Introduction to digital verification in news

@ajreid | firstdraftnews.com | @firstdraftnews | #ONA16

VERIFYING EYEWITNESS MEDIA


VERIFICATION AS A PROCESS


WHY VERIFICATION MATTERS

Verification matters to the audience…

Credit:


WHY VERIFICATION MATTERS

…and to your lawyers



Credit: Fergus Bell

Source vs Content



Credit: Fergus Bell

• Does the claim match their history?

• Do they give more information?

• Can you take the conversation off social?

Source vs Content



Credit: Fergus Bell

• Look for street signs and visual clues

• Ask a colleague or trusted contact

• Are there other eyewitnesses, officials or

reporters?

• What’s the bigger picture?

Source vs Content



Credit: Fergus Bell

If you ever get stuck, or are required to take a leap of faith as you work through these two separate tracks, it might be a strong

indication that something is wrong with the content or source.

To publish UGC with confidence, these two processes should lead to the same result every time.

Source vs Content



1. Are you looking at the original version?

2. Do you know who captured the photo or video?

3. Do you know where the photo or video was captured?

4. Do you know when the photo or video was captured?

5. Do you know why the photo or video was captured?

bit.ly/VVguide

http://bit.ly/VVguide



Find the original upload

Speak to the uploader

Get the original file


FINDING THE ORIGINAL



Are you looking at the original version?




Real?




Reverse image search

Check an image for matches in an online database




Reverse image search

images.google.com

http://images.google.com




The RevEye browser plugin is best




This photo matches others in Google images




YouTube Data Viewer will give you upload time and video thumbnails to search




Video Vault: Get thumbnails to search, archive video, collaborate, zoom in and more




Search other platforms for keywords


VERIFYING A SOCIAL SOURCE



Do you know who captured the photo or video?




Domain names can help trace sources

Credit: Jenni Sargent




Credit: Jenni Sargent


TIMESTAMPS AND EXIF DATA


TIMESTAMPS FOR SOCIAL NETWORKS

Understand the difference between how networks display the time


VERIFYING DATES

Wolfram Alpha can tell you the weather on different dates


VERIFYING DATES

SunCalc can tell you the direction of shadows


EXIF DATA

If you get the original file you can look at the metadata


EXIF DATA

Jeffrey’s Exif Viewer will give you the date, device information and a precise

location


EXIF DATA


THE BASICS OF GEOLOCATION


VERIFYING A LOCATION

Do you know where the photo or video was captured?



• Signage

Visual clues



Visual clues

• Signage • Clothing



Visual clues

• Signage • Clothing • Landscape



Visual clues

• Signage • Clothing • Landscapes • Structures



Visual clues

• Signage • Clothing • Landscapes • Structures • Weather



Visual clues

• Signage • Clothing • Landscapes • Structures • Weather • Insignia


Visual clues

• Signage • Clothing • Landscapes • Structures • Weather • Insignia • Vehicles





What visual clues are in this photo?


?

Beware: Geotags on social networks can be faked

easily





Get the original and check the metadata




Check Streetview and satellites for corroborating imagery




Sources of corroborating imagery: StreetView

• Google StreetView • Yandex: For Russia, Eastern Europe, the Caucus




Sources of imagery: Panoramio

• Find photos other people have taken and geotagged to see locations

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Introduction to digital verification in news

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Transcript of Introduction to digital verification in news