Ethics, Urgency& Accuracy

Steve ButtrySouthern Regional Press Institute

Savannah State UniversityFeb. 20, 2014

#srpi

Read more about it• stevebuttry.wordpress.com (#twutorial)• slideshare.net/stevebuttry• @stevebuttry• stephenbuttry@gmail.com

Which is more important?• Getting the news first? Or getting it right?This is a false choice: If you don’t have it right, you didn’t get it first.You want to publish quickly as soon as you verify facts. Story unfolds, rather than waiting to publish complete story.

verificationhandbook.net

Chapters:• Verification

funamentals• Verifying user-

generated content• Verifying images• Verifying videos• Preparing for

disaster coverage• Verification

checklists

Vetting & verifying• Track back RTs, etc.

to source • Look for clusters • Location enabled? • Evaluate the network• Evaluate the history

• Links, photos? • Take it old school• Disclose, hedge,

repeat • Be brave only in

correction

Tips from Craig Silverman, Regret the Error

Evaluating tweeps• How long have they been tweeting?• Check previous tweets, interaction• Check bio, links• Check Klout score• Google name and scam, spammer• Contact & interview

Tips from Mandy Jenkins, Zombie Journalism

Always answer: “How do you know that?”

Read more about it• stevebuttry.wordpress.com• slideshare.net/stevebuttry• @stevebuttry• stephenbuttry@gmail.com

verificationhandbook.net

Chapters:• Verification

funamentals• Verifying user-

generated content• Verifying images• Verifying videos• Preparing for

disaster coverage• Verification

checklists