Get the Facts on The Truth

With technology drastically changing and evolving as quickly as it does, the way we as educators think about and utilize technology needs to be adapted as well. With the evolution of Web 2.0, the internet has become a source of multimedia, multimodal communication with unlimited resources and more information than any one person can fathom. In this digital age, finding factual, relevant information can be difficult to do when sifting through fake news and spam posts. While it is our job to teach these critical thinking and investigative skills, I wondered if there are websites or apps that easily allow you to fact-check or confirm viable information. Here are some sites that I found...

 

AllSlides.

While not a fact-checking site, AllSides curates stories from right, center and left-leaning media so that readers can easily compare how bias influences reporting on each topic. 

 

Fact Check.

This nonpartisan, nonprofit project of the Annenberg Public Policy Center of the University of Pennsylvania monitors the factual accuracy of what is said by U.S. political players, including politicians, TV ads, debates, interviews and news releases

 

Media Matters.

This nonprofit and self-described liberal-leaning research center monitors and corrects conservative misinformation in the media.

 

Truth or Fiction.

This nonpartisan website where Internet users can quickly and easily get information about eRumors, fake news, disinformation, warnings, offers, requests for help, myths, hoaxes, virus warnings, and humorous or inspirational stories that are circulated by email.

 

Open Secrets.

This nonpartisan, independent and nonprofit website run by the Center for Responsive Politics tracks how much and where candidates get their money.

 Politifact.

This Pulitzer Prize winning website rates the accuracy of claims by elected officials. Run by editors and reporters from the independent newspaper Tampa Bay Times, Politifact features the Truth-O-Meter that rates statements as "True," "Mostly True," "Half True," "False," and "Pants on Fire."

 

ProPublica.

This independent, nonprofit newsroom has won several Pulitzer Prizes, including the 2016 Prize for Explanatory Reporting. ProPublica produces investigative journalism in the public interest.

 

Snopes.

This independent, nonpartisan website run by professional researcher and writer David Mikkelson researches urban legends and other rumours. It is often the first to set the facts straight on wild fake news claims.

Courtesy of Keegan M @ NU-OTECC