LibGuides: Fact-Checking & Evaluating Information: Fact-checking Strategies

Core Strategies

Fact-Checking Strategies

Three core strategies:

Reverse Image Search - How to verify images using Google, TinEye, and other tools
Using Wikipedia Wisely - How to leverage Wikipedia as a starting point and mine its citations for credible sources
Fact-Checking Organizations - Using professional fact-checkers like Snopes, FactCheck.org, PolitiFact, and news organization fact-checkers

Reverse Image Search

Images can be misleading—old photos are often recycled to illustrate current events, or images are digitally altered to spread false narratives. Reverse image searching helps you discover the true origin and context of any image.

How to Do It:

Using Google Images:

1. Go to images.google.com
2. Click the camera icon in the search bar
3. Upload an image or paste the image URL
4. Review the results to find the original source and context

Other Tools:

• TinEye (tineye.com) - Specialized reverse image search
• Yandex (yandex.com/images) - Often finds results Google misses
• Bing Visual Search - Microsoft's image search tool

When to Use It:

• Verifying viral social media posts with dramatic photos
• Checking if a news story's image matches the event described
• Investigating profile pictures that seem suspicious
• Confirming the date and location of an image

💡 Pro Tips:

Check the oldest appearance of the image—this is often the original
Look for different contexts in which the image appears
Be skeptical of images with emotional appeals or shocking content

Wikipedia

Use Wikipedia Wisely

While Wikipedia shouldn't be your final source for academic papers, it's an excellent starting point for fact-checking and research. The key is knowing how to use it strategically.

Why Wikipedia Is Useful for Fact-Checking:

• Provides quick overviews of topics, people, and events
• Contains citations to original sources you can verify
• Often updated quickly when major events occur
• Helps you identify key terms and concepts for further research

The Smart Way to Use Wikipedia:

Step 1: Read the Wikipedia article for background context
Step 2: Scroll to the "References" section at the bottom
Step 3: Click through to the original sources cited
Step 4: Evaluate those original sources for credibility
Step 5: Use the credible sources in your research, not Wikipedia itself

What to Watch For:

• Check if there's a warning banner (e.g., "This article needs additional citations")
• Look at the "Talk" and "View History" tabs to see controversies or recent changes
• Be extra cautious with articles on current events or controversial topics
• Verify claims with the cited sources—don't assume Wikipedia is always right

💡 Pro Tips:

Wikipedia is great for finding reliable sources, not for citing directly
Check multiple Wikipedia language versions—they sometimes have different information
Use Wikipedia's citations as a research roadmap

Fact-checking Organizations

Evaluate with Fact-Checking Organizations

Professional fact-checkers investigate viral claims, political statements, and questionable news stories full-time. These organizations are your allies in the fight against misinformation.

Merced College "Evaluating Information" Guide

Information is created across a spectrum of news sites, blogs, podcasts and more. Use the Merced College library guide to get a nuanced look at bias, context, and publications.

Trusted Fact-Checking Sites:

General Fact-Checking:

• Snopes.com - Investigates rumors, urban legends, and viral claims
• FactCheck.org - Nonpartisan project monitoring U.S. politics
• PolitiFact.com - Rates political claims with their "Truth-O-Meter"

News & Media:

• AP Fact Check - From the Associated Press
• Reuters Fact Check - International news verification

How to Use These Resources:

1. Search the claim: Copy and paste the claim into the fact-checker's search bar
2. Review their investigation: Read how they verified or debunked the claim
3. Check their sources: Good fact-checkers cite their evidence
4. Look for updates: Some claims are rated "unproven" initially, then updated

When to Use Them:

• Viral social media posts that seem too extreme or surprising
• Political claims during election seasons
• Health and science claims that contradict expert consensus
• Stories that appeal strongly to emotions

💡 Pro Tips:

If a claim seems outrageous, someone has probably already fact-checked it
Look for fact-checks from multiple organizations for controversial topics
Check the date—old fact-checks may not reflect new information

Checklist

Quick Fact-Checking Checklist

Ask yourself: Does this information make me feel a strong emotion? (Anger, fear, outrage?) If yes, verify before sharing.

Check the source: Who created this content? What is their expertise?

Look at the date: Is this current information or old news being recycled?

Cross-reference: Can you find this information from multiple reliable sources?

Examine the evidence: Are claims backed up with data, studies, or expert quotes?

Consider bias: Does the source have a political, financial, or ideological agenda?

Verify images: Use reverse image search to check if photos match the story