The document discusses the importance of ethics, urgency and accuracy in journalism. It notes that getting a story right is more important than being first to publish. Reporters should verify facts and publish stories as they unfold rather than waiting until all facts are known. The document provides tips for verifying user-generated content, images, videos and evaluating social media sources from experts in verification. It stresses the importance of always asking "How do you know that?" when verifying information.

1. Ethics, Urgency
& Accuracy
Steve Buttry
Southern Regional Press Institute
Savannah State University
Feb. 20, 2014
#srpi

2. Read more about it
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stevebuttry.wordpress.com (#twutorial)
slideshare.net/stevebuttry
@stevebuttry
stephenbuttry@gmail.com

3. Which is more important?
• Getting the news first? Or getting it
right?
This is a false choice: If you don’t have it
right, you didn’t get it first.
You want to publish quickly as soon as you
verify facts. Story unfolds, rather than
waiting to publish complete story.

4. Chapters:
• Verification
funamentals
• Verifying usergenerated content
• Verifying images
• Verifying videos
• Preparing for
disaster coverage
• Verification
checklists
verificationhandbook.net

8. Vetting & verifying
• Track back RTs, etc.
to source
• Look for clusters
• Location enabled?
• Evaluate the network
• Evaluate the history
• Links, photos?
• Take it old school
• Disclose, hedge,
repeat
• Be brave only in
correction
Tips from Craig Silverman, Regret the Error

9. Evaluating tweeps
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How long have they been tweeting?
Check previous tweets, interaction
Check bio, links
Check Klout score
Google name and scam, spammer
Contact & interview
Tips from Mandy Jenkins, Zombie Journalism

10. Always
answer:
“How do
you know
that?”

14. Read more about it
•
•
•
•
stevebuttry.wordpress.com
slideshare.net/stevebuttry
@stevebuttry
stephenbuttry@gmail.com

15. Chapters:
• Verification
funamentals
• Verifying usergenerated content
• Verifying images
• Verifying videos
• Preparing for
disaster coverage
• Verification
checklists
verificationhandbook.net