Verification & Data Visualization

• Story Verification
  - Objectivity involves verifying facts; techniques of Verification


• Edit with skepticism (aka Prosecutorial Editing).


• Adjudicating (act as a judge) a story line by line.


• When Editing, Ask Questions


• How do we know this?


• Why would a reader believe this?


• What is the assertion behind the sentence?


• Tip: Editor and reporter sit side by side to edit the story.
   - Keep an Accuracy Check List


• Ask More Questions


• Is the lead of the story sufficiently supported?


• Is the context of the story complete?


• Are all stakeholders in the story identified?


• Have other sides of this issue been contacted?


• Does the story pick sides or make subtle value judgements?


• REMEMBER: When a journalist has an agenda going into an interview the story them becomes propaganda.
 - Final Questions To Ask


• Have you attributed (given credit to) all of these facts in the story?


• Do the facts back you up your story?


• Did you double check the quotes and make sure they are in proper context?


• Data Visualization / Information Graphics
  - Information graphic is a set of information organized in a visual manner.
  - Information design makes complex information understandable to more people than traditional text.