What are effective fact-checking strategies for LGBTQ+ newsrooms?

The most important thing is to have LGBTQ+ people contributing to, and writing articles. One thing most overlooked in current journalism is the amount of articles about us, without us. This leads to conversations on equity, or transgender experiences to be held in vacuums where our voices and lives aren’t even present. Additionally this continues to muddy the water because people are arguing about what is true, what is experienced, and what to do without ever truly seeing or hearing us. In the era of disinformation if LGBTQ+ experts aren’t involved in pieces they aren’t fully checking sources or perspectives.

One thing to keep in mind also is that one person does not speak for the whole community. Try everything possible to seek and secure different opinions and experiences. What might be true for one individual or segment of the LGBT+ community, might not be the same for others. In addition, conditions may fluctuate from one polarity to the next over the years. It is important to keep this in mind. No amount of research will make a difference if, as writers, this information is not taken into consideration.

Recognising that each individual's experiences and feelings within the LGBTQ+ community can be vastly different is essential for fostering understanding and empathy. The language we use plays a pivotal role in shaping societal change, as it can either perpetuate stereotypes and divisions or promote inclusivity and acceptance. It's crucial to use language that respects and acknowledges the diverse experiences and emotions within the LGBTQ+ community, ultimately contributing to a more inclusive and compassionate society.

Being a part of the LGBTQ+ community is a lived experience for every individual. This means many of the experiences can differ from person to person, dependent on the situation. For example many Transgender people will have a different lived experience to a cis gender gay person, but they can empathise and understand the issues they face collectively. Understanding that there is more than one voice, one answer and one view coming from a community, allows you to seek out the information and see where the sources are coming from. Don't be fooled into believing everyone sings from the same hymn sheet as cultural beliefs and societal standing can separate people. Keep an open mind and always look for more than one POV and source.

Do not fall down the hole of listening to one voice when it comes to gaining your information. Broaden the horizon and allow yourself to compare articles, scope out different points of view and continue to have a contextual view of any subject. Anything that may affect you directly, will be harder to work with, but try and allow yourself to see things from other angles. The more angles, the more chances of seeing things from a different perspective. It may not change your initial viewpoint, but at least you'll have a more rounded view on said subject.

Being that the author’s or writer’s reputation is at stake, being transparent with all the content is extremely important. The credibility of the content, the sources, and every piece of data that is used to write an article must be error-proof. Otherwise, it will take an unsurmountable amount of effort to clarify any mistake that slips through. In addition, there might be a loss of respect towards the author or writer, which can be detrimental to their career.

Communications ethics play a big role here. Only because something is true and information is available, it does not mean that the writer or author should expose it without first considering the impact it will have on the person, people or community. This is especially true of stories, photos, police reports or any resource that can be used to inflict more damage instead of helping people who have already been oppressed. Being a journalist, conveying a story, shedding light on issues requires a certain level of prudence, responsibility and compassion for others. Human traits that go beyond receiving recognition or a prize.

Things can change over time, for example a passionate piece of writing about a certain lived experience, may actually lead to a different view at a later date. It is ok to update, revise and continue a view/writing that may evidently change the perspective. Nothing is set in stone when it comes to certain types of writing where fact is not the focal point, but a sense of perspective and understanding. I Believe it is OK to get it wrong, just own it.