Have you ever seen a statement in an online article or an Instagram post that made you think, “I’m not sure if that’s correct…let me google”? If you have, it’s no wonder you might be looking for a fact-checker for your content. Here is everything you need to know about fact-checking experts and the best places to find one.
Who Fact-Checkers Are
The fact-checkers job title is pretty self-explanatory: simply put, a fact-checker ensures that there are no factual mistakes in your content. For example, if you have a non-fiction blog, fact checker writers for hire will look through your posts before you post them to avoid unfortunate errors. It’s the best way to avoid backlash from your audience.
Fact-checkers are professional researchers with unparalleled attention to detail. Most people trust the media and are what is sometimes referred to as “naive readers.” But not fact-checkers. They question every statement, piece of statistic, and generalization they see in the text. A phrase along the lines of “the majority of HR managers . . .” instantly sets off alarms in their heads and sends them on a quest for evidence.
Fact-checkers aren’t only suitable for detecting factual mistakes and questionable statements. They are also excellent at finding credible evidence that backs up any fact or disproves it. In theory, every confident Google user can do the same. But the difference is that a professional fact-checker will do it times quicker than you. And they’ll still be more thorough.
Fact-checkers have different educational backgrounds and, therefore, areas of expertise. For example, someone with a political studies degree typically specializes in political fact-checking. A psychology professional mostly fact-checks mental health content. But some fact-checkers have experience in journalism and reporting and can fact-check basically anything unless it requires unique subject area expertise.
Why You May Need to Hire a Fact-Checker
If you’re a writer or any other content creator, you’ve probably heard of fact-checkers, even if you have yet to hire one. Fact-checking is one of the most in-demand writing careers these days. Seeing how unforgiving audiences can be for even the tiniest of mistakes, hiring a professional fact-checker is an excellent investment in the credibility of your platform and your reputation.
You wouldn’t want to join the long line of content creators who were forced to apologize after saying something false on their platform, would you? It’s a bit humiliating, not to mention the toll such mistakes take on your relationship with your audience. Having a fact-checker triple-check everything before posting it can help you avoid that.
By the way, if you think that only “serious” media and science or politics-related content creators need fact-checkers, you’re wrong. Whether you write about the beauty industry, dog training, or child-rearing, there is always room for factual mistakes. You might make an occasional generalization or a common misconception without thinking twice about it.
If you’re writing about celebrities or quoting known experts in your field (which almost every non-fiction writer does), you need fact-checkers even more. Otherwise, you might find yourself in a situation where you’ll have to reach out to the person you mentioned to apologize to them for posting false information about them or quoting them on something they’ve never actually said.
Best Platforms for Hiring Fact-Checkers
Finding a competent fact-checker used to be quite complicated; there weren’t too many of them. Luckily, those days are long gone. You can hire fact-checkers on professional writing, editing resources, or even freelance platforms. Here are a few to consider:
- Skillhub. Skillhub is a writing assistance platform that can help you with different types of writing, including resumes. Fact-checking is one of its specialties. Skillhub has a large team of fact-checkers with varying educational backgrounds and areas of expertise. No matter what kind of content you need to fact-check, you’re guaranteed to find someone perfect for the job on Skillhub.
- Upwork. Upwork needs no introductions. It’s the most well-known freelance platform in the world; you can hire someone there for basically any job. Fact-checking isn’t an exception. It’s easy to find a fact-checker on Upwork. Beware of the lowest-paid offers, though. They may be tempting, but professional fact-checkers don’t ask below the market price.
- Fiverr. Fiverr is another marketplace for freelance services and Upwork’s top competitor. Some of the fact-checkers you’ll find there are even cheaper than on Upwork. But it’s not the best choice if you’d like to hire someone for the long term. Fiverr is better suited for one-time projects, which may not be convenient if you create content regularly and need fact-checking services all the time.
- Kolabtree. On Kolabtree, finding fact-checkers for a particular subject area is very convenient. Some of the top fact-checking professionals there are STEM and tech experts. So if you have a science blog or write about new technologies, Kolabtree is an excellent option. It’s more expensive than Upwork or Fiverr, but the quality is worth it.
- Freelancer. Finally, Freelancer is your chance to hire a fact-checker for as little money as possible. Some fact-checkers there ask only $5 per hour for their services. But please think twice (and read the reviews thoroughly) before accepting such a low-priced offer. Remember that the price is often a reflection of the quality.
As you can see, there’s no shortage of places where you can find fact-checkers for hire. No matter what your content is about and how much you’re willing to pay—you’ll surely find someone who can help.
To Wrap It Up
Fact-checkers are not for the traditional media only. Every content creator who wants only to share credible content should consider hiring one. You can do this on Skillhub, one of the global freelance marketplaces akin to Upwork or Fiverr, Kolabtree (if you need an actual scientist), and other places. Choose the platform based on your priorities, what kind of project(s) you need a fact-checker for, and how much you’re willing to pay.