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Hoping, this checklist will help you. Also, read my detailed article to get more insights about fact-checking basics.

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Website: yesh.world

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Identifying Key Elements to Check

• [ ] Highlight all factual elements, including:
  • [ ] Names (people, organizations, locations)
  • [ ] Dates (historical events, deadlines, research studies)
  • [ ] Statistics (percentages, averages, numerical claims)
  • [ ] Job titles (ensure accuracy and current status)
  • [ ] Any claims (factual, controversial, or surprising)
  • [ ] Any numerical data (percentages, survey results, financial figures)
  • [ ] Quotes (verify authenticity, context, and source)
• [ ] Flag statements that:
  • [ ] Sound "too good to be true"
  • [ ] Are vague or overly generalized (e.g., "scientists say…")
  • [ ] Use misleading phrasing (e.g., "studies suggest" without citing sources)
  • [ ] Could be considered misleading due to omitted context

Verifying Sources and Data

• [ ] Use only primary or highly credible sources, such as:
  • [ ] Government reports (Census Bureau, WHO, UN, World Bank, etc.)
  • [ ] Peer-reviewed academic journals (via Google Scholar, JSTOR)
  • [ ] Established, reputable news organizations (BBC, The New York Times, Reuters)
  • [ ] Verified corporate reports (SEC filings, financial disclosures)
• [ ] Cross-check information across multiple independent sources.
• [ ] Assess source credibility:
  • [ ] Who published the information?
  • [ ] Do they have a potential bias or agenda?
  • [ ] Is the methodology transparent?
• [ ] Evaluate data accuracy:
  • [ ] Confirm methodology (sample size, study dates, funding sources)
  • [ ] Ensure statistics aren’t manipulated or taken out of context
  • [ ] Differentiate between correlation and causation

Fact-Checking Quotes and Claims

• [ ] Verify direct quotes:
  • [ ] Confirm attribution (speaker, date, context)
  • [ ] Ensure no paraphrasing distorts meaning
  • [ ] Check if the quote has been debunked before
• [ ] Contact individuals for verification if necessary:
  • [ ] Send email to verify, as responses may take time
  • [ ] Ask for source material or supporting documents
• [ ] Identify fabricated statistics, case studies, or references.

Checking Images and Multimedia

• [ ] Run images through verification tools:
  • [ ] Google Reverse Image Search or TinEye for sourcing
  • [ ] Check metadata using Metadata2go for date, location, and device details
• [ ] Ensure captions accurately reflect the image’s context.
• [ ] Detect deepfakes or edited visuals using InVID for videos.
• [ ] Listen for inconsistencies in audio recordings.

Preventing Plagiarism & AI Hallucinations

• [ ] Run text through plagiarism checkers like Copyscape, Paperpal, or Originality.ai.