Accuracy& Verification

Georgetown UniversitySept. 17, 2011Steve Buttry

Read more about it• stevebuttry.wordpress.com• @stevebuttry• stephenbuttry@gmail.com

Plan for the day• Intro and overview• Causes and types of errors• Getting it right• Vetting & verifying info from social media• Taking accurate notes• Preventing errors• If your sources are wrong …

Your worst error …

Journalism basicsThe 5 W’s• Who?• What?• When?• Where?• Why?• How?

Journalism basicsThe 5 W’s• Who?• What?• When?• Where?• Why?• How?

Just as essential• How do you know

that?• How else do you

know that?

Degrees of truth• “Truthiness” & “Semi-True Story”• Accurate but incomplete & misleading• Accurate in context• Truth = Accuracy + context + credibilitySPJ Code of Ethics:

“Seek truth and report it.”

Causes & types of errors

Get the names right• Ask each source to spell name• Spell name back (even common names)• Show spelling in notebook• Get it in writing (biz card, desk, notebook,

program)• Check online & archives (but be careful)• Get contact info

How do you know that?• If first-hand knowledge: What did you

see? What did you hear? Feel? Smell?• If heard it, from whom? How can I reach

him/her?• If read it, where? Where can I get that

document or report?• Don’t worry about annoying source w/

questions.

Evaluate the source• Does he/she have official access?• Is he/she well-connected to get unofficial

access?• Your history w/ source• Source’s motivation in telling the truth

(or lying)

Evaluate the info• Is it theory, speculation, rumor or fact?• Is it current?• Is it complete?• What is the context?• Does is make sense?• If it sounds too good to be true …

Challenge the information• Who else would know?• What documents would confirm or

refute?• Who would have a different perspective?• Who would wish this wasn’t true?

Vetting & verifying

Use technology• Make audio recording (audio clips are

good web content)• Make video recording (or livestream

event/interview• Take notes at keyboard (or liveblog)• Take photos (not just for story)

Why take (good) notes?• Some sources don’t want to be recorded• You can’t always record everything on

video• You don’t have time to replay full

recorded interview/event• Recording equipment malfunctions• Audio may be inaudible

What goes in notes?• You’re doing story, not minutes or

transcript• Record what’s relevant for story• Distinguish between info & quotes• Take context notes• Record your questions in notes

Echo, echo, echo • Slow speaker down & repeat (You said

fifteen – one-five – million with an M, right?)

• Rephrase (Let me make sure I understood correctly: You said …)

• Repeat in your mind as you’re taking key quote down

Workflow for accuracy• Liveblog and/or live-tweet• Review, expand & annotate notes right

after interview/event• Write right away (even if story is a long-

term one)• Review quotes in recordings

Get the “WalMart sack”

Get the “WalMart sack”Ask sources for documentation:• Contemporary notes, journals, diaries,

emails, letters• Photos• Videos (security, media, personal)• Personal

What’s in the WalMart sack?• Documentation• Context• Details • Authenticity• Credibility• Truth