Is fact checker a real job? Simply the facts. Finding the facts, and only the facts, is what a fact checker’s work is all about. Fact checkers are often employed in the research divisions of periodicals, internet media, book publishers, or television news programs. They go through each article with a fine tooth comb to ensure that all of the facts are correct. They are critical in averting litigation and preserving a media organization’s reputation.
Fact checkers must be able to corroborate a source’s specifics without diluting them. As part of their research, they may need to validate dates of events, the names of quoted sources, or the accuracy of the conclusions of referenced studies or polls.
Although a fact checker is considered an entry-level position, it is a vital one. Fact checkers frequently operate under time constraints. To be an effective fact checker, you must be fair and unbiased, possess great research abilities, and be exceedingly detail-oriented. Some businesses may demand a Bachelor’s degree in journalism, English, or communications for fact checkers. However, if you have a high school graduation, internships may be possible.
Fact checker: Overview the job
Fact-checkers frequently work in magazine research departments or on television news broadcasts. They methodically look over each tale to authenticate all of the information included within it. This might include verifying a person’s age or what the subject is supposed to have stated.
Fact-checkers are the second line of defense in preventing errors. If someone becomes enraged and threatens to sue because of the substance of a news or feature piece, the newspaper or show has many persons who can verify the accuracy of the information.
Many fact checkers must possess particular talents in order to carry out their duties. We were able to narrow down the most typical talents for a person in this role by reviewing applications. Many resumes mentioned communication abilities, customer service skills, and dexterity.
Fact-Checker Duties & Responsibilities
The tasks of a fact checker begin with solid research skills and an instinct for detecting when a fact has been established. These responsibilities include:
- Confirming specifics: A fact-checker must be able to confirm details with a source without diluting or changing the overall story.
- Copy correction may include spelling, grammatical, and punctuation problems.
- Confirm historical data: The dates of events that occurred decades ago are just as essential as the dates of current ones.
- Confirm data: This might include the results of research and surveys that have been quoted.
- Confirm identities: The names, addresses, and identities of cited sources must be checked, including whether they actually stated or inferred the information that is being ascribed to them without frightening them and maybe forcing them to recant their remarks.
Education, Training, & Certification
Most fact-checkers with little experience start out in entry-level roles, but education is still necessary to acquire one of these positions.
- Education: A minimum of an associate degree is required, and a bachelor’s degree is desirable. English, communications, and journalism are suggested majors. According to Salary Expert, just approximately 2% of all fact-checkers have a high school graduation. Approximately 68 percent hold bachelor’s degrees, while 30 percent hold master’s or doctoral degrees.
- Certificates: In most cases, no certifications are necessary to operate in this area.
How To Become a Fact Checker
One of the first things to consider if you want to become a fact checker is how much schooling you’ll need. We discovered that 77.6% of fact checkers hold a bachelor’s degree or higher. In terms of higher education, 13.6% of fact checkers hold a master’s degree or above. Even though most fact checkers have a college degree, becoming one with only a high school diploma or GED is difficult.
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Top fact checker employers
Here is a list of the fact checker employers you can consider:
Rank 1: Harvard University
Average salary: $106.596
Hourly rate: $51.25
Harvard University, located in Cambridge, Massachusetts, is a private Ivy League research university.
Harvard University’s faculty and employees come from extremely varied demographic backgrounds. The organization is made up of 48.0% women and 39.1% ethnic minorities. Despite its other variety, Harvard University staff are significantly low in political diversity. It has an extremely high number of Democratic Party members on its payroll, at 94.0%. Employees appear to like working in an otherwise diverse workplace controlled by Democratic Party members. Harvard University has a high level of employment retention, with employees remaining on average for 4.6 years. The typical Harvard University employee earns $62,600 per year.
Rank 2: PopSugar
Average salary: $94.568
Hourly rate: $45.47
POPSUGAR is a global women’s lifestyle brand that provides news, trends, and advice in the areas of entertainment, fashion, parenting, fitness, and shopping. It also provides unique video content series, live event coverage, retail experiences, and one-on-one celebrity and expert interviews to women between the ages of 18 and 40. POPSUGAR helps organizations reach their customers by generating branded content, unique solutions, and material in a variety of media such as display, video, mobile, and offline experiences. Andy Moss, Jason Rhee, Arthur Cinader, Krista Moatz, Lisa Sugar, and Brian Sugar founded POPSUGAR in April 2006 in San Francisco, California. Sequoia Capital and Institutional Venture Partners have invested in it, and it has offices in Chicago, London, Los Angeles, New York, and San Francisco.
Rank 3: Creative Associates International
Average salary: $90.394
Hourly rate: $43.46
Creative is an international development organization that helps individuals all around the world achieve the positive change they desire.
Creative Associates International is a well-known business. It was established in 1977. With 23.1% of its workers having attended George Washington University, The, this time-tested corporation loves to hire graduates from George Washington University, The. Looking for more amazing places to work in Washington, DC? You may view our complete list of the Best Companies to Work For in Washington, DC. The average annual salary at Creative Associates International is $85,441.
Rank 4: Dotdash
Average salary: $89.523
Hourly rate: $43.04
On, Inc. writes online about hundreds of niche areas using a network of over 500 experts.
Dotdash’s workforce is particularly diversified in terms of demographics. The firm is made up of 51.2% women and 36.9% ethnic minorities. Dotdash personnel are significantly deficient in political diversity, despite their variety in other areas. It has an extremely high number of Democratic Party members on its payroll, at 94.0%. Employees appear to like working in an otherwise diverse workplace controlled by Democratic Party members. Dotdash has excellent employee retention, with employees remaining on average for 4.7 years. The typical Dotdash employee earns $104,545 per year.
Rank 5: New York University
Average salary: $82.717
Hourly rate: $39.77
New York University is a private research university located in Manhattan.
New York University’s faculty and employees come from exceptionally diverse demographic backgrounds. The organization is made up of 57.0% women and 49.1% ethnic minorities. Despite its other variety, staff at New York University are significantly deficient in political diversity. It has an extremely high number of Democratic Party members on its payroll, at 96.0%. Employees appear to like working in an otherwise diverse workplace controlled by Democratic Party members. New York University has a high level of employee retention, with employees remaining on average for 4.8 years.
Verification vs fact checking
Whether you are writing a blog or a press release, you should be able to determine whether a statement is factual. Fact checkers verify facts to ensure that the information is accurate and that the source is credible. This can help fight the spread of misinformation.
Fact checking has become a profession, and there are hundreds of fact-checking organisations in the world. Fact checkers conduct background checks, check the credibility of the sources and examine the validity of the claims.
Some fact checkers may be a single individual who uses a website, while others may be a team of two or more journalists. A team of fact-checkers may work as an adversary, where they are split into two groups, each debating the “evidence” presented by the other.
Fact checkers usually base their work on publicly available evidence. For example, think tank reports or government data are common sources. Fact checkers may talk to the people who are quoted in articles to get their perspectives on the statements.
Using a fact-checking site or subject wiki
Using a fact-checking site or subject wiki as a fact checker is a real job. It’s an important one, as consumers have become increasingly skeptical of news organizations. Some are taking the necessary steps to fix the problem.
A reputable website will make sure your articles meet all the standard criteria. For instance, it should provide a list of fact-checking websites and include a rating system. Also, the URL may have to be shortened.
The first rule of thumb is that it’s a good idea to check the Wikipedia page for accuracy before you post any factual claims. The site is a good place to find credible sources of information, but it’s not perfect.
It’s also important to note that Wikipedia is not the only site that can do this. A few examples include Politifact and Snopes. Other sites like Facebook and Google are also doing their part to fix the problem.
Another useful fact-checking trick is to check out the history page of an article. It may not be the prettiest page in the world, but it provides a good indication of how reliable an article is.
Handling sources with kid gloves
Putting together a fact check may seem like a task best left to the ninjas of the night. Luckily, there are a bevy of slick-shmucks to fall back on. Whether you are on the hunt for a sexiest woman in the universe, or just a slacker looking for a night on the town, there’s a slick-shmuck out there to help you out. After all, who wants to go up against a pack of bozos? In fact, these slick-shmucks are more than happy to fill out their quota. After all, if you can’t be bothered to pay them, why bother?
Having said that, the slick-shmuck may not be the only option for you, and that’s ok. A little common sense can go a long way. That’s why we are here to help. Luckily, we’ve got a slick-shmuck on hand, a slick-shmuck for every single day of the week. In fact, you’re not going to believe the price you pay, unless you’re willing to get on the phone.
Compensation depends on years of experience
Getting paid for fact checking depends on the size of your employer, your years of experience, and your education. Almost all fact checkers have bachelor’s or master’s degrees. For an entry-level position, you may only have one to three years of experience. However, senior-level positions require eight years or more of experience. If you’re considering a career in fact checking, you should pursue an associate or bachelor’s degree in journalism, communications, English, or a related field.
You’ll need to be able to meet deadlines and perform research. You may also have to work overtime. Some fact checking positions are paid by the hour. Depending on your employer, you may be required to take a written test and obtain certifications.
Fact checking is an important skill, and there are many different groups that can be hired to conduct research and verify information. These groups will focus on politicians, reporters, and other people who make false claims. They can also file complaints with official bodies and demand formal corrections.
Job Outlook
In this modern age, print media is becoming less and less relevant, yet journalism and information are not going away; they are just taking on new forms. Regardless of technology, fact-checkers should be necessary on a regular basis.
Conclusion
Fact checkers are real people who work to verify the accuracy of information. They are employed by various organizations, including news outlets, magazines, and websites. Their job is to research statements made by public figures and ensure that the information is correct before it is published. Fact checkers use a variety of resources to verify information, including interviews, court documents, and government records.-Manyfact checkers have backgrounds in journalism or political science. They must be able to think critically and question sources in order to get to the truth.-Fact checking is an important job because it helps ensure that the public has access to accurate information. It also helps hold public officials accountable for their statements.
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