Standalone Course Fact-Checking for Editors
Learn how to verify data, names, places, and statistics to ensure the accuracy of manuscripts and the veracity of claims made by authors.
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At a Glance
- Enrollment:
- Open Enrollment
- Length:
- 6 weeks
- Format:
- Online
- Investment:
-
$1,500
- Also offered in:
Upcoming Dates
There are currently no upcoming dates.
In an age when so many writers rely on secondary or tertiary sources, unverified websites, and artificial intelligence to help create manuscripts, how can editors ensure that texts are accurate?
Many editors—from copyeditors to developmental editors—provide limited fact-checking services while editing. This typically takes the form of verifying names, dates, and places. But what about verifying facts related to history or current events? Data and statistics? Scientific or medical findings?
In our Fact-Checking for Editors course, you will learn:
- Why fact-checking is more important than ever.
- Which editorial points should be verified.
- How to properly ensure accuracy in a manuscript.
You will acquire skills to dig deeper into the details to ensure that facts are correctly stated and referenced. This will further your editing abilities and help you build a reputation as an in-demand editor.
Designed For
The course is designed for those seeking to gain or enhance their editing skills across a variety of fields including writing, editing, freelancing, grant writing, marketing, and postdoctoral writing, as well as those in editing and publishing associations. It is part of an Editing portfolio that helps those entering the publishing industry and current editing professionals build skills and knowledge for career advancement.
Enhance Your Fact-Checking Skills
Learning objectives and outcomes
During this six-week course you will:
- Understand the basics of fact-checking.
- Become familiar with key fact-checking conventions.
- Learn how to differentiate reliable and unreliable sources.
- Learn practical fact-checking methods and techniques.
- Identify common editorial mistakes in data, statistics, and other subjects.
- Understand the responsibilities and profession of fact-checking.
- Practice fact-checking, querying, and editing for veracity.
- Identify ways of working and communicating with authors and publishers.
- Learn how to structure fact-checking assignments and agreements to use with authors and other clients.
Upon completion of this course you will be able to:
- Apply fact-checking conventions, methods, and techniques to manuscripts.
- Locate accurate sources to verify facts, data, and statistics in manuscripts.
- Recognize common errors of facts, names, places, and other pertinent information in manuscripts.
- Understand the business and responsibilities of fact-checking.
- Draft agreements outlining fact-checking duties for assignments.
Earn a Credential in Fact-Checking for Editors
After successful completion of this course, participants will receive a course badge certified by the University of Chicago to recognize their achievement.
Course Overview
- Unit 1: Fact-Checking Basics, Resources, and Tools
- Unit 2: Fact-Checking Data, Statistics, Research, and Claims
- Unit 3: Fact-Checking Images and Illustrations
- Unit 4: Fact-Checking Quotes and Quotations
- Unit 5: Fact-Checking Reference and How-To Works
- Unit 6: Fact-Checking Assignment Roles and Responsibilities
Quality Education Taught by Industry Thought Leaders
We provide stackable learning options with UChicago brand recognition, networking with top-tier professionals, and courses taught by thought leaders in the industry. You will receive practical training with in-depth assessment and instructional feedback. Our editing courses are backed by the authority of The Chicago Manual of Style (CMOS) and bolstered by direct connections to the UChicago Press.
Meet Your Instructor
Our expert instructors set the standard for the incredible experience you will have in our Editing courses and certificate program. They have worked as freelancers, consultants, and in-house editorial and production managers at industry-leading presses and have extensive experience working with CMOS—even consulting on new editions. They understand the technical and professional demands of the industry and have a wealth of contacts and resources. As experts in the field, they offer invaluable networking opportunities.
Kelli Christiansen, MLA
President, Bibliobibuli Professional Editorial Services, Inc.
Kelli Christiansen has spent more than two decades in publishing, as a bookseller, an editor, a literary agent, and a writer. She began her career as a bookseller before becoming a journalist and then serving as an acquisitions editor with Publications International, Ltd./Consumer Guide, as a senior...
Skill Development in a Changing Job Market
Our Standalone Editing Courses provide professional development in response to the evolving skill requirements in the job market. These courses address the need to expand beyond a curriculum in manuscript editing and encompass a wider spectrum of competencies. They provide tailored learning paths that cater to the specific and various needs of professional development in editing. Participants will have ongoing training opportunities to stay relevant and grow skills to work across sectors and roles. These are individual courses meant to enhance your training outside of our full Editing certificate program.
Standalone courses include:
Editing for Lawyers (Coming soon)
Join a Distinguished Editing Community
Our welcoming and supportive community will challenge you, motivate you, and help you build connections with like-minded learners. You become part of an extensive network of editors, writers, and industry professionals. There are opportunities for collaboration, mentorship, and professional growth, helping you advance your career.
Talk to an Advisor Today
Do you have questions about the online course or our full Editing certificate? Our team is ready to discuss the program and answer your questions regarding our registration process. Connect with our admissions team by booking an appointment via email or by filling out our online request form to receive more information and have someone reach out to you.
Payment Options for Non-Credit Certificate Students
Our goal is to provide students with a variety of tuition payment options that will suit their financial circumstances when they register for non-credit certificate UChicago Professional courses.
The University of Chicago has a clear refund policy for non-credit courses. View the withdrawal and cancellation policy for more details.
Current members of certain professional associations are eligible for a 10 percent tuition reduction. Please check the list of eligible organizations below. If you are a member of an organization listed, please contact editing@uchicago.edu for more information.
- American Medical Writers Association
- Board of Editors in the Life Sciences
- Council of Science Editors
- Editorial Freelancers Association
- Independent Writers of Chicago
- International Society of Managing and Technical Editors
- National Association of Science Writers
If you have already completed a certificate program at UChicago Professional, you are eligible to receive our 20 percent Alumni Scholarship toward this standalone course.
For more information on the Alumni Scholarship program, please email the director of professional development programs, Karine Bravais, for eligibility.
Are you a benefits-eligible UChicago employee? Please see the UChicago tuition benefits page for more information related to your employee benefits.
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