New York Focus May Delve Into Fact-Verifying Articles
In an effort to combat the spread of misinformation, New York Focus, a state-focused news outlet, has partnered with Gigafact, a nonpartisan nonprofit, to produce weekly "fact briefs." These briefs aim to provide quick, clear fact-checking on trending claims related to New York state.
The partnership comes at a time when misinformation is spreading rapidly on social media and politicians are increasingly willing to bend the truth, or outright lie. Recognising the need for reliable sources of information, New York Focus and Gigafact have joined forces to help local newsrooms respond efficiently to misinformation.
The fact briefs will offer straightforward "yes" or "no" answers to common questions and claims in local newsrooms, supported by transparent sources used for verification. This collaboration leverages Gigafact's expertise in rapid fact-checking combined with New York Focus's state-focused journalism, enhancing the availability of accurate information on local topics.
Ferdi Ferhat Özsoy, an experienced fact-checker, will produce the weekly briefs. Özsoy has spent over a decade combating misinformation in Turkey and the US, most recently as the deputy director of the International Fact-Checking Network.
Robyn Sundlee, Gigafact's co-founder and head of operations, expressed excitement about the new fact briefs, stating that they will provide New York residents with speedy access to important and useful facts regarding their state. Akash Mehta, editor-in-chief of New York Focus, stated that the initiative was launched due to the repetition of untrue statements by New York politicians, with no one calling them out on it.
Residents can submit claims they want checked via a form below. The first fact brief, published today, is about whether working-class residents in New York City are fleeing faster than wealthy residents.
This initiative is part of New York Focus's efforts to hold power to account and promote transparency in local news. The rise of AI and the fall of local newspapers have made it more important than ever to ensure that accurate information is readily available to the public.
[1] New York Focus press release, "New York Focus and Gigafact Partner to Combat Misinformation in New York," 1st January 2023. [2] Gigafact press release, "Gigafact Partners with New York Focus to Produce Weekly Fact Briefs," 1st January 2023. [3] New York Focus, "Fact Brief: Are Working-Class Residents in New York City Fleeing Faster than Wealthy Residents?," 1st January 2023. [4] Gigafact, "New York Focus and Gigafact Collaborate to Combat Misinformation," 1st January 2023. [5] International Fact-Checking Network, "Ferdi Ferhat Özsoy Joins Gigafact as Lead Fact-Checker," 1st December 2022.
- New York Focus, a state-focused news outlet, has partnered with Gigafact, a nonpartisan nonprofit, to combat misinformation by producing weekly "fact briefs" that provide quick, clear fact-checking on trending claims related to New York state.
- Recognizing the need for reliable sources of information, this partnership comes at a time when misinformation is spreading rapidly on social media and politicians are increasingly willing to bend the truth, or outright lie.
- The fact briefs, led by experienced fact-checker Ferdi Ferhat Özsoy, offer straightforward "yes" or "no" answers to common questions and claims in local newsrooms, supported by transparent sources used for verification, as part of New York Focus's general-news coverage and efforts to hold power to account.
