Fact checking
There are increasing numbers of fact-checking organisations and websites that aim to improve the quality of research evidence. Here are some of the main ones:
Full Fact is the UK’s independent factchecking charity. We provide free tools, information and advice so that anyone can check the claims we hear from politicians and the media.
Ben Goldacre's column from The Guardian in weblog format. It covers media misrepresentations of science, with a particular focus on medicine and also includes a forum.
Sense about Science is an independent campaigning charity that challenges the misrepresentation of science and evidence in public life. We advocate openness and honesty about research findings, and work to ensure the public interest in sound science and evidence is recognised in public discussion and policy making.
If you want to know whether a product claim, policy statement, newspaper article or advert is backed by scientific evidence, ask.
Ask for Evidence is a campaign that encourages people to request evidence for claims they come across. We built this tool to make asking as easy as possible and to create an Ask for Evidence log recording all the evidence hunting going on.
Retraction Watch is a blog that reports on retractions of scientific papers. The blog was launched in August 2010 and is produced by science writers Ivan Oransky (Vice President and Global Editorial Director of MedPage Today) and Adam Marcus (editor of Gastroenterology & Endoscopy News).
After fact-checking claims in the 2015 U.K. election, the publicly funded, non-commercial BBC revived its Reality Check team to examine claims made in the run-up to the June 23, 2016, "Brexit" referendum, in which voters will be asked whether the United Kingdom should leave the European Union.
Fact-checks by Channel 4 News journalists.
Established by the Northern Ireland Foundation and partnered with Transformative Connections, funded by the Building Change Trust.
This commercial digital news outlet continued its fact-checking project following Ireland's February 2016 general election, often focusing on claims flagged by its readers.
Essential resources for reporting and sharing information that emerges online.
The Reporters’ Lab maintains a database of global fact-checking sites. They identify over 100 active fact-checking organisations around the world, with links and details. You can use the online map to explore sites worldwide.
