Ask students the definition of a fact.
Explain that a fact is a verifiable statement. Journalists must verify every statement of fact, and verify every assertion based on fact – this means that if you put someone else’s assertion in your article, and that assertion is based in fact, you should verify that fact.
Is this Tweet from Donald Trump about Meryl Streep, Opinion or Fact?
What is an assertion based on fact, which should be checked? Here is a good example of an error caused by an assertion based on a fact that was not checked.
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