We recently did a newsletter on how to know if your source material is AI-generated, but what if the fabrication has nothing to do with technology? Before taking a source at their word, we all need to take time to be sure to evaluate the trustworthiness of their statements. Here’s our advice on how to do this.
1. Verify their credentials and track record
The internet is rife with self-proclaimed experts and journalists. Establish their expertise by reviewing if their work has been published in credible media and check that they back up any claims with evidence or recent research. Reviewing previous statements from a source can also help you uncover if they are providing unbiased information or are simply trying to push an agenda.
2. Use multiple sources
Don’t rely on one voice. This is essential for avoiding biases of a single source as well as your own. In order to become a trusted journalist you need to present information in an accurate and fair way, keeping the public informed and aware of multiple viewpoints. Reach out to trusted experts to build relationships with them. While this can be harder for freelancers than staff journalists, many experts are easily accessible via social media.
3. Don’t include any CRAAP
Created by librarians at California State University, Chico, the CRAAP test is an evaluation tool to assess the reliability of information. Examine any statements given by sources by considering:
● Currency: The timeliness of the information.
● Relevance: The importance of the information for your needs.
● Authority: The source of the information.
● Accuracy: The reliability, truthfulness, and correctness of the content.
● Purpose: The reason the information exists.
This litmus test is also helpful when you are editing and reviewing your own work.
4. Not all research is created equally
The CRAAP test is great for evaluating any information received but beyond individual sources, you must ensure any research you include is actually valid and reliable. While the words “peer reviewed” may conjure up confidence it does not ensure quality. In order to cite reliable information, check the reputation of the journal and the rigour of the peer review process, as some “predatory” journals have a pay-to-play model, publishing authors for fees rather than testing the legitimacy or evidence-base of their scientific research.
5. Use industry and publication guidelines
There is no need to reinvent the wheel with your own set of guidelines when organisations like the National Union of Journalists (NUJ), the Society of Professional Journalists, and The Guardian set industry standards for responsible reporting. Some organisations even allow members to raise complaints about other members to help maintain ethics in journalism.
6. Anonymise with caution
While the NUJ Code of Conduct ensures that journalists “protect the identity of sources who supply information in confidence” especially in cases of whistleblowing or endangerment, the SPJ cautions journalists to consider a source's motives before promising anonymity. If a source is an expert or speaks with authority, consider why they wouldn’t want to be cited alongside their statements.
At the end of the day, ensuring the credibility of a source goes beyond moral and ethical guidelines as it is paramount to protecting the validity of your own word and work. “It's so important that freelancers are extra vigilant in order to retain their reputation as they don't have a publication to hide behind,” says FFJ co-founder Lily Canter. When in doubt, better to be safe rather than sorry and refuse to include any information you’ve had difficulty verifying. Protect your own reputation and the integrity of the journalism industry by completing due diligence on each of your sources.
Latest podcast episode
In the final episode of this series on Diversifying your income we speak to two freelance journalists who have carved out a side income as public speakers. Award-winning podcaster Hannah Ajala and BBC freelancer Dhruti Shah discuss how they find work as inspirational speakers and take us behind the scenes of the planning process.
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