Journalism EssentialsA limited series on media literacy and journalism skills from The School of The New York Times
Greetings, friends. My name is Ted Kim, and I oversee the newsroom’s early careers team. Tracking down and verifying factual information is central to a journalist’s work. If the goal of news is to inform, then chasing down the truth — the idea of “what actually happened” — remains the mission. That is especially critical at a time when people are bombarded by lots of information varying in type, quality and credibility. This is the second installment in a limited series about media literacy grounded in our many years of experience and based on some of what we teach at The School of The New York Times, a summer program for high school students. (The school is a licensee of our company and not a part of our newsroom, though we do help shape the school’s curriculum.) The first newsletter touched on journalism’s role in society. In this edition, we’ll explore fact-checking. Let us know what you think, and thanks to The Learning Network for giving us this space to talk about journalism. Journalists seek the truth and verify facts.Journalism is about getting people reliable information so they can better understand the world around them. To do that, journalists have to seek out the truth and find the facts. This can involve being at an event as it unfolds or talking to people who witnessed something. It can mean getting records or data, or talking to experts or everyday people. There are many ways to track down and verify facts. Here are a few examples: Do the research.Often the place to start is researching an issue or idea. Hannah Dreier, a Times investigative reporter, noticed during wildfires in California that residents were urged to protect themselves by wearing masks. But she observed that some U.S. Forest Service firefighters fought the blazes without masks. Dreier wanted to determine whether the firefighters had the proper safety protections. So, she did her research. She requested records from eight government agencies, analyzed thousands of pages of medical and service records, and created a database that tracked the deployment of wildland firefighters over two decades. All that research, and more than 400 interviews with people, found that the U.S. Forest Service knew of the dangers of wildfire smoke, but failed to provide firefighters with the proper safety equipment. As a result, many firefighters got very sick and some died. After her articles published, the government passed new rules protecting firefighters and approved payments for those with smoke-related cancer. Find primary sources.In journalism, primary sources are people or institutions with firsthand knowledge of facts. That could include people who witness something or institutions that track and gather information. When Emmett Lindner, a Times business reporter, wanted to measure how much gas prices surged in the United States, he went to a primary source that tracked that information: the Energy Information Administration.
When Santul Nerkar, a Times courts reporter, wanted to write about a day care worker accused of stealing millions of dollars, he reviewed court records. And when Amy X. Wang, an editor for The New York Times Magazine, wanted to write about how people who grew up with smartphones decided to live without them, she interviewed New Yorkers who decided to ditch their iPhones for “dumbphones.”
Go to a scene.Sometimes research and talking to sources aren’t enough. When Heather Knight, a Times reporter in California, wanted to write about San Franciscans mourning the loss of a beloved albino alligator, Claude, she attended a memorial service for him. The funeral turned into a party.
Interview experts.When a Times reader wrote in to ask if seltzer was bad for their teeth, Simar Bajaj, a Times health reporter, consulted with experts.
Interview everyday people.Sometimes everyday people are the sources who can best help journalists learn more about an issue. When Kailyn Rhone, a Times business reporter, wanted to write about skyrocketing car loan payments, she talked to people who struggled to afford their vehicles.
Fact-check.After doing all of that reporting, journalists double- and triple-check their facts. They ensure names are spelled correctly, numbers are accurate and other statements about events or facts are true. If a Times reporter or editor makes a mistake, we fix it and publish a correction, which emphasizes our commitment to accuracy. Here’s a suggested activity.Pick a piece of journalism from The New York Times. Read, watch or listen to it and then discuss the following questions:
Share your thoughts on this seriesContact us at theschool@nytimes.com or through this form.
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