Fact Checking Guide (2025): Simple Steps for Everyone

Introduction to fact checking

The short answer is: fact checking means verifying whether a claim, image, video, or website is accurate before you share or publish it. In the U.S. information ecosystem of 2025—where rumors, AI‑generated content, and partisan spin travel fast—clear, repeatable checks are essential for journalists and the general public. This guide gives you a practical workflow you can run in minutes, using only free, familiar tools. You’ll learn how to spot red flags, confirm context (who/what/where/when/why), and document your work so others can trust your conclusion.

Use this as a quick course or a desk reference. Each section is short, scannable, and written for non‑experts. No specialized software needed.

What is “fact checking”?

Fact checking is the process of evaluating a claim against reliable, independent evidence. In practice: identify the exact assertion, find the best primary sources, compare details and dates, and explain your verdict clearly and transparently.

Quick Index of fact checking

• Core workflow (10‑minute method)
• Claims vs. images vs. videos vs. websites
• Easy tools you already have
• Red flags & credibility cues
• FAQs
• References (APA)

What’s the fastest way to fact‑check something?

Answer (30 seconds): Capture the exact claim, search for original sources and independent coverage, check date/context, and stop if you can’t confirm. For visuals, run a reverse‑image/video check and look for location/time clues.

Core Workflow: The 10‑Minute Method of fact checking

1) Pin down the claim

• Copy the exact wording. Strip out opinion and keep the verifiable part.
• Note the who/what/where/when referenced.

2) Check for existing fact checks

• Search the wording + keywords (person, place, year). Try “site: reputable outlet + keyword”.
• Look for prior fact checks by established organizations.

3) Go to primary sources

• Laws/data: government domains (.gov), official stats, court records.
• Science/health: official agency pages (e.g., CDC, FDA), peer‑reviewed sources or summaries by major outlets that link to them.

4) Compare dates & context

• Is this old news recirculating?
• Is a quote truncated or missing context?

5) For images/videos

• Run a reverse‑image search; scan for earlier or different contexts.
• Inspect clues: signage, weather, accents, landmarks, license plates.

6) Check the source’s credibility

• About page, masthead, corrections policy, funding/ownership.
• Look for transparent methodology and corrections.

7) Write a quick verdict

• True / Misleading / Unproven / False (pick one).
• Add 2–3 bullet points summarizing why, and keep your source links.

How to Check Different Things

A) Claims & statistics

• Find the origin: press release, speech transcript, law text, dataset.
• Match numbers: confirm definitions (e.g., unemployment vs. labor force participation). Watch for percent vs. percentage points.

B) Photos & images

• Reverse‑image search to find earliest appearance and alternate contexts.
• Look for visual seams or odd reflections; compare shadows and weather with the claimed time/place.

C) Videos

• Pull key frames (pause at clear moments) and reverse‑image search them.
• Verify where (landmarks, maps) and when (sun angle, event calendars, weather reports).

D) Websites & authors

• Check the About/Contact page and the domain’s registration data.
• Scan previous posts for patterns: satire, uncorrected errors, or clear bias.

Easy Tools to check You Already Have (No Expertise Needed)

• Web search for prior fact checks and original sources.
• Reverse image search (built into major search engines).
• Lens‑style visual search (on phones and desktop browsers) to look up images or text in screenshots.
• Web archives to see older versions of pages.
• Domain registration lookup (WHOIS) to see who owns a site.
• Browser extension for photo/video verification (one‑click toolkit).

Tip: Use more than one tool. If two independent sources agree, confidence rises.

Red Flags & Credibility Cues

Red flags (slow down):

• ALL‑CAPS, lots of emojis, or sensational tone.
• Cropped screenshots with no link to the source.
• Claims that depend on a single anonymous post.
• Recycled images with a new caption.

Credibility cues (green lights):

• Transparent sources and methodology.
• Clear bylines, masthead, and a working corrections policy.
• Consistent publishing standards across topics.

Mini‑Checklists

Image checklist
Earliest use? / Where? / When? / What’s outside the frame? / Any edits? / Matches other angles?

Video checklist
Key‑frame search / Landmarks & maps / Local news match / Time‑of‑day & weather / Ambient audio clues

Website checklist
About page / Ownership & funding / Contact info / Corrections / Domain age & registrant / Track record

FAQs

Is fact checking only for journalists?
No. Anyone can do it with a simple, repeatable method.

What if I can’t verify a claim?
Label it unproven and don’t share it until you find reliable sources.

Do I need special software to check?
No. Built‑in search, reverse‑image tools, web archives, and one verification add‑on cover most cases.

How should I write my verdict?
Use plain language (True / Misleading / Unproven / False) and list the key evidence.

References:

Associated Press. (n.d.). AP Fact Check. AP News. https://apnews.com/ap-fact-check

Bellingcat. (2021, November 1). A beginner’s guide to social media verification. https://www.bellingcat.com/resources/2021/11/01/a-beginners-guide-to-social-media-verification/

Bellingcat. (2025). Online open source investigation toolkit. https://bellingcat.gitbook.io/toolkit

FactCheck.org. (n.d.). FactCheck.org. https://www.factcheck.org/

Google. (n.d.). Fact Check Explorer. https://toolbox.google.com/factcheck/explorer

Google. (n.d.). Google Images. https://images.google.com/

Google. (n.d.). Google Lens. https://lens.google/

InVID & WeVerify. (n.d.). Fake news debunker by InVID & WeVerify [Chrome extension]. https://chromewebstore.google.com/detail/fake-news-debunker-by-inv/mhccpoafgdgbhnjfhkcmgknndkeenfhe

Internet Archive. (n.d.). Wayback Machine. https://web.archive.org/

International Fact‑Checking Network. (n.d.). IFCN code of principles. Poynter Institute. https://ifcncodeofprinciples.poynter.org/

News Literacy Project. (n.d.). Checkology. https://checkology.org/

News Literacy Project. (n.d.). RumorGuard. https://www.rumorguard.org/

PolitiFact. (n.d.). PolitiFact. https://www.politifact.com/

Reuters. (n.d.). Reuters Fact Check. https://www.reuters.com/fact-check/

Snopes Media Group. (n.d.). Snopes. https://www.snopes.com/

TinEye. (n.d.). TinEye reverse image search. https://tineye.com/

Read also: Misinformation vs. Disinformation: Understanding the Difference