INN + Gigafact: Fact Briefs & the power of micro-investigations

Learn how to access Fact Briefs to produce stories that answer community questions, expand investigative impact, meet audience demand, and create new opportunities for engagement and support….

Today, Oklahoma Watch and 18 other newsrooms are publishing Fact Briefs—informative 150-word micro-investigations into the questions, confusions, rumors and unsupported claims circulating in their communities. Fact Briefs are inspired by the best practices of fact-checking, but they are also a way for newsrooms to broaden their investigative scope.

Via their Fact Briefs, Oklahoma Watch can apply their expertise to questions such as, “Are Oklahoma home insurance rates among the highest in the nation?” and “Did the No Child Left Behind Act prohibit schools from holding students back?” that are on the minds of Oklahomans. Fact Briefs provide an efficient way to “meet readers where they are” and provide information their audience is searching for. They have also given Oklahoma Watch a means of underscoring key findings from their longform investigations and even attracted a local sponsor.

Join this session for feature presentations from Ted Streuli, Executive Director of Oklahoma Watch, and Robyn Sundlee, VP of Programs at Gigafact. They will discuss Oklahoma Watch’s experience publishing Fact Briefs, how they’ve complemented the newsroom’s investigative practices, and how other newsrooms might get involved.

Speakers:  Ted Streuli: Executive Director at Oklahoma Watch

Robyn Sundlee: VP of Programs at Gigafact