Fact Check Workflow

What it does

This skill automates fact-checking workflows, providing structure for claim verification, evidence documentation, and rating decisions. It guides users through a systematic process to assess factual assertions, statistics, dates, quotes, and causal claims against gathered evidence. The tool facilitates the creation of reports with confidence scores based on the strength and reliability of supporting information.

When to use it

• Pre-publication fact-checking of articles
• Creating dedicated fact-check stories (rating claims)
• Verifying source statements during reporting
• Building fact-checking protocols for a newsroom
• Training staff on verification standards

Key capabilities

• Claim Extraction: Identifies and logs factual assertions, statistics, dates, quotes, and causal claims. It distinguishes between verifiable facts and opinions (e.g., predictions or matters of taste).
• Research Guidance: Prioritizes claim verification based on importance to the story and ease of checking. Provides guidance on identifying primary sources for different claim types (statistics, quotes, historical events, scientific findings, legal documents, financial data).
• Evidence Documentation: Offers templates for documenting research, including primary and secondary source evaluations, and identifies gaps in evidence.

Example prompts

• "Analyze this statement: 'The unemployment rate rose to 6% last quarter.'"
• "Create a claim log entry for the following quote: '[Quote from source]'."
• "What are reliable sources for verifying statistics about [topic]?"

Tips & gotchas

• Focus on verifiable factual assertions, not opinions or predictions.
• Prioritize high-priority claims first, as they are central to the story's thesis and have significant consequences if incorrect.
• Always attempt to find primary sources before relying on secondary sources for verification.