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Scan for outdated or missing drivers - takes under a minuteDriver Scan →Clear out junk files and repair common Windows errorsFree Scan →To fact-check a news story before sharing it, identify the exact claim, trace it to its original source, check the date and location, and look for independent corroboration. Verify photos and videos separately. If key details remain uncertain or conflicting, wait rather than sharing the claim as fact. No checklist can guarantee a verdict, but this sequence helps you make a more defensible decision.
1. Pin down the claim you need to check
Ask, “Is this news story real?” by first rewriting its central claim in a sentence you can test. Separate what the headline says from what the article actually documents. A headline may imply more than the evidence supports, while a social post may combine a true event with an unsupported explanation.
Check whether credible reporting or primary material supports the event itself. Investigating who posted a viral item or how widely it has spread does not establish whether its central claim is true. First Draft’s guide to verifying online information treats the claim and its provenance as separate things to examine.
2. Trace the item to its original source
Follow links and attributions back to the earliest available article, document, post, or person who captured the image or video. A screenshot or repost may hide who published something first, when it appeared, and what it was meant to show. First Draft describes provenance—the history and origin of an item—as a particularly important verification check.
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For a claim attributed to a report, study, official, or eyewitness, try to locate that source directly. If you cannot find the original, note that limitation: a chain of reposts is not a substitute for provenance.
3. Evaluate the source and its evidence
Check the publisher and author, then inspect the sources cited in the story. Look for direct access to documents, data, witnesses, or relevant expertise, and for a clear explanation of how the information was obtained. Claims that could reasonably be disputed should be attributed so readers can see who is making them; the Associated Press outlines this principle in its editorial standards.
Treat a press release as a statement from the organization that issued it, not as independent confirmation. Look for reporting or records that assess and corroborate its claims. Give anonymous claims particular scrutiny: ask what evidence supports them and whether other reliable sources confirm the important details.
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4. Check the date, place, and surrounding context
Confirm the story’s publication date and, separately, when the described event happened. An old report can circulate as if it were new, and a genuine account can be presented without updates that change its meaning. Check for later corrections or developments before relying on an earlier version.
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For a photo or video, ask where and when it was made. Compare visible landmarks, signs, language, weather, and other details with credible reporting or reliable location information. A real image can still mislead if it is old or attached to the wrong event. First Draft’s verification guide identifies date and location among the core checks.
5. Seek independent corroboration
Look for documents, direct statements, datasets, or reporting by sources that did their own work. Several articles repeating the same wire report, press release, or social post may all trace back to one source; that is not the same as several independent confirmations. The AP describes seeking several independent, reliable sources and using studies or datasets when available in its verification process.
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When accounts conflict, compare their evidence rather than counting headlines or relying on an outlet’s reputation alone:
- Proximity to primary evidence: Does the source link to a document, direct statement, or original recording, and explain where it came from?
- Independence: Did sources confirm the claim separately, or are they repeating the same account?
- Timing: Is one account newer, or has a correction or later update changed what is known?
- Transparency and expertise: Are the source’s methods and relevant knowledge clear?
- Visual context: Do the image or video’s date, location, and integrity fit the claim?
6. Verify photos and videos on their own
Do not assume that a photo or clip proves the surrounding caption. Run a reverse-image search on a photo, or on a clear frame from a video, to look for earlier appearances and possible original uploads. Compare the earlier context with the current claim. A match can help establish that an image circulated before, but it does not by itself explain every detail of the scene.
For video, inspect multiple frames and compare visible details with other evidence. Check whether the clip’s timing and location fit the claim, and watch for signs of editing or manipulation. Newsrooms may use geolocation, frame-by-frame checks, and direct contact with the original filmer; AP describes these methods as part of its eyewitness-media verification work. An individual reader may not have access to the same resources, so unresolved questions should remain unresolved rather than being guessed away.
7. Treat AI indicators as prompts, not proof
Unnatural speech, inconsistent objects, or distorted details may be reasons to investigate further, but none proves that content is fabricated. The absence of obvious defects does not prove that it is genuine either. AI detectors can be wrong, and watermarks can be removed. AP’s 2026 guidance on misinformation and AI advises looking for image origins and consulting verified sources; it notes that certainty about whether an image was AI-generated is not always possible.
Search for the original source and seek corroboration from sources with verifiable access to the event or evidence. Do not let a detector score or a single visual clue decide the question.
Independent reader supportYour contribution helps us test, update, and keep practical guides available for everyone.8. Decide whether to share, wait, or leave it alone
Share a claim as established fact only when its important details have adequate support. If sources conflict or key points remain unverified, do not pass it along as confirmed. You can wait for stronger evidence, or describe precisely what is known and what remains uncertain if sharing the uncertainty is useful.
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Verification is not always conclusive. First Draft cautions that online verification is rarely foolproof, and AP advises people not to immediately share material they do not know is real. A responsible result can be “not established yet,” rather than a forced true-or-false verdict.
Further reading
For a structured training resource, UNESCO’s Journalism, “Fake News” & Disinformation is a 2018 handbook on journalism education that includes fact-checking and social-media verification. Its publication record lists 128 pages.
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