Truth in the Age of Social Media

Cover Story: Truth in the Age of Social Media

Facts and Friction

By Ann Marie Lipinski• From the Curator• July 9, 2012

Verifying information has always been central to the work of journalists. These days the task has taken on a new level of complexity due to the volume of videos, photos, and tweets that journalists face. It’s not only the volume that presents challenges but the sophisticated tools that make it easier than ever to manipulate information. This issue of Nieman Reports looks at how the BBC, the AP, CNN, and other news organizations are addressing questions of truth and verification. Read more

A New Age for Truth

By Craig Silverman• Technology• July 6, 2012

‘Never has it been so easy to expose an error, check a fact, crowdsource and bring technology to bear in service of verification.’ Read more

Getting it Wrong

By Jonathan Seitz• Journalist’s Trade• July 6, 2012

A sampling of mistakes, fabrications and manipulations. Read more

Detecting the Truth in Photos

By Santiago Lyon• Journalist’s Trade• July 6, 2012

As technologies to manipulate images grow ever more sophisticated, media organizations are using software to help determine authenticity. Read more

Inside the BBC’s Verification Hub

By David Turner• Journalist’s Trade• July 6, 2012

‘What everyone wanted to know, on Twitter and in the newsroom, was this: Was the video real or fake? That is the kind of question the [User-Generated Content] Hub is there to investigate.’ Read more

Vetting Information Found Online

By David Turner• Journalist’s Trade• July 6, 2012

Members of the BBC’s User-Generated Content Hub offered tips for determining the veracity of videos and photographs:Join the conversation on twitter using the hashtag #NRTruth Try to talk to the original source of the material. Read more

Finding the Wisdom in the Crowd

By Mark Little• Technology• July 6, 2012

‘Journalists need to get comfortable with risk, transparency and collaboration. We need to abandon the notion that we have a monopoly on truth.’ Read more

The Process of Verification

Technology• July 12, 2012

RELATED ARTICLE “Finding the Wisdom in the Crowd” – Mark Little Join the conversation on twitter using the hashtag #NRTruth In March, Storyful’s sources in Syria tweeted that security forces … Read more

Vetting Citizen Journalism

By Lila King• International Journalism• July 6, 2012

‘It’s an emerging craft, one that combines an eye for a good story with a flair for connecting the dots and, above all, a human touch.’ Read more

Doubting Amina

By Jillian C. York• Technology• July 6, 2012

The biggest hoax of 2011 fooled activists and journalists alike. One writer and free speech advocate explains why so many wanted to believe in the ‘Gay Girl in Damascus.’ Read more

Challenging ‘He Said, She Said’ Journalism

By Linda Greenhouse• Journalist’s Trade• July 6, 2012

Instead of striving for balance, a veteran Supreme Court reporter asks, ‘How about truth for a goal?’ Read more

Be Careful Who You Quote

By Stefanie Friedhoff• Technology• July 10, 2012

Some nonprofits that claim to supply expert opinions are set up by spin doctors to further corporate agendas. Read more

Taking on the Rumor Mill

By Katherine K. Lee• Technology• July 6, 2012

In the wake of a tornado, The Tuscaloosa (Ala.) News moved swiftly to sort fact from fiction. Read more

The Story That Rocked the Clock

By Phil Brinkman• Technology• July 6, 2012

‘With so much news breaking, just posting updates to the paper’s website suddenly felt inadequate. We needed to meet readers where they were …’ Read more

Features

After the Shouting, Bridging the Divide

By Margaret Sullivan• Features• July 6, 2012

‘… our newsroom has made a serious effort to forge a stronger connection between the paper and Buffalo’s black community. … Not for a moment do I believe the healing is complete. But we’ve made a start.’ Read more

Finding Strength in Numbers

By John Diedrich• Features• July 3, 2012

Learning to use databases and mapping software has its rewards. Read more

This Land Is Their Land

By Gustavo Jononovich• Features• July 31, 2012

Bearing witness to the fallout from the exploitation of Latin America’s natural resources Read more

Chaos Theory

By Richard Gingras• Features• July 6, 2012

An online pioneer challenges media companies to think differently. Read more