Research, research, call the source.

Over this semester I’ve read hundreds of facts that could be applicable to my articles. Specifically, this in-depth article.

“There is no voter fraud in North Carolina.”

“Voter fraud is up since the 2008 election!”

Often times, the facts are not consistent with each other.

One thing that Angie Newsome, Director and Editor of Carolina Public Press, told our class when she gave her presentation on in-depth reporting was to call the source of your fact and double check. She cited a time when she put a number in an article thinking it was correct, but she had actually misread the spreadsheet and had to print a retractment statement.

For journalists, having to admit that you got some of your research wrong is the most terrifying thought. We spend hours looking up information and calling sources. To know that all of that time you put into the article essentially went to waste because of one wrong fact is horrible. Not to mention, your credibility can be ruined, depending on the story you were reporting on.

I will be implementing Angie’s tip on calling people to double check your information before it is printed for this in-depth story.