LibGuides: MCO 4301: Communication Law & Ethics: Fact Checking Websites

Fact Checking Websites

FactCheck.org
We are a nonpartisan, nonprofit “consumer advocate” for voters that aims to reduce the level of deception and confusion in U.S. politics. We monitor the factual accuracy of what is said by major U.S. political players in the form of TV ads, debates, speeches, interviews and news releases. Our goal is to apply the best practices of both journalism and scholarship, and to increase public knowledge and understanding.
On the Issues
On the Issues' mission is to provide non-partisan information for voters in the Presidential election, so that votes can be based on issues rather than on personalities and popularity. They get their information daily from newspapers, speeches, press releases, and the Internet.
OpenSecrets.org
Nonpartisan, independent and nonprofit, the Center for Responsive Politics is the nation's premier research group tracking money in U.S. politics and its effect on elections and public policy. OpenSecrets.org is the most comprehensive resource for federal campaign contributions,
PolitiFact
PolitiFact is a fact-checking website that rates the accuracy of claims by elected officials and others who speak up in American politics
Poynter
The Craig Newmark Center for Ethics and Leadership at the Poynter Institute takes a practical approach to the ever-changing pressures on journalism and democracy. We are an authoritative voice for journalists, citizens and everyone interested in elevating discourse and fact-based expression while battling disinformation and bias.
Snopes.com
The Snopes.com web site was founded by David Mikkelson, a project begun in 1994 as an expression of his interest in researching urban legends that has since grown into the oldest and largest fact-checking site on the Internet, one widely regarded by journalists, folklorists, and laypersons alike as one of the world’s essential resources

More Fact Checking Websites

Code of Federal Regulations (electronic)
The Electronic Code of Federal Regulations (e-CFR) is a currently updated version of the Code of Federal Regulations (CFR). The OFR updates the material in the e-CFR on a daily basis.
Code of Federal Regulations annual edition
CFR annual is the codification of the general and permanent rules published in the Federal Register by the departments and agencies of the Federal Government produced by the Office of the Federal Register (OFR) and the Government Publishing Office.
Congress.gov
Official website of the United States Congress. Find the status of bills,
Congressional Record (CR)
After each day that Congress is in session, the proceedings are printed in the Congressional Record (CR) and available the following morning. This searchable site contains the Congressional Record from 1957 to the present.
Data.census.gov
Contains data on population, business and economy, education, employment, families & living arrangements, health, housing, income & poverty, international trade, migration, race, voting plus more. Data.census.gov replaces American Factfinder
Federal Election Commission
The Federal Election Commission (FEC) is the independent regulatory agency charged with administering and enforcing the federal campaign finance law. The FEC has jurisdiction over the financing of campaigns for the U.S. House, Senate, Presidency and the Vice Presidency.
Govinfo
govinfo provides free public access to official publications from all three branches of the Federal Government.
United States Code
The United States Code is a consolidation and codification by subject matter of the general and permanent laws of the United States.
USA.gov
USA.gov searches only federal, state, and local government websites for the public. Its search box works like other search engines you're used to, but USA.gov only returns results from government web pages, most ending in .gov or .mil.

Ethics in a Nutshell
This description on ethics comes from the Center of Journalism Ethics at the University of Wisconsin-Madison.
Communication Ethics
This is a free article from the Oxford Research Encyclopedia of Communication that gives a thorough discussion of the topic.
Ethical and Unethical Communication
This is a chapter from 21st Century Communication: A Reference Handbook
Credo for Ethical Communication
Approved by the NCA Legislative Council, 1999; Reaffirmed by the Legislative Assembly passing the report and recommendations of the Taskforce on the Public Policy Platform, 2011. Reaffirmed by the Legislative Assembly with edits, 2017.

CQ Researcher This link opens in a new window
Provides researchers with access to reports that cover different controversial topics going back to 1991.
Opposing Viewpoints (Gale In Context) This link opens in a new window
This cross-curricular resource supports science, social studies, current events, and language arts classes. Informed, differing views help learners develop critical-thinking skills and draw their own conclusions.

Federal Communications Commission
The Federal Communications Commission regulates interstate and international communications by radio, television, wire, satellite, and cable in all 50 states, the District of Columbia and U.S. territories. An independent U.S. government agency overseen by Congress, the Commission is the federal agency responsible for implementing and enforcing America’s communications law and regulations.
Federal Elections Commission | Advertising and Disclaimers
This page discusses political ads and disclaimers that need to be on these ads.
FindLaw | Communications & Media Law
FindLaw is the world’s leading provider of online legal information for consumers and small businesses. This link takes you directly to communications and media law.
Justia | Communications and Internet Law
Justia provides open and free access to the law, and a platform for the legal community to share their knowledge.
LII | Communications
Legal Information Institute is an independently-funded project of Cornell University Law School. They employ technology to gather, process, and publish extensive, public legal information that is accurate and objective. This article on Communications is a part of WEX, LII's legal dictionary.
LII | Media
Legal Information Institute is an independently-funded project of Cornell University Law School. They employ technology to gather, process, and publish extensive, public legal information that is accurate and objective. This article on Media is a part of WEX, LII's legal dictionary.
Pew Research Center
The Pew Research Center is a nonpartisan fact tank that informs the public about the issues, attitudes and trends shaping America and the world. The Center conducts public opinion polling, demographic research, content analysis and other data-driven social science research. Use to find attitudes about social media and facts and trends in use of social media.