Fact-check Your Facts

Jon Stewart's recent take on CNN fact-checking should be a lesson to us all.

Whenever we submit information to news outlets we should have already checked our facts. Our press release statements about the effectiveness or the measurement of results needs to be substantiated.

As a journalist I had to check my facts, down to the correct spelling of names and I had to be sure the information I received from sources passed a litmus test. The information needed to be viable or it was either described as alleged or discarded.

Theoretically, news outlets are supposed to present both sides of a story or an issue. So, if Senator SoandSo says that health care will only improve health options for three million people, that number must be substantiated. In other words, where did he (or she) get that three million person figure? Rather than just going along with this person's point of view and collected numbers, news teams are expected to verify that information and provide another point of view to be sure that the audience is getting "the full story" so to speak.

When using "facts" in a pitch (or press release) we need to be prepared to back up our claims with evidence. It can be a qualified report or other credentialed information that can be confirmed.

And this applies to more than just numbers and statistics. For example, if we wanted to reference the praise a particular theatrical production received, we don't simply say "This production has been praised by theater critics." Instead, we cite a quote or portions of a quote and name the critic and his or her credentials (theater critic for local newspaper, etc.). This makes the praise "real."

All of this goes a long way in making us believable and that's what needs to happen if we want to be viewed as reliable sources in any newsroom.