AP FACT CHECK: Greatest hits of a fact-challenged campaign

https://apnews.com/bc75747c5fe9413cad86100e7531bff1

Fact check: This is not really a post-fact election

Here in WaPo

So voters want more fact-checking. But is it making any difference? Do people change their minds when faced with a fact check that surprises them, or do they internalize only fact checks that suit their own biases? Our understanding of basic psychology suggests that fact checks are often read with a partisan eye.

Often, but not always. A new working paper by Brendan Nyhan of Dartmouth College and Jason Reifler of Exeter University, who have studied fact-checking extensively, indicates that readers can learn from fact checks. Nyhan and ­Reifler conducted a survey of a representative panel of 1,000 Americans to gauge their general knowledge, party preferences and attitudes toward fact-checking. They then took participants who accepted a follow-up invitation to be studied further and split them into two groups. One half received nine fact checks; the other half was the control group and received placebo content in the form of PR releases. Lo and behold, participants in the “treatment” group scored far better when asked factual questions related to the content they read than those in the control group.

CNN finally puts that annoying breaking news banner to use, begins live fact-checking Donald Trump

Trump’s latest lie, that he had never said Japan should develop nuclear weapons, was boldly called out by CNN in real time on Thursday. During the June 2 edition of CNN’s “At This Hour With Berman and Bolduan,” correspondent Jason Carroll reported that Trump recently claimed that he never said he wants Japan to get nuclear weapons.

Here

Here

Trump’s latest lie, that he had never said Japan should develop nuclear weapons, was boldly called out by CNN in real time on Thursday. During the June 2 edition of CNN’s “At This Hour With Berman and Bolduan,” correspondent Jason Carroll reported that Trump recently claimed that he never said he wants Japan to get nuclear weapons.

2016 Could Be Fact-Checking’s Finest Year—If Anyone Listens

Wired

https://www.wired.com/2016/09/2016-fact-checkings-finest-year-anyone-cared/?mbid=social_twitter

Over the last decade, and since the last election especially, weighing the veracity of politicians’ statements has become one of journalism’s hottest cottage industries. Social media lets journalists and ordinary citizens call out politicians’ lies in real time. Accuracy activists have more ways than ever to shine a veracious light on the scourge of misinformation. At the same time, digital platforms provide more efficient vectors than ever for falsehoods to spread. It’s the fact-checkers’ paradox: even as they gain new powers to hold politicians accountable, lies are more persistent than ever.

Fact-checkers must also contend with an irony that would demoralize less tenacious truth-squadders. When presented with facts that contradict their worldview, the most informed partisans may be the ones least likely to change their minds. The facts, it turns out, don’t just reflect the world as it is. People pick and choose among them to define who they are.