TruthBuzz: The Viral Fact-Checking Contest

Folks, the global TruthBuzz challenge aims to invent new ways to help verified facts reach the widest possible audience. This is being hosted by the International Center for Journalists (ICFJ).

TruthBuzz wants your creative solutions for taking fact-checking beyond long-form explanations and bullet points. The Craig Newmark Foundation has teamed up to support 'em and we’re looking for ideas — — from everyone, not just journalists — that turn fact-checking into engaging, visual, and interactive stories that are instantly understandable and shareable.

We welcome entries in any digital format and in all languages.

Submit your entry using this link.

The first-place winner will receive a cash prize of US$10,000. After the contest closes, we’ll showcase all of the entries on a public site where the global truth-telling community can learn from and use these fact-checking storytelling strategies.

What TruthBuzz Is Looking for:

A successful entry to TruthBuzz will refute or clarify a false or misleading report or statement in an engaging, entertaining way that convinces audiences of its veracity and encourages them to share it.

The entry can take the form of a digital-media creation such as a video, cartoon, graphic, animated GIF, photo, quiz, audio file, game, or something we haven’t even thought of. In addition to submitting an entry, you must submit a short application. Your application should:

• Explain how your project corrects a falsehood
• State which sources are used to determine the facts
• Describe how your project uses innovative techniques to spread the truth quickly
• Include a sample social media post that uses your fact-checking invention

Applications must be filled out in English. Entries will be accepted in all languages, and should be able to serve as a model that others can replicate.

TruthBuzz Application deadline: June 30. Submit your entry using this link.

What it Takes to Win:

An international panel of judges will select three winners. Submissions will be evaluated based on the originality of the proposal and its potential to help audiences differentiate fact from fiction and spread the word widely.

The top three winners will receive cash prizes of $10,000, $5,000 and $2,500 (USD) respectively.

Some Additional Resources:

• First Draft News resources for fact-checking and verification
• The Dangers of Fake News Spread to Data Visualization, MediaShift
• Fake news: an insidious trend that’s fast becoming a global problem, The Guardian
• This Analysis Shows How Viral Fake Election News Stories Outperformed Real News On Facebook , BuzzFeed

I'd like you to submit an application. I know lots of folks have good ideas, and ICFJ and the Craig Newmark Fund want to crowdsource ideas to elevate factchecking. Like I say, a trustworthy press is the immune system of democracy.