Just in case this wasn’t clear, there are no such things as “alternative facts”. There are only facts and in a world of “fake news” and social media overload, fact-checking is as important as ever. But when you’re on deadline or trying to uncover the real story, how do you go about verifying what is a fact and what is not? Our panel of experts will show you the tools they use to verify information quickly and reliably, and the work they’re doing to erase misinformation.
Panelists: Daniel Funke, Dustin Gardiner, Ken Schwenke
Sponsored by:
DANIEL FUNKE covers fact-checking, online misinformation and fake news for the International Fact-Checking Network at The Poynter Institute. He previously reported for Poynter as a Google News Lab Fellow and has worked for the Los Angeles Times, USA Today and the Atlanta Journal-Constitution. When he’s not chasing down online hoaxes, the recent University of Georgia graduate can be found at your local brewery.
DUSTIN GARDINER covers state politics for The Arizona Republic and azcentral.com, with a focus on the Arizona Legislature, state agencies and the statewide elections system. Gardiner has wanted to be a political reporter since 10th grade, when he started writing for my high school newspaper, The Brighton BARB, in suburban Salt Lake City. Gardiner quickly realized he loved telling people’s stories and uncovering mysteries. After graduating from the University of Utah (go Utes!) in 2009, Gardiner moved to Arizona to work as a reporter. Prior to switching to the statehouse beat, he covered Phoenix City Hall for more than five years. His articles exposed conflict of interest concerns related to a downtown land sale and lobbyists who flouted the city’s transparency rules. In 2017, Gardiner received the “Story of the Year” award from the Arizona Newspapers Association for his coverage of the city’s land ownership practices. When he’s not reporting, you’ll find Gardiner outdoors, running trails and exploring the unique landscape of the desert Southwest.