How do those incomparable fact-checkers at the New Yorker do it? Smith used to be one of them (she’s now head fact-checker for the New York Times Magazine), and in this tidy little volume, she shares the secrets of her craft. And even for those don’t aspire to be a journalist or researcher, Smith’s tips are useful: in an information-logged world, we all ought to be able to determine the reliability of what we read. She opens with an excellent lesson in the art of skeptical reading ("do you find the article credible and persuasive?…. Occasionally, flat writing can be a tip-off that an author is parroting someone else’s ideas"), and she offers a useful discussion of fact-checking procedures at some top newspapers and magazines and helpful (though not comprehensive) lists of reliable resources in
subjects ranging from films to wine. Much of the book, however, is for professionals, and the journalists, fact-checkers, researchers and editors at whom this is aimed should find it nearly indispensable.
Jan’s Recommendation: If you write nonfiction, you likely include facts, statistics and quotes.Being able to find where they came from, who owns them or whether they are in the public domain is an important part of the writing/editing process.This book will help you feel that you aren’t doing this tedious work alone.
