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The list of fact checkers and my two bits about it. We all interned in a newspapers at a time when there were multiple checks for a piece went into into print. At the reporting level, the desk, news editor, proof reading etc.,
So there was an inherent mechanism to see if a piece qualified, the facts and attributions checked by the reporting team, grammar, spelling and rest taken care of by the desk and proof reading section. Now, there isn't any such barrier. A reporters can directly fix the story ...
on the page, and any mistakes can go unnoticed. That is as far as error goes. Even now we can say, the head of the department, bureau chief, or the page in charge goes through the story before it goes in to print. But, are the protocols formal and strong?
That is an era well into history now, so forget about it. We are in digital, and seconds count. In this kind of a situation, do we need protocols or not? How many organizations have a protocol for checks before publishing? How do news televisions prepare for live news breaks?
We have seen even top editors pick up tweets from parody handles and write big columns about it. So, do we know the beast?
I would say, it is just not right for news organizations to set up fake news teams to check in general. As human beings, as writers every one comes with a set of biases, and subjectivity. So, how do I without a bias check my rival's news?
In my view, the news producers, writers and news organizations would do good to themselves and the world if they have in house protocols and fact checking before they tweet, they put out news or video. Without doing that they have no business to be "offering fact check" services
Fact checks have to be clinical operations, it is an enquiry, and no one who has a stake in running a news business should be offering such service. Let it be left to independent organizations, capable of dealing with digital, forensic, and legal checks.
Honestly, you don't need a journalist there. If we have lost credibility as news people, how do we offer unbiased fact check services. How is this joke being passed around as some legitimate service?
Forgot to add. See the repercussions of fake news. Are we prepared to deal with such legislation? - https://singaporelegaladvice.com/law-articles/singapore-fake-news-protection-online-falsehoods-manipulation/
and then see, or read about all the Corona related fake news and arrests - and read what is being written about India "In India, this culture has been aided by politicians and influential public figures peddling bogus information." https://foreignpolicy.com/2020/04/17/fake-news-real-arrests/
