Does Truth Matter?
Jesus says truth does matter! He told Pontius Pilate:
“For this purpose I was born and for this purpose I have come into the world—to bear witness to the truth. Everyone who is of the truth listens to my voice”
Must we reply like Pontius Pilate “What is Truth?”
How can we know what is true in the age of viral social media, conspiracy theories and intense partisanship?
Best efforts matter! We have done our best to post only credible information on this website. Often, multiple reports corroborate the information. Here is a listing of some fact-checkers or sources that we find credible (more to come), as well as some guidelines for critically evaluating information, and investigating the possible spiritual implications of that information.
Fact-Checkers
The Poynter Institute and the International Fact-Checking Network: The Poynter Institute launched the International Fact-Checking Network (IFCN) in 2015 to create standards and guidelines among fact-checkers to ensure ethical and responsible fact-checking across the industry. Members are required to commit to nonpartisanship, transparency of funding and sources, and a commitment to standards and transparency of methodology. The IFCN evaluates members’ fact-checking sites for adherence to their standards, and members may be removed from membership for violations. .
Politifact: This fact-checker, published by the Poynter Institute, verifies the accuracy of statements made by politicians.
FactCheck.org: A nonpartisan, nonprofit project of the Annenberg Public Policy Center of the University of Pennsylvania, this site monitors the factual accuracy of statements made by major U.S. political players in various media formats, including TV ads, debates, speeches, and news releases. A non-partisan site, FactCheck.org is often referenced by conservative audiences for its thorough analysis of political claims. It provides detailed fact-checks on statements made by politicians from all sides, including conservatives.
Snopes: This website focuses on fact-checking online information, including urban legends, news stories, and memes, and provides citations for its sources.
The Washington Post Fact Checker: While primarily focused on political facts, it delves deeply into specific claims and cross-references information extensively.
AP Fact Check: The Associated Press (AP) provides fact-checking and accountability journalism from its journalists worldwide.
Media Evaluators
The IFCN: (See above for details.) Click here for their list of approved signatories to the IFCN Code of Principles
Media Bias/Fact Check (MBFC): This independent online outlet assesses the bias and credibility of thousands of news sources, providing ratings based on political leanings and reporting accuracy. They are widely referenced by major media outlets and fact-checkers.
AllSides: This interactive news and educational site offers a bias rating system to help users see and understand different perspectives across the political spectrum. They present news stories from left, center, and right viewpoints, along with media bias ratings, allowing readers to compare coverage and broaden their understanding. Note: bias is not the same as factual credibility!
Ad Fontes Media Bias Chart: visually ranks news sources based on their factual reporting accuracy (top to bottom) and editorial bias (left to right). They also have an interactive version of the chart, and allow look-ups of individual sources.
The Trust Project: An international initiative promoting transparency and trust in online news, it works with news organizations to implement journalistic standards, helping readers assess news source credibility. Their “news partners” are news organizations that subscribe to their standards.
A Few Specific Sources
Tangle: A subscription news source that provides news angles from both left and right, as well as the author’s take on each story.
Public Religion Research Institute (PRRI): a nonprofit, nonpartisan organization dedicated to conducting independent research and driving conversations at the intersection of religion, culture, and politics, in order to help …. the general public better understand the important cultural and religious dynamics shaping American society and debates on public policy.
We will be adding to this list, and engaging in further evaluation of sources presented here as time allows. Your suggestions are welcome!
Guidelines for Evaluating the Information presented here
Look up the quotes from the gospels included here. Read the gospels, and learn from your own readings of Matthew, Mark, Luke and John what Jesus asks of us in terms of treatment of others, including the most vulnerable.
Look closely at our elected leaders, and any religious leaders who have been claiming to interpret Jesus’ message for your community. Listen to their words and pay attention to their actions to see whether they actually line up with Jesus’ words. Based on Jesus’ actual words, is their influence toward creating a more, or a less “Christian nation?”
Evaluate sources from multiple angles. Who is the author? What is their relation to the story? Did they witness the events described? If it was an investigation, does the investigation appear to have been thorough and responsible? What is the author’s goal? Is it to share facts, or to stoke anger and emotion?
Look at the story as presented by various sources. Is there agreement on the basic facts, but difference on interpretations or opinions about it? In reviewing source evaluations, remember that there is an important difference between credibility (can you rely on the source to present the facts accurately?) and bias (the authors may also be letting you know their opinions about what happened).
If there is disagreement on the basic facts, investigate the story further through the fact-checkers listed above.
Finally, when you are as clear as possible on the facts, come back to relating the story to Jesus’ words. Solicit and listen to God’s Spirit within you. Are you being called to respond to what is happening, and if so, how?