding context. Confirm that quoted passages say what a source claims they say. A genuine document can still be incomplete, outdated, altered, or misinterpreted. Attribute information to the document when that is where it came from.
Verifying images and video
For an image or video, try to locate the earliest available version and contact the person who captured or posted it. Check whether the scene fits the claimed place and time by comparing landmarks, signs, language, weather, and other details with independent evidence. can reveal earlier appearances or a different context.
may offer clues, but it can be missing or altered; its absence does not prove falsification. Examine the full image or video rather than only a selected frame, and look for signs of editing or misleading cropping. methods can include geolocation, comparison of visual details, frame-by-frame checks, and contacting the original filmer.
Evaluating online information
For online claims, trace the information to its original source rather than treating reposts or search results as confirmation. Check the account’s identity and history, the post’s date and context, and whether linked evidence supports the claim.
A familiar name, professional-looking page, or high engagement is not proof. Vet online information and attribute it to its original source.