It is not the first time that humanity is facing an epidemic, but the amount of content covering an epidemic may be reaching an unprecedented level. It is almost impossible to not be exposed, especially online. This noise poses a threat to reporters and journalists who try to cover the issue and be accurate. With this in mind, First Draft (a non-profit tackling information disorder) created a new hub for reporters who are covering coronavirus. With regular updates, the hub acts as a resource to cover these crucial aspects, among many others:
Newsgathering and verification tools
Ethics and responsible reporting guidance
A database of debunks of mis- and disinformation
Links to sign up for video calls on reporting coronavirus
The Real Gem
In a relatively short period of time, First Draft has built a searchable archive of fact-checked mis- and disinformation on coronavirus from around the world. As of 16 March 2020 the database collates output from more than 70 organisations sourced from Google’s Fact Check Explorer tool and Poynter’s International Fact-Checking Network (IFCN). The IFCN was launched in 2015 as a global collaboration of fact checking organisations. It collectively published more than 800 fact checks about coronavirus in the first seven weeks of the outbreak and continues to publish regular updates on coronavirus misinformation.
Although still in its alpha stage, the database includes debunks in more than 20 languages which are searchable in English and the search allows the use of boolean operators.
What’s a boolean operator!?
For example using AND to find information that includes both of two keywords.Start your debunking on coronavirus using First Draft’s Database Now!