For 14 years, the Washington Post’s Fact Checker evaluated political claims truthfulness on a four Pinocchio scale.
Damien Meyer/AFP via Getty Images
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Damien Meyer/AFP via Getty Images
For 14 years, the Washington Post’s Fact Checker evaluated political claims truthfulness on a four Pinocchio scale.
Damien Meyer/AFP via Getty Images
As the media landscape shifts, high-profile journalists are departing from established institutions. Glenn Kessler, known for his role as The Fact Checker at the Washington Post, is among them. His reflections on his tenure offer insights into the evolving role of fact-checking in an era where misinformation runs rampant.
For 14 years, Kessler spearheaded the Fact Checker column, evaluating the veracity of political statements using a four Pinocchio scale. His departure coincides with broader changes at the Post, as the newspaper’s leadership charts a new course.
“In an era where false claims are the norm, it’s much easier to ignore the fact-checkers,” Kessler stated in his final column. His remarks underscore the challenges faced by journalists dedicated to truth-telling when their work is often sidelined by political figures.
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This episode was produced by Alejandra Marquez Janse and Connor Donevan with engineering by Ted Mebane. It was edited by Tinbete Ermyas and Sami Yenigun, who is also our executive producer.
