FactCheckNI news and press statements; sole author research and opinion articles
Fact checking and fast news
by Alan MEBAN for FactCheckNI
18 February 2020
False information can cost lives. Unintentional misinformation and deliberate disinformation being shared about the current coronavirus outbreak could cause unnecessary anxiety or could cause vulnerable people to drop their guard and expose themselves to a greater risk of infection. Continue reading Fact checking and fast news
Asking the right questions for a better-informed public
by Allan LEONARD for FactCheckNI
28 January 2020
Representing FactCheckNI and as part of a four-person panel, I was invited to give evidence to the UK House of Lords Select Committee on Democracy and Digital Technologies. Fellow witnesses were Ed Humpherson (Director General for Regulation, Office for Statistics Regulation (OSR)), Will Moy (Chief Executive, Full Fact), and Jenni Sargent (Managing Director, First Draft). Continue reading Asking the right questions for a better-informed public
Lies and democracy: Who are the truth tellers?
by Allan LEONARD for FactCheckNI
6 December 2019
As part of the annual general meeting of NICVA, the umbrella body of the voluntary and community sector in Northern Ireland, there was a panel discussion on the topics of truth, trust, and how everyone engages with a bombardment of information. Entitled, “Lies and Democracy: The Fight for the Truth”, BBC Radio Ulster presenter, Seamus McKee, moderated the discussion with panellists Amanda Ferguson, John Barry, and Orna Young. Continue reading Lies and democracy: Who are the truth tellers?
PRESS STATEMENT
FactCheckNI shares tips to help voters spot bad information online ahead of Election Day
FactCheckNI, Northern Ireland’s first and only dedicated fact-checking organisation, has published a new election toolkit to help voters spot bad and misleading information online. Continue reading PRESS STATEMENT: FactCheckNI shares tips to help voters spot bad information online ahead of Election Day
When fact-checking isn’t about “right” or “wrong”
by WACC Global
16 September 2019
The rise of “fake news” charges and deliberate disinformation have led to an important counter effort: fact-checking. News agencies, civil society organisations, and concerned individuals have taken on the fight for “truth” – assessing political claims and struggling to prevent misinformation guiding our decisions and behaviour. Continue reading When fact-checking isn’t about “right” or “wrong” (WACC Global)
Measuring the “climate” of identity: NILT and time-series surveys
by Dr Orna YOUNG for FactCheckNI
26 June 2019
What is the Northern Ireland Life and Times Survey?
The Northern Ireland Life and Times Survey (NILT) is a social attitudinal survey that was established in 1998 by Queen’s University Belfast and Ulster University. It has been conducted annually since (with the exception of 2011, due to funding constraints). Continue reading Measuring the “climate” of identity: NILT and time-series surveys