Fact checking is the process of identifying whether the facts in a non-fictional text (news article, public speech video) are true or not. Fact checking is a verification technique and can enhance transparency in journalism.
There are two essential forms of fact checking: ante hoc fact checking, i.e. checking a text before publishing it, and post hoc fact checking, which means that fact checking takes place after the text was made public. Currently, with disinformation spreading faster than ever online, post hoc fact checking has become a common journalistic practice.
There are many possibilities of fact checking: e.g. contacting the person who made the statement, doing a google search for other articles on the topic, looking for experts with a different point of view, checking books and other relevant literature. Some organisations are specialised in developing tools for fact checking. It is highly recommended to use some of these tools while verifying the truth of facts in a text.
