Wisconsin Watch, the nonprofit, nonpartisan newsroom based in Madison, is marking a significant milestone this week: four years since the publication of its first Fact Brief, produced in partnership with Gigafact, a collaborative fact-checking initiative. The project, which the newsroom has branded as the “fight for facts,” has since produced nearly 700 short, yes/no responses to surprising or dubious claims circulating in the infosphere. The stated goal is straightforward but ambitious: to combat the rising tide of misinformation by helping the public find reliable information across a wide range of topics. For the past four years, the burden of identifying potential misinformation has fallen largely on Wisconsin Watch’s reporters, who scan social media, public statements, and viral content for falsehoods that need correction. But this election season, the newsroom is trying something different. Through a new partnership with the Center for Media Engagement, a nonpartisan, nonprofit research organization at The University of Texas at Austin, Wisconsin Watch is experimenting with a crowdsourcing tool called Truth Sleuth. The tool invites the public to flag possible misinformation directly, giving ordinary citizens a role in the fact-checking process. It is a notable shift from the traditional top-down model of journalism, and it arrives at a time when false information about elections is proliferating across platforms, mailers, and word of mouth. The four-year anniversary is not just a celebration; it is a recognition of how much the information landscape has changed. When Wisconsin Watch published its first Fact Brief, the term “infosphere” was already familiar to media scholars, but the public was only beginning to grapple with the scale of online misinformation. Since then, false claims have become more sophisticated, more visual, and more targeted. The need for reliable, nonpartisan fact-checking has never been greater. Wisconsin Watch’s Fact Briefs are designed to be quick, authoritative, and easy to share, offering clear yes/no answers to claims that might otherwise confuse voters. The partnership with Gigafact has allowed the newsroom to amplify its reach and collaborate with other fact-checking organizations. Now, with Truth Sleuth, the newsroom is taking another step forward by recognizing that the public is not just an audience but a vital resource. People see misinformation in their neighborhoods, workplaces, and family group chats. They receive suspicious campaign fliers and encounter dubious social media posts. By inviting them to report what they see, Wisconsin Watch hopes to catch false claims that might otherwise escape the attention of professional fact-checkers.
The new tool, Truth Sleuth, is the centerpiece of this experiment. Developed in collaboration with the Center for Media Engagement, it provides Wisconsin Watch’s fact-checking team with a dashboard where they can investigate claims submitted by the public. The dashboard is designed to streamline the process, allowing reporters to review submissions, categorize them, and decide which ones warrant a Fact Brief. The newsroom is particularly interested in spotting and debunking false claims related to the election, such as misinformation about polling locations, election dates, or voting procedures. These are the kinds of claims that can have a direct and immediate impact on people’s ability to participate in democracy. A false post about a changed polling place could suppress turnout. A misleading message about election dates could confuse voters. By focusing on these high-stakes topics, Truth Sleuth aims to address misinformation where it can do the most harm. The Center for Media Engagement, which studies how people interact with news and information, brings a research-backed approach to the project. The partnership reflects a growing recognition that fact-checking cannot be done by journalists alone. It requires a network of vigilant citizens who are willing to share what they see and ask questions. Truth Sleuth is designed to make that process as easy as possible, with a user-friendly interface and clear instructions. The tool is being tested this election season, but its potential extends beyond November. If successful, it could become a permanent part of Wisconsin Watch’s fact-checking arsenal. It could also serve as a model for other newsrooms looking to engage their communities in the fight against misinformation. The experiment is timely: election seasons are prime time for false narratives, and the 2024 cycle has already seen a wave of misleading content about voting machines, ballot deadlines, and candidate backgrounds. By empowering the public to report what they see, Truth Sleuth creates a feedback loop between the community and the newsroom. It also helps build trust, because people are more likely to believe fact-checks when they have played a role in identifying the claims being checked.
Participating in Truth Sleuth is simple, and Wisconsin Watch has published a step-by-step guide to help users get started. First, head to the Truth Sleuth website and create a free account. The account requirement helps prevent spam and ensures that submissions can be tracked. Once logged in, click the “Report” button. The system will ask, “Which agency would you like to report to?” At this point, users should choose Wisconsin Watch. From there, follow the step-by-step instructions to categorize the submission and share the information. The categorization step is important because it helps fact-checkers understand the type of claim being made, whether it is about elections, health, public policy, or something else. It also helps the dashboard prioritize submissions that are most likely to require a Fact Brief. After hitting submit, the report is sent directly to Wisconsin Watch’s fact-checking team, which will look into it. The process is designed to be accessible to people with varying levels of technical skill. You do not need to be a journalist or a researcher to participate. You just need to have seen something that seems questionable and be willing to share it. The tool also allows users to provide context, such as where they saw the claim and why they think it might be false. This information is invaluable to reporters, who can use it to trace the spread of misinformation and understand its reach. The dashboard is not just a submission box; it is a triage system. It allows the fact-checking team to see patterns, such as a sudden spike in reports about a particular topic. That could indicate a coordinated disinformation campaign or a viral rumor that needs immediate attention. It also allows the team to respond to individual reports, letting users know whether their submission was investigated and what the outcome was. This transparency is a key part of the project’s philosophy. The goal is not to create a black box where reports disappear. It is to create a collaborative process where the public can see their contributions making a difference. Wisconsin Watch has emphasized that not all claims submitted will be false. Some may be true but surprising. Some may be partially true. The fact-checking team will evaluate each claim on its merits and prioritize those that are most likely to mislead or confuse the public.
What kind of information should people submit? According to Wisconsin Watch, the short answer is: anything that seems questionable. The Fact Briefs are based on claims that the newsroom finds “surprising or dubious.” Not all of the claims that are checked turn out to be false, but the team tries to prioritize those that are most likely to be misleading. Users can submit a link to the source of the claim, or they can provide a detailed description of what they saw. They can also submit a photo, which is particularly useful for capturing misinformation in visual formats. For example, during election season, campaign fliers often stuff mailboxes with misleading statements, confusing graphics, or outright falsehoods. A photo of such a flier can give fact-checkers the evidence they need to investigate and debunk it. The same goes for screenshots of social media posts, text messages, or website headlines. Nothing is too insignificant, the newsroom says. If you have doubts about a claim, chances are other people do too. This is a crucial insight from misinformation research: false claims often spread because they tap into existing anxieties or beliefs. A single suspicious post in a small Facebook group can quickly be shared thousands of times. By reporting it early, users can help fact-checkers get ahead of the curve. The threshold for submission is intentionally low. You do not need to be certain that something is false. You just need to have a reason to question it. That lowers the barrier to participation and encourages more people to get involved. The election focus is particularly important. False information about polling locations, election dates, and voting requirements can have real consequences. In previous election cycles, there have been viral posts telling voters the wrong day to show up, or claiming that they need to bring documents they do not actually need. These claims can suppress turnout, especially among marginalized communities. By encouraging the public to report such claims, Truth Sleuth aims to catch them before they go viral. The tool is not limited to election claims, however. Users can report any information that seems dubious, whether it is about health, the economy, or local government. The fact-checking team will consider all submissions and decide which ones warrant a response. This flexibility makes Truth Sleuth a general-purpose tool for fighting misinformation, not just a temporary election project.
The stakes of this work are high. Misinformation is not just a nuisance; it is a threat to informed citizenship. When people cannot agree on basic facts, democratic deliberation becomes impossible. This is especially true in a state like Wisconsin, which has been at the center of political battles and where elections are often decided by narrow margins. A single false claim about voting procedures could tip the balance in a close race. Wisconsin Watch’s role as a nonprofit, nonpartisan newsroom is critical. It does not have a partisan agenda; its only agenda is to provide accurate, reliable information. The partnership with Gigafact and the Center for Media Engagement strengthens that mission by bringing additional resources and expertise. The Center for Media Engagement is known for its research on how people consume news and why misinformation spreads. By applying that research to the Truth Sleuth tool, the partnership aims to create a fact-checking system that is both effective and responsive to the public’s needs. Crowdsourcing is not a silver bullet, of course. It has limitations. Reports may be incomplete, biased, or even malicious. But the dashboard allows fact-checkers to filter and verify submissions, so the system is designed to handle those challenges. The broader point is that fact-checking is a shared responsibility. Journalists cannot be everywhere at once. They cannot monitor every Facebook group, every WhatsApp chain, every campaign mailer. But the public can. By acting as the eyes and ears of the newsroom, citizens can help expand the reach of fact-checking and ensure that false claims are caught quickly. Moreover, involving the public in fact-checking can help rebuild trust in journalism. Many people are skeptical of the media, but they are more likely to trust a process they have participated in. Truth Sleuth gives them a tangible way to contribute, not just as passive consumers but as active partners. This is especially important in an era when trust in institutions is declining. The tool also has an educational component. By asking users to categorize claims and explain why they are suspicious, it encourages critical thinking. People who use Truth Sleuth may become better at spotting misinformation on their own, which is a valuable skill in the digital age. The fight for facts is not just about debunking individual claims; it is about fostering a culture of skepticism and verification. Wisconsin Watch’s four years of Fact Briefs have already contributed to that culture. Truth Sleuth has the potential to take it to the next level.
As Wisconsin Watch marks this four-year milestone, it is inviting the public to join the fight for facts. The first step is simple: visit the Truth Sleuth website, create a free account, and submit a report. Whether you have seen a suspicious campaign flier, a viral social media post, or a questionable text message, your report can help fact-checkers investigate and, if necessary, debunk it. Wisconsin Watch also encourages readers to subscribe to its newsletters for original stories and its Friday news roundup. The newsroom’s articles are available for free republication under a Creative Commons license, allowing other outlets to share its fact-checking work with wider audiences. This openness is part of the newsroom’s commitment to serving the public interest. The fight against misinformation is not a one-time effort; it is an ongoing struggle that requires constant vigilance. The four-year anniversary of the Fact Briefs is a reminder of how much has been accomplished, but also of how much work remains. The information landscape is more complex than ever, and new challenges are emerging all the time. Artificial intelligence, for example, has made it easier to create convincing fake images and videos. Social media algorithms continue to amplify sensational content. Political actors are becoming more sophisticated in their use of disinformation. In this environment, tools like Truth Sleuth are essential. They harness the collective intelligence of the community and direct it toward the public good. They also send a powerful message: facts matter, and everyone has a role to play in defending them. Wisconsin Watch’s experiment with Truth Sleuth is a bold step forward, and its success will depend on the participation of people across the state. By working together, journalists and citizens can ensure that truth has a fighting chance. The fight for facts is not over, but with tools like Truth Sleuth, it is a fight that can be won.