LibGuides: Evaluating Resources: Fact-Checking

Fact-Checking Sites

Snopes
Snopes is the "definitive fact-checking site" and urban myth site. Editors painstakingly track down and verify sources of information to confirm or dispell the internet rumors people send in. It also posts news-- so use the Fact Check section to find their methodical analyses.
When reading Snopes, note the sources that are referenced, including people and publications, and the analysis done on the information received.
Factcheck.Org
This project of the Annenberg Public Policy Center posts articles with detailed fact-checking public policy, health, science, and Facebook/internet/online rumors. In particular, take a look at the video on Internet rumors under Viral Spiral (http://www.factcheck.org/hot-topics/ )
Politifact
"PolitiFact is a fact-checking website that rates the accuracy of claims by elected officials and others who speak up in American politics." Staff are from the Tampa Bay Times, owned by the Poynter Institute. Politifact's most famous feature is the Truth-o-meter. Pay careful attention to the analysis of information the Politifact journalists use-- this is often a source of disagreement with them.
"Top 10 sites to help students check their facts"
This list, from the International Society for Technology in Education, includes other fact-checking websites.

Social Explorer This link opens in a new window
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Social Explorer is an online research tool designed to provide quick and easy access to historical census data and demographic information. It creates maps and reports to help users visually analyze and understand demography and social change throughout history. Users can customize, save, share, print, and email maps and reports and export them to a variety of programs and statistical packages for further analysis and use in reports and presentations.
See Social Explorer Libguide here. http://https://socialexplorer.libguides.com/c.php?g=1109019&p=8086444
Credo Reference This link opens in a new window
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Searchable online reference books such as encyclopedias, dictionaries and quotation books in many subject areas.