They say we live in a post-factual age. I for one, and I don’t think I’m the only one, still cares deeply about facts.
There are still many outlets for fact-based journalism. The IJN is one. We follow the code of fact-checked journalism:
- Interview multiple sources for our staff-written stories.
- Subscribe to reliable news agencies. Carefully read, edit and proofread all articles from those agencies.
- Investigate— to the best of our capacity — any statements that provoke skepticism.
- Apply this method to news — and opinion.
- Make it clear to the reader which content is opinion, news or analysis.
We are not perfect, but this is our goal, and we work hard to reach it. When we don’t, we publish corrections — another sign of fact-checked journalism. If a mistake has run online, we change it; we run a correction in the print edition, too.
These are the hallmarks of responsible mainstream and Jewish print media (including their online outlets) and public radio. I don’t have a television, so I cannot comment on TV journalism. But I know that if you pick up the paper or turn on CPR, you’re going to get fact-checked journalism.
Social media and other non-fact-checked sources have their place: they are a great way to gauge public sentiment and see what people are talking about. They’re not necessarily reliable news, and shouldn’t be relied on as such. If you’re looking for information that has been fact checked, go to the media that provide it.
Shana Goldberg may be reached at [email protected]
