Fact checking fact checkers

Avik Roy at Forbes blogged a list of the 10 worst fact checks of the 2012 US election.

“The problem,” observes Ben, “is that a combination of ignorance and bias warps the perspective of fact checkers, and their focus ends up being on their own personal prism of what’s far as opposed to what’s accurate.”

It is true not all fact checkers are equal.

The one I prefer is Fact Check, as it is independent. It is not run as part of a newspaper, which can mean the editorial direction of the newspaper can influence it.

I think NZ would do well with a Fact Check type site – but again one not linked to any media outlet, and with staff that have no history of political involvement or support. It would need a benevolent non-involved funder – which is the difficult part.