Product Overview: Duke Reporters’ Lab
The Duke Reporters’ Lab, situated within the Sanford School of Public Policy at Duke University, is a comprehensive center for journalism research with a primary focus on fact-checking and related journalistic integrity initiatives.
Core Mission and Projects
The Lab’s core projects are centered around fact-checking, aiming to verify the accuracy of claims made by public figures and institutions, debunk rumors and misinformation, and review the status of political promises. In addition to fact-checking, the Lab also conducts research on trust in the news media and other relevant topics.
Key Features and Functionality
Global Fact-Checking Database
One of the Lab’s key features is its extensive database of global fact-checking sites. This database, initiated by Bill Adair in 2014, tracks several hundred non-partisan organizations worldwide that publish articles, videos, or audio reports to verify claims and debunk misinformation. The database is managed by Mark Stencel and Joel Luther, ensuring it includes individual fact-checking outlets, websites, and programs that meet rigorous criteria such as reviewing statements from all parties, examining discrete claims, and transparently identifying sources and methods.
Criteria for Inclusion
The Lab uses stringent criteria to identify and include fact-checking organizations in its database. These criteria include:
- Reviewing statements by all parties and sides
- Examining discrete claims and reaching conclusions
- Transparently identifying sources and methods
- Disclosing funding and affiliations
- Ensuring the primary mission is news and information.
Collaboration and Funding
The Duke Reporters’ Lab collaborates with a wide range of organizations, including The Washington Post, PolitiFact, FactCheck.org, Google, Facebook, YouTube, and the International Fact-Checking Network. The Lab is funded by the Knight Chair endowment, as well as grants from the Knight Foundation, the Google News Initiative, the Facebook Journalism Project, and Craig Newmark.
Technological Tools
The Lab has developed innovative tools to combat misinformation. For example, the “Reporters’ Lab vault” allows them to save and link to social media posts that have been fact-checked without boosting traffic to the original misleading content.
Educational and Advisory Role
The Lab plays a significant role in education and advisory capacities. Bill Adair, the director, is also the creator of the Pulitzer Prize-winning website PolitiFact, which has served as a model for many other fact-checking outlets globally. The Lab advises organizations in various regions, including Africa, Australia, Europe, and South America.
Team and Expertise
The Duke Reporters’ Lab is led by a team of experienced professionals:
- Bill Adair: Knight Professor for the Practice of Journalism and Public Policy, director of the Lab, and creator of PolitiFact.
- Mark Stencel: Co-director of the Lab, journalism faculty member, and executive director of JournalList.
- Christopher Guess: Lead technologist for the Lab.
- Erica Ryan: Project manager for the Lab.
- Joel Luther: ClaimReview and MediaReview Research and Outreach Coordinator.
In summary, the Duke Reporters’ Lab is a robust platform dedicated to enhancing journalistic integrity through comprehensive fact-checking, innovative technological tools, and collaborative research initiatives, all driven by a team of experienced and renowned professionals in the field of journalism.