information vetting
Fact Check
http://www.FactCheck.org
"We are a nonpartisan, nonprofit “consumer advocate” for voters that aims to reduce the level of deception and confusion in U.S. politics. We monitor the factual accuracy of what is said by major U.S. political players in the form of TV ads, debates, speeches, interviews and news releases. Our goal is to apply the best practices of both journalism and scholarship, and to increase public knowledge and understanding.
"FactCheck.org is a project of the Annenberg Public Policy Center of the University of Pennsylvania. The APPC was established by publisher and philanthropist Walter Annenberg to create a community of scholars within the University of Pennsylvania that would address public policy issues at the local, state and federal levels."
http://www.FactCheck.org
"We are a nonpartisan, nonprofit “consumer advocate” for voters that aims to reduce the level of deception and confusion in U.S. politics. We monitor the factual accuracy of what is said by major U.S. political players in the form of TV ads, debates, speeches, interviews and news releases. Our goal is to apply the best practices of both journalism and scholarship, and to increase public knowledge and understanding.
"FactCheck.org is a project of the Annenberg Public Policy Center of the University of Pennsylvania. The APPC was established by publisher and philanthropist Walter Annenberg to create a community of scholars within the University of Pennsylvania that would address public policy issues at the local, state and federal levels."
Truth or Fiction
http://www.TruthOrFiction.com
"TruthOrFiction.com is a website where Internet users can quickly and easily get information about eRumors, warnings, offers, requests for help, myths, hoaxes, virus warnings, and humorous or inspirational stories that are circulated by email.
"TruthOrFiction.com is designed to be of value to the ordinary user of the Internet who wants to make sure that an email story contains information, not misinformation.
"Our focus tends to be on stories that are the most widely-circulated via forwarded emails on the Internet. Every story on TruthOrFiction.com has either been personally researched by the TruthOrFiction.com staff or, in some cases, is known to be a classic rumor or urban legend that has stood the test of time. As much as possible, the sources of our information are included in the stories.
"We try to classify stories in descriptive categories such as:
"Truth! usually means we have found reliable or first-hand sources who are willing to vouch for the validity of the story.
"Fiction! usually means we have found reliable or first-hand sources who know the story is false and who deny it. It can also mean that we have classified a story as a long-standing and well known urban legend or that there is a conspicuous lack of evidence that it is true.
"Reported to be Truth! or Reported to be Fiction! usually means that we have found a source for the story, but usually a single source whose credibility is either not known to us or may be questionable.
"Unproven! usually means we have not found reliable or first-hand sources to satisfactorily confirm or deny the story. It may or may not be true, but we have not found what we regard to be proof either way.
"Truth! & Fiction! usually means parts of a story are supported by fact, but other parts are not. It's not completely Truth! and it's not completely Fiction!
"Previously Truth! Now Ended! or Now Resolved! usually means that the story was once true, such as an urgent request for help, but is now outdated or was a project that came to an end.
"Disputed! usually means that there are good people on both sides of a controversy or a claim of truth and that TruthOrFiction.com is not making a judgment as to who is right.
"We try to research our stories as carefully as we can and to use sources that are as reliable as possible, but there can be times when our information is incomplete, out of date, or even wrong. We welcome corrections and additions, especially if you have first-hand knowledge of anything we need to know.
"We love researching eRumors that are of such importance to so many people, but we want to avoid coming across as the only measuring stick of truth. The real truth of some stories will never be known or we may only come close to the truth without actually finding it...but we do want to honor the value and the desire to pursue the truth as best we can. It's a worthwhile effort."
http://www.TruthOrFiction.com
"TruthOrFiction.com is a website where Internet users can quickly and easily get information about eRumors, warnings, offers, requests for help, myths, hoaxes, virus warnings, and humorous or inspirational stories that are circulated by email.
"TruthOrFiction.com is designed to be of value to the ordinary user of the Internet who wants to make sure that an email story contains information, not misinformation.
"Our focus tends to be on stories that are the most widely-circulated via forwarded emails on the Internet. Every story on TruthOrFiction.com has either been personally researched by the TruthOrFiction.com staff or, in some cases, is known to be a classic rumor or urban legend that has stood the test of time. As much as possible, the sources of our information are included in the stories.
"We try to classify stories in descriptive categories such as:
"Truth! usually means we have found reliable or first-hand sources who are willing to vouch for the validity of the story.
"Fiction! usually means we have found reliable or first-hand sources who know the story is false and who deny it. It can also mean that we have classified a story as a long-standing and well known urban legend or that there is a conspicuous lack of evidence that it is true.
"Reported to be Truth! or Reported to be Fiction! usually means that we have found a source for the story, but usually a single source whose credibility is either not known to us or may be questionable.
"Unproven! usually means we have not found reliable or first-hand sources to satisfactorily confirm or deny the story. It may or may not be true, but we have not found what we regard to be proof either way.
"Truth! & Fiction! usually means parts of a story are supported by fact, but other parts are not. It's not completely Truth! and it's not completely Fiction!
"Previously Truth! Now Ended! or Now Resolved! usually means that the story was once true, such as an urgent request for help, but is now outdated or was a project that came to an end.
"Disputed! usually means that there are good people on both sides of a controversy or a claim of truth and that TruthOrFiction.com is not making a judgment as to who is right.
"We try to research our stories as carefully as we can and to use sources that are as reliable as possible, but there can be times when our information is incomplete, out of date, or even wrong. We welcome corrections and additions, especially if you have first-hand knowledge of anything we need to know.
"We love researching eRumors that are of such importance to so many people, but we want to avoid coming across as the only measuring stick of truth. The real truth of some stories will never be known or we may only come close to the truth without actually finding it...but we do want to honor the value and the desire to pursue the truth as best we can. It's a worthwhile effort."
Snopes
http://www.Snopes.com
"The snopes.com website was founded by Barbara and David Mikkelson, who live and work in the Los Angeles area. What they began in 1995 as an expression of their shared interest in researching urban legends has since grown into what is widely regarded by folklorists, journalists, and laypersons alike as one of the World Wide Web's essential resources....
"With over 15 years' experience as professional researchers and writers, the Mikkelsons have created in snopes.com what has come to be regarded as an online touchstone of rumor research. Their work has been described as painstaking, scholarly, and reliable, and has been lauded by the world's top folklorists....
"...Neither the site nor its operators has ever received monies from (or been engaged in any business or editorial relationship with), any sponsor, investor, partner, political party, religious group, business organization, government agency, or any other outside group or organization.
"...The Mikkelsons are wholly apolitical, vastly preferring their quiet scholarly lives in the company of their cats to any political considerations."
http://www.Snopes.com
"The snopes.com website was founded by Barbara and David Mikkelson, who live and work in the Los Angeles area. What they began in 1995 as an expression of their shared interest in researching urban legends has since grown into what is widely regarded by folklorists, journalists, and laypersons alike as one of the World Wide Web's essential resources....
"With over 15 years' experience as professional researchers and writers, the Mikkelsons have created in snopes.com what has come to be regarded as an online touchstone of rumor research. Their work has been described as painstaking, scholarly, and reliable, and has been lauded by the world's top folklorists....
"...Neither the site nor its operators has ever received monies from (or been engaged in any business or editorial relationship with), any sponsor, investor, partner, political party, religious group, business organization, government agency, or any other outside group or organization.
"...The Mikkelsons are wholly apolitical, vastly preferring their quiet scholarly lives in the company of their cats to any political considerations."
Metabunk
https://www.Metabunk.org
Metabunk.org is dedicated to the art and pastime of honest, polite, scientific debunking. It is primarily a discussion forum, however the focus is on providing concise useful resources, and attempting to avoid repetitive debate and arguments.
[...]
Metabunk.org is run by me, Mick West. It started as a spin-off from the Contrail Science site, as the regular posters needed a more flexible forum for discussing a wider range of topics. The "Contrails and Chemtrails" forum is still the most popular here. Discussion topics tend to focus around conspiracy theories such as 9/11 and the "New World Order", and not so much about the paranormal.
[...]
I'm a retired video game programmer. I co-founded the company[,] Neversoft Entertainment, responsible for the Tony Hawk's Pro Skater series of games...I do this purely out of personal interest, and nobody pays me in any way.
https://www.Metabunk.org
Metabunk.org is dedicated to the art and pastime of honest, polite, scientific debunking. It is primarily a discussion forum, however the focus is on providing concise useful resources, and attempting to avoid repetitive debate and arguments.
[...]
Metabunk.org is run by me, Mick West. It started as a spin-off from the Contrail Science site, as the regular posters needed a more flexible forum for discussing a wider range of topics. The "Contrails and Chemtrails" forum is still the most popular here. Discussion topics tend to focus around conspiracy theories such as 9/11 and the "New World Order", and not so much about the paranormal.
[...]
I'm a retired video game programmer. I co-founded the company[,] Neversoft Entertainment, responsible for the Tony Hawk's Pro Skater series of games...I do this purely out of personal interest, and nobody pays me in any way.
PolitiFact
http://www.PolitiFact.com
"PolitiFact is a project of the Tampa Bay Times to help you find the truth in American politics. Reporters and editors from the Times fact-check statements by members of Congress, the White House, lobbyists and interest groups and rate them on our Truth-O-Meter...
[...]
For more details, see the Principles of PolitiFact and the Truth-O-Meter.
Find us on Twitter, Facebook and Google+.
We’re also tracking campaign promises of President Barack Obama and Republicans in Congress. You can track the progress on our Obameter and our GOP Pledge-O-Meter.
To find out more about PolitiFact and the Times, see Who Pays for PolitiFact.
http://www.PolitiFact.com
"PolitiFact is a project of the Tampa Bay Times to help you find the truth in American politics. Reporters and editors from the Times fact-check statements by members of Congress, the White House, lobbyists and interest groups and rate them on our Truth-O-Meter...
[...]
For more details, see the Principles of PolitiFact and the Truth-O-Meter.
Find us on Twitter, Facebook and Google+.
We’re also tracking campaign promises of President Barack Obama and Republicans in Congress. You can track the progress on our Obameter and our GOP Pledge-O-Meter.
To find out more about PolitiFact and the Times, see Who Pays for PolitiFact.
Hoax-Slayer
http://www.Hoax-Slayer.com
Mission Statement The goal of the Hoax-Slayer Website is to help make the Internet a safer, more pleasant and more productive environment by:
About Hoax-Slayer's Mission Hoaxes spread misinformation, waste bandwidth, and lessen the effectiveness of the Internet as a communication tool. Hoaxes circulate via email, social media, blogs, online forums, and fake-news websites. Hoax-Slayer helps stop the continued circulation of these hoaxes by publishing information about them. Hoax-Slayer allows Internet users to check the veracity of a large number of hoaxes. Information about new hoaxes is added every week.
Around the world, Internet scammers steal millions of dollars per year from unsuspecting Internet users. These criminal activities are successful largely because many Internet users are not aware of the ways in which scammers operate and may not recognize scam attempts if they are targeted. Hoax-Slayer aims to counteract these criminal activities by publishing information about common types of Internet scams and providing examples of scam messages.
Many users inadvertently compromise their online privacy and the security of their computer equipment because of poor computer security practices. Hoax-Slayer publishes information that makes users aware of email, Internet and computer security issues and what to do about them.
Spam is the scourge of the Internet. Hoax-Slayer combats the problem by providing information that can help Internet users recognize and deal with spam.
http://www.Hoax-Slayer.com
Mission Statement The goal of the Hoax-Slayer Website is to help make the Internet a safer, more pleasant and more productive environment by:
- Debunking email and Internet hoaxes
- Thwarting Internet scammers
- Educating web users about email and Internet security issues
- Combating spam
About Hoax-Slayer's Mission Hoaxes spread misinformation, waste bandwidth, and lessen the effectiveness of the Internet as a communication tool. Hoaxes circulate via email, social media, blogs, online forums, and fake-news websites. Hoax-Slayer helps stop the continued circulation of these hoaxes by publishing information about them. Hoax-Slayer allows Internet users to check the veracity of a large number of hoaxes. Information about new hoaxes is added every week.
Around the world, Internet scammers steal millions of dollars per year from unsuspecting Internet users. These criminal activities are successful largely because many Internet users are not aware of the ways in which scammers operate and may not recognize scam attempts if they are targeted. Hoax-Slayer aims to counteract these criminal activities by publishing information about common types of Internet scams and providing examples of scam messages.
Many users inadvertently compromise their online privacy and the security of their computer equipment because of poor computer security practices. Hoax-Slayer publishes information that makes users aware of email, Internet and computer security issues and what to do about them.
Spam is the scourge of the Internet. Hoax-Slayer combats the problem by providing information that can help Internet users recognize and deal with spam.