Verifying the accuracy of sources used in broadcast and digital reporting is a tricky task, especially amid the growing challenge of AI-generated content and the corresponding need for new and evolving tools to combat sophisticated misinformation.
Janhvi Bhojwani, an Emmy Award-winning journalist and open-source intelligence (OSINT) specialist, spoke to NPF’s Widening the Pipeline fellows about how to best to search for and skillfully utilize publicly available online information to make sure news stays accurate.
Open-source intelligence (OSINT) is a fundamental and essential skill for modern journalists to verify the authenticity and accuracy of their sources, involving gathering, analyzing, and cross-checking online information.
Bhojwani presented a clear OSINT hierarchy, positing that direct contact with the source was the gold standard, followed by official corroboration, and finally, independent analysis of the content’s context clues.
“You’re just trying to gather as many details as you can and as much of the breadcrumbs and then you piece it together kind of like a puzzle,” Bhojwani said.
Another central argument was that a methodical and skeptical approach is critical to avoid spreading misinformation, particularly in the high-pressure environment of breaking news.
“We don’t want to be in the practice of making assumptions. We want to be skeptical about it and we just want to take everything with a grain of salt until we get official confirmation from authorities,” Bhojwani said.
Overall, Bhojwani emphasized being resourceful and thorough, demonstrating her verification process with three case studies. She contended that the most robust verification was achieved by combining digital tools (like reverse image search, comment sections, and geolocation) with traditional reporting techniques (like reaching out to sources directly).
“So I’m always questioning, how do I know what I know?” Bhojwani said, describing the critical thinking framework necessary for practicing OSINT. “What is this video showing and how do I know it?”
Access the full transcript here.
