Reporting Elections, Safety and Security of Journalists What is fact-checking? This is a systematic process of investigating claims or information in order to verify facts. Fact-checking often focuses on claims by public officials and institutions. However, because the internet revolution has made anyone with access to the internet a potential publisher, fact- checking needs to be extended to user generated content as well. It is, however, important to note that fact-checking does not assess the truthfulness of opinions and predictions, hyperbole, satire and jokes. Promoting factual reporting A fact is something that is consistent with objective reality or that can be proven with evidence. The usual test for a statement of fact is verifiability — that is whether it can be demonstrated to correspond to experience. Standard reference works are often used to check facts. As a discipline, fact-checking is only concerned with verifiable facts, not opinions, predictions, jokes and satire - that is humorous dramatising of issues and presentation of information. The fight against “fake news” Fact-checking is often defined as the fight against ‘fake news.’ But what constitutes ‘fake news’? Fake news is information that has been deliberately fabricated and disseminated with the intention to deceive and mislead others into believing 63