8/3/2019 Accuracy Checklist for Journalists

1/2

Accuracy Checklist for Journalists

BusinessJournalism.org http:/bit.ly/journalistsaccuracychecklist Page 1

I. FactsCheck these first three items while your story is on the screen:

1. Run spell-check, review suggestions and correct any actual errors. 2. Clicklinks. 3. Call phone numbers.

Use a printout of the story for the remaining checks:

4. Put a ruler under each line as you read the text. Underline every fact,and then double-check each one, including:

a) Names and titles of people, places and companiesAlso, does eachsecond reference (Jones) have a first reference (Mary Jones)?

b) Numbers andcalculationsDo the numbers add up? Is it millions orbillions? Are thepercentagescorrect?

c) Dates and agesWatch references to next month/last month when themonth is changing.

d) QuotesAre quotes accurate and properly attributed? Have you fullycaptured what each person meant?

e) SuperlativesWhats your source that something is the biggest, oldest,etc.?

II. Grammar5. Check each sentence for correct use of:

a)Subject-verb agreementAlso, are you consistent in your use of eitherthe present or the past tense to tell the story?

b)Pronoun-noun agreement. c)Pluralsandpossessives. d)Punctuation.

http://bit.ly/journalistsaccuracychecklisthttp://bit.ly/journalistsaccuracychecklisthttp://calculateforfree.com/http://calculateforfree.com/http://calculateforfree.com/http://www.math.com/students/calculators/source/3percent.htmhttp://www.math.com/students/calculators/source/3percent.htmhttp://www.math.com/students/calculators/source/3percent.htmhttp://www.grammarbook.com/grammar/subjectVerbAgree.asphttp://www.grammarbook.com/grammar/subjectVerbAgree.asphttp://www.grammarbook.com/grammar/subjectVerbAgree.asphttp://www.uvu.edu/owl/infor/pdf/grammar_usage/pronoun-noun%20agreement.pdfhttp://www.uvu.edu/owl/infor/pdf/grammar_usage/pronoun-noun%20agreement.pdfhttp://www.uvu.edu/owl/infor/pdf/grammar_usage/pronoun-noun%20agreement.pdfhttp://grammar.ccc.commnet.edu/grammar/plurals.htmhttp://grammar.ccc.commnet.edu/grammar/plurals.htmhttp://grammar.ccc.commnet.edu/grammar/plurals.htmhttp://grammar.ccc.commnet.edu/grammar/possessives.htmhttp://grammar.ccc.commnet.edu/grammar/possessives.htmhttp://grammar.ccc.commnet.edu/grammar/possessives.htmhttp://www.grammarbook.com/english_rules.asphttp://www.grammarbook.com/english_rules.asphttp://www.grammarbook.com/english_rules.asphttp://www.grammarbook.com/english_rules.asphttp://grammar.ccc.commnet.edu/grammar/possessives.htmhttp://grammar.ccc.commnet.edu/grammar/plurals.htmhttp://www.uvu.edu/owl/infor/pdf/grammar_usage/pronoun-noun%20agreement.pdfhttp://www.grammarbook.com/grammar/subjectVerbAgree.asphttp://www.math.com/students/calculators/source/3percent.htmhttp://calculateforfree.com/http://bit.ly/journalistsaccuracychecklist

8/3/2019 Accuracy Checklist for Journalists

2/2

Accuracy Checklist for Journalists

BusinessJournalism.org http:/bit.ly/journalistsaccuracychecklist Page 2

III. Spelling 6. Read the story backwards, checking the spelling of each word. Heres a

dictionary.

IV. Fairness and context 7. TermsDefine or eliminate unfamiliar terms, such as acronyms and

jargon.

8. FairnessHave all stakeholders been contacted and given a chance totalk?

9. MissingDoes the story leave any important questions unanswered?

10. ContextDoes the reader have the context to understand the story?

V. Your own common errors 11.____________________________________________________________ 12.____________________________________________________________

VI. Final checks 13.Read the story aloud. 14. Have someone else read it. 15.Accompanying elementsRun the previous checks on the story's

headlines, cutlines, sidebars, photos, graphics, videos and podcasts. Check for

inconsistencies.

Thanks to these sources for inspiring this checklist:

Steve Buttrys Accuracy Checklist Detroit Free Press Accuracy Checklist Daphne Gray-Grants Preventing goof-ups: 10 proofreading tips The New York TimesThe Readers Lament San Jose Mercury News Accuracy Checklist Craig Silvermans Accuracy Checklist

http://bit.ly/journalistsaccuracychecklisthttp://bit.ly/journalistsaccuracychecklisthttp://www.merriam-webster.com/http://www.merriam-webster.com/http://stevebuttry.wordpress.com/2011/01/04/my-version-of-craig-silvermans-accuracy-checklist/http://stevebuttry.wordpress.com/2011/01/04/my-version-of-craig-silvermans-accuracy-checklist/http://www.editteach.org/special/editingthefuture/07_Holt/handouts/DetFreePAccuracyChecklist.pdfhttp://www.editteach.org/special/editingthefuture/07_Holt/handouts/DetFreePAccuracyChecklist.pdfhttp://www.editteach.org/special/editingthefuture/07_Holt/handouts/DetFreePAccuracyChecklist.pdfhttp://www.prdaily.com/Main/Articles/9580.aspxhttp://www.prdaily.com/Main/Articles/9580.aspxhttp://www.prdaily.com/Main/Articles/9580.aspxhttp://www.prdaily.com/Main/Articles/9580.aspxhttp://www.prdaily.com/Main/Articles/9580.aspxhttp://topics.blogs.nytimes.com/2011/10/04/the-readers-lament/http://topics.blogs.nytimes.com/2011/10/04/the-readers-lament/http://topics.blogs.nytimes.com/2011/10/04/the-readers-lament/http://regisjesuitjournalism.files.wordpress.com/2011/11/accuracy20checklist202.pdfhttp://regisjesuitjournalism.files.wordpress.com/2011/11/accuracy20checklist202.pdfhttp://regisjesuitjournalism.files.wordpress.com/2011/11/accuracy20checklist202.pdfhttp://www.scribd.com/doc/31924802/Checklist-Craig-Silverman-Regret-the-errorhttp://www.scribd.com/doc/31924802/Checklist-Craig-Silverman-Regret-the-errorhttp://www.scribd.com/doc/31924802/Checklist-Craig-Silverman-Regret-the-errorhttp://www.scribd.com/doc/31924802/Checklist-Craig-Silverman-Regret-the-errorhttp://regisjesuitjournalism.files.wordpress.com/2011/11/accuracy20checklist202.pdfhttp://topics.blogs.nytimes.com/2011/10/04/the-readers-lament/http://www.prdaily.com/Main/Articles/9580.aspxhttp://www.editteach.org/special/editingthefuture/07_Holt/handouts/DetFreePAccuracyChecklist.pdfhttp://stevebuttry.wordpress.com/2011/01/04/my-version-of-craig-silvermans-accuracy-checklist/http://www.merriam-webster.com/http://bit.ly/journalistsaccuracychecklist