Research Guides: Political Science: Evaluating Resources

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Fact-Checking Tools

In an age of misinformation, false claims, and fake news, it is extremely important to verify the validity of any important information you find while conducting your research, as well as in your daily life.

"A good fact-checking site uses neutral wording, provides unbiased sources to support its claims and reliable links. Readers should apply the same critical thinking/questioning to fact-check sites.” -- Frank Baker, author of Media Literacy in the K-12 Classroom and creator of the Media Literacy Clearinghouse -- ISTE Blog - International Society for Technology in Education

AllSides
Uses media bias ratings to provide balanced news, perspectives, and issues across the political spectrum. AllSides reveals multiple viewpoints across the political spectrum avoiding potential problems with bias and disrespecting individual beliefs.
FactCheck.org
A project of the Annenberg Public Policy Institute. A nonpartisan, nonprofit “consumer advocate” for voters that aims to reduce the level of deception and confusion in U.S. politics. They monitor the factual accuracy of what is said by major U.S. political players in the form of TV ads, debates, speeches, interviews and news releases.
Google News Initiative - Verification Tools Course
This course shows you time-saving methods to verify the authenticity and accuracy of images, videos and reports that you find in social media and elsewhere online. Tools used: Google Search, Google Maps, Google Earth, Google Translate
Open Secrets
Nonpartisan, independent and nonprofit, the Center for Responsive Politics is the nation's premier research group tracking money in U.S. politics and its effect on elections and public policy. Our vision is for Americans, empowered by access to clear and unbiased information about money’s role in politics and policy, to use that knowledge to strengthen our democracy. Our mission is to produce and disseminate peerless data and analysis on money in politics to inform and engage Americans, champion transparency, and expose disproportionate or undue influence on public policy.
PolitiFact
PolitiFact is a fact-checking website that rates the accuracy of claims by elected officials and others who speak up in American politics. PolitiFact is run by editors and reporters from the Tampa Bay Times, an independent newspaper in Florida, as is PunditFact, a site devoted to fact-checking pundits. The Tampa Bay Times is owned by the not-for-profit Poynter Institute. The PolitiFact state sites are run by news organizations that have partnered with the Times. The state sites and PunditFact follow the same principles as the national site.
ProPublica
This independent, nonprofit newsroom has won several Pulitzer Prizes, including the 2016 Prize for Explanatory Reporting. ProPublica produces investigative journalism in the public interest.
Snopes
The definitive Internet reference source for urban legends, folklore, myths, rumors, and misinformation.
The Sunlight Foundation
This nonpartisan, nonprofit organization uses public policy data-based journalism to make politics more transparent and accountable.

Partisan Fact-Checkers

Compiled and described by Jennifer Snelling for ISTE Blog.

Media Matters
This nonprofit and self-described liberal-leaning research center monitors and corrects conservative misinformation in the media.
NewsBusters
A project of the conservative Media Research Center, NewsBusters is focused on “documenting, exposing and neutralizing liberal media bias.”
Washington Post Fact Checker
Although the Washington Post has a left-center bias, its checks are excellent and sourced. The bias shows up because they fact check conservative claims more than liberal ones.

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