Fact-Check Workflow vs Story Pitch

Fact-Check Workflow

By James Anditis (Journalism)

Verify claims, gather evidence, and document findings with structured journalism standards.

Story Pitch

By James Anditis (Journalism)

Write compelling story pitches for editors with hook, sources, scope, and competitive angle.

Fact-Check Workflow

• Extracts checkable claims from articles or statements and prioritizes them by importance
• Guides research through primary and secondary sources with documentation templates
• Provides rating scales (True, Mostly True, False, etc.) with clear criteria for each level
• Creates templates for contacting sources and giving right of response
• Organizes evidence collection with checklists for documents, data, and expert sources

Story Pitch

• Provides proven templates for daily news, features, investigations, and op-ed pitches
• Structures your pitch with hook, evidence, access, and timeline sections
• Helps you answer the critical questions editors ask: why this story, why now, why you, why this outlet
• Formats pitches for different publication types and editorial expectations
• Includes real examples showing how to present sources, visuals, and resource needs

Reach for Fact-Check Workflow when…

• You're publishing an article and need to verify facts before it goes live
• You're writing a dedicated fact-check piece rating someone's claims
• You need to document your verification process for editorial standards
• You're training a team on consistent fact-checking practices

Reach for Story Pitch when…

• You're pitching a story idea to an editor or publication
• You need to write a freelance query letter that stands out
• You're competing for an assignment in your newsroom
• You want to refine your story angle before you start reporting