Comments on: #Fact: You Need to Be a Fact-Checker

By: KC Cowan

KC Cowan — Sat, 06 Jan 2018 03:13:15 +0000

Paul makes a good point. You as a writer are responsible to spreading the correct information and teaching the public true, unbiased facts. When people willingly leave out points that go against their expected results or twist the information so that its meaning is transformed, they are harming society’s knowledge of what’s right and wrong, creating ignorance and beliefs backed by false facts.

By: Paul Stiles

Paul Stiles — Sat, 06 Jan 2018 00:23:03 +0000

I feel that utilizing fact checking indirectly plays into one’s ethics. Spreading incorrect information can not only ruin your own reputation but also the subject of the incorrect information. If the incorrect information is negative it can wrongfully stigmatize the subject in question.

By: Tom Conroy

Tom Conroy — Fri, 05 Jan 2018 21:35:57 +0000

This XKCD comic explains the issue with fact-checking things on Wikipedia or using Wikipedia as a source: https://xkcd.com/978/

As one of the medium article states, you have to go to the actual source to fact-check information. Just because it is referenced in multiple places doesn’t make it a fact. To spread misinformation only makes it more convincing.

By: Tracy Duong

Tracy Duong — Fri, 05 Jan 2018 13:46:48 +0000

One reason why this is an important tip because as a writer your reputation in on the line. Another reason is because your brand is on the line. Finally, the last reason is because incorrect facts can take its own course online.