Distinguish independent sources from repeated claims
Trace several articles back to their original evidence. Use a checklist and fictional examples to separate repetition from independent corroboration.
Follow the method ↓
The answer in 30 seconds
You find three articles reporting the same event. Before treating their agreement as confirmation, ask where each obtained its information. Counting pages measures circulation; it does not by itself count separate pieces of evidence.
Two pages are not two independent confirmations when they repeat the same press release, study or witness account. Group repeated reports by origin, then look for a separate observation or document addressing the same claim.
Examples to adapt
An association announces a library opening on Monday. A newspaper and a blog repeat its release. You have three ways to access the same account, with no separate observation of the opening. A page from the venue describing actual admission supplies another piece to examine.
Two charts use the same statistical file with different colours. Compare their filters and calculations first. The second chart can help check the first, but it does not supply independently collected data.
Follow the method
- 1Isolate the claim
Record a testable proposition with its date, place and scope. Separate an observed fact from a prediction, opinion or announcement. A promised launch does not establish that a service is already operating.
- 2Record each page’s origin
Note the author, publisher, cited links and wording such as according to a press release or based on a study. Open the cited document and locate the passage that actually supports the proposition.
- 3Group repeated reports
Assign the same group to articles using the same initial document. Retain their links to compare wording. A different headline, translation or publication date does not create new evidence.
- 4Look for a separate check
Depending on the question, seek an independent observation, a competent authority’s document or an investigation explaining how it established the fact. Compare dates, definitions and populations: different findings may describe different scopes.
- 5Describe what remains unknown
Write what the documents establish, what they merely repeat and what cannot be concluded. If every page traces back to one announcement, identify it as an announcement and retain independent verification as an unresolved task.
A checklist to keep
Use these checks to record your observations. They are a reading aid, not an automatic assessment.
| Check | What to examine | Action |
|---|---|---|
| Claim | Exact statement, date and scope | Separate fact from announcement |
| Page | Author, publisher and link | Keep the reference |
| Origin | Initial document or observation | Group repeated reports |
| Separate evidence | Method and comparable scope | Explain what it establishes |
| Uncertainty | Missing document or information | Stay within the evidence |
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What to check
Assess independence for the particular claim, rather than only by media brand.
A primary source can be incomplete or have an interest in the announcement.
A disagreement requires examination of scope and method; it does not alone establish that a source is false.
For consequential decisions, a reading checklist does not replace a competent authority or professional.
Common questions
Is there a fixed number of sources for every task?
No. Match evidence to the question and consequences of error. AFP describes its own fact-checking process in the cited source; it is not a universal quota for personal research.
Is a repeated report useless?
No. It can explain or translate a document, or add an interview. Separate that contribution from the initial claim it repeats, and check each separately.
Sources and documentation
Documentation consulted on . Examples are illustrative; interfaces and results may change.
Reference record for this resource
Identify the publisher, official destination and practical checks before using the service.
Read the AFP Factuel record →