How far can a lie travel? In a game of whispers, a small lie may travel between a group of people – harmless fun. Add the potency of the Internet and social media – all of a sudden, a little lie or a piece of false information becomes a flashpoint for conflict, division, and controversy.

We live in a moment where half-truths and fake news are more widespread than ever, and having the ability to critically analyze what you are consuming is a vital element of being on the Internet. After all, when’s the last time you shared something that you were a little bit suspicious about?

Not everything written online is produced by someone with a digital journalism master’s – so understanding what fact-checkers do, and why they’re important, is a vital part of being online. In this article, we’ll be exploring the role of fact-checkers – what they do, and how their work can help us become more informed Internet denizens.

So, What’s a Fact Checker?

When traversing the Internet, information can be presented to us in many different ways, forms, and formats – written articles, discussion videos, recaps, and so on. In traditional print media, it was often quite straightforward to separate fact from opinion – for example, you could see a section labeled Editorial and associate that with an opinion piece.

Unfortunately, the Internet is far murkier. As a result, it can be challenging to distinguish between fact, opinion, or, even more maliciously, misinformation or fake news. There’s a great deal of skepticism online – and as a result, even accurate articles can get caught up in a firestorm of online criticism and debate.

In recent times, the fact-checker has emerged as a role to help readers verify what they’re reading to be true and accurate. This allows readers and other consumers of content to verify that what they’re reading is reasonable and that they are aware of any potential inconsistencies present in the data.

They do so by independently verifying sources and information that may be used in published media and online debates that may be subject to scrutiny. For example, media outlet Reuters has an extensive fact-check section on its website, exploring claims made online.

Why Are Fact-Checkers Important?

Fact-checkers are important for many reasons and can support both writers and audiences in different ways.

Writers and media organizations benefit from the work that fact-checkers do, as it’s typically a validation of the work that they have done, verifying that claims and facts are published from reliable sources, and ensuring that the organization or individual is not attempting to mislead readers.

Fact-checkers can help build trust in what readers see online and can help reduce the spread of misinformation. With fact-checkers working to both validate facts and call out misinformation, they can put a spotlight on misleading sources, instilling confidence in content published online.

The Work of Fact-Checkers

There are two main types of fact-checkers: in-house, and third-party (also known as external). The work that they do can vary slightly, generally based on the information and data that they have available to them.

At the core, a fact-checker has a key responsibility – to verify that statements in a piece of media content are accurate with sources. Depending on the type of source, more than one point of proof may be required.

For example, a news organization might publish a headline with the following statement:

U.S. unemployment rate soars to 41% in June 2025 jobs report. – July 5, 2025

As a starting point, this headline seems somewhat questionable – almost half the population unemployed? A fact-checker may look at this data and see what may need to be validated – in this case, there are a few things to check.

First, we can see that the data being reported on is the unemployment rate in the United States – this is published regularly by the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics, a primary source of information. Simply put, this means that the Bureau can see all the relevant data, and they’re a key reporter of this information.

Secondly, we can see that this report was published in relation to the June 2025 figures – data that was published in early July. A fact-checker can jump online, find the relevant press release, and identify that yes, an error was made – and in fact, the true unemployment rate for the June 2025 jobs report was actually 4.1 percent.

If a fact-checking team is internal, this information may be provided to an editor so that a correction can be issued. Alternatively, if an article is already published, a third-party fact-checker may issue a public notice to inform readers of the discrepancy.

Where Can I Find a Fact-Checker?

There are a number of different fact-checking resources available online. With the sheer volume of data being published online daily, many fact-checking organizations choose to focus on a small subset of published material.

For example, one well-known fact-checking site is Snopes. Founded in 1994, it began fact-checking hoaxes and urban legends. More than thirty years on, its contributors remain active, helping to clear the air around what is satire and what is serious content.

In recent years, organizations such as the International Fact-Checking Network have also been established, aiming to create a set of common principles and standards for fact-checkers, while also linking their work to the communities that will most benefit from it.

Ultimately, the work that fact-checkers do is crucial, helping to validate and verify the information that readers consume online. In an increasingly digital world, where it’s more difficult than ever to separate fact from fiction, fact-checkers help us readers verify that what we’re reading makes sense, allowing us to be more confident in the material that we’re consuming.