USA TODAY Fact Check: Standards and Methodology

Our fact-checking program maintains the standards and ethics that guide our entire newsgathering and reporting process.

USA TODAY is also a signatory to the International Fact-Checking Network, which reviews our work to ensure it is done in accordance with the IFCN Code of Principles.

We are fair and balanced in the material we choose to fact-check. We will promptly address claims of inaccuracy, and if an error is found, we will publish a correction.

column: Fact-checking is based on transparency. We invite you to check our work.

How do we find material to verify the facts?

Many of our fact-checking articles are supported in part by a grant from Meta, owner of Facebook, Instagram and Threads. We review content posted on these platforms as part of the company’s effort to combat the spread of fake news and misinformation. We also monitor news reports, other social media platforms and search engine trends for potential claims on the Meta platforms as well as other social media and online sites. We also do a live check of key political events such as debates and speeches.

Readers who wish to submit claims to be considered for fact-checking can contact our team at [email protected].

How do we choose our topics?

When selecting items to fact-check, because we can’t fact-check them all, we focus on those that make a clear claim, are about an important topic, and are widespread enough to merit a response. Even if we don’t count, we strive for balance, ideologically and geographically, in our fact-checking.

Statements that we avoid fact-checking include those that are forward-looking, that are based on opinion rather than statements of fact, or that are being extended to only a limited group of people.

How do we investigate a fact check?

Our reporters follow a consistent process to ensure each claim is treated fairly and consistently. This process includes:

• Asking the person who made the claim for evidence to support the claim and then research that material.

• Interview subject matter experts, usually multiple experts, to gather diverse perspectives and ensure we understand the expert consensus on the topic.

• Review of primary source documents related to the claim.

• Searching official, nonpartisan sources, such as city halls, statehouses, and Congress, for bills, voting records, and budget information; state and federal registries of corporate information and agencies such as the IRS and FEC for relevant data.

Transparency is a core value to our team, so all sources used are hyperlinked in the story text and listed at the end of each fact check.

How do we edit our fact checks?

First, before doing a fact check, a reporter reviews the claim with an editor and discusses the approach.

After the story is written, an editor carefully reviews the fact-check to check the tone and to ensure that the coverage is transparent, relevant and reliable. The editor and reporter work together to confirm that all claims in the story are accurate and that the wording used is fair. Then they choose a rating.

After that, another fact-checking editor reviews your work. If there are any concerns, they seek guidance from a senior editor.

What are our fact-check ratings?

You’ll generally see this structure in each of our stories:

A description of the claim we are checking and the context in which it was made.

A summary of our qualification.

A detailed summary of you findwith links and attribution throughout so readers can see what research and experts we’ve consulted and check our work. These findings will explain how and why we arrived at ours qualification. We use the same rating system described in the Meta fact-checking program:

• false – Content that has no basis in fact.

• altered – Image, audio or video content that has been edited or synthesized beyond adjustments for clarity or quality in a way that could mislead people.

• Partly false – The content has some factual inaccuracies (a mixture of true and false elements).

• Lack of context – Content that implies a false claim without stating it directly.

• satire – Content that uses irony, exaggeration, or absurdity for criticism or awareness, especially in the context of political, religious, or social issues, but that a reasonable user would not immediately understand as satirical.

• It’s true – Content that does not contain inaccurate or misleading information.

How do we fact check live events?

In addition to fact-checking articles, our team does “live” fact-checking for major political events such as debates, conventions and keynote speeches. This is separate from our work with Meta.

For these events, we use a blog format to concisely present and analyze claims during and immediately after the event. Our criteria for selecting claims is the same as for standard fact checks: statements that are clear and address a topic of widespread interest and importance. Our live work also adheres to the same standards in identifying the author of each blog post, relying only on the most authoritative sources, and including links to all sources so readers can check out our work.

Our coverage includes blog posts with traditional ratings, as well as unrated posts where we add context or explanation to claims that don’t have one.

Examples from 2024:

Who is part of the fact-checking team?

Fact checks are reported by journalists on our fact-checking team, under the direction of two veteran editors with extensive fact-checking experience:

• Eric Litke leads the team, where he has been working as an editor since April 2021. He oversees hiring, standards, training, story assignments, and all other day-to-day operations. Eric previously worked as a reporter for PolitiFact Wisconsin, a data reporter for the Milwaukee Journal Sentinel, and an investigative reporter for the USA TODAY NETWORK-Wisconsin investigative team. He has a degree in journalism from Northwestern University – St. Paul and a master’s degree in data science from the University of Wisconsin – Green Bay.

• Brad Sylvester has worked as an editor on the team since September 2022. Previously, he worked as a reporter, editor and managing editor at Check Your Fact. Brad has a BA from Fordham University.

What if we need to correct something?

We recognize that errors may occur, or that new information may emerge after a story is published, and we are committed to addressing all concerns promptly, fairly, and transparently.

If a correction or clarification is warranted, we’ll highlight it in the original fact-check and explain to readers why the change was made. Any corrections or clarifications will also be posted to our correction log.

We are signatories to the Code of Principles of the International Fact-Checking Network. If you believe we have violated these principles, you can report it to IFCN using this form.

This article originally appeared on USA TODAY: USA TODAY Fact Check: Standards and methodology