At a time when fake news and half-truths amplified on social media have shaken the bedrock of our civil discourse as a nation, it has never been more important for citizens to know where the truth lies.
VTDigger takes the time to deconstruct statements made by political figures and call powerful people to account when they’ve told half-lies — or have made pants-on-fire statements.
Through a special partnership with PolitiFact, the nation’s premier fact-checking news organization, VTDigger reporters have been trained in a protocol for vetting and evaluating public statements. We then rate them for accuracy on the PolitiFact Truth-O-Meter.
Over the past year, VTDigger has tested the accuracy of statements made by Gov. Phil Scott on Energizer layoffs, Sen. Bernie Sanders’ claim that he voted against all of the president’s defense budgets, and an assertion about public records made by Vermont Attorney General TJ Donovan.
The PolitiFact partnership is part of our commitment to political reporting that eschews partisanship and focuses on the facts.
Will you support accountability journalism?
You can find all of our articles on the Politifact Vermont website.
While it’s free to access our stories, it costs real money to support the reporters who do the work. We hope you’ll do your part today to help VTDigger stay strong.
With gratitude,
Anne Galloway
Founder and Editor of VTDigger.org
P.S. We are thanking readers who give $20 a month or a one-time gift of $250 or more with a free digital subscription to the New York Times.
Anyone who gives before Dec. 31 is eligible to win two airline tickets and a three night hotel stay anywhere in the lower 48 states. Many thanks to our friends at Milne Travel.
We are also grateful to Phoenix Books, which is making five $100 gift cards available to readers for our drawing on Jan. 3.
To donate a gift of stock, establish a planned gift, or bequest please call Florencio Terra at (802) 225-6224. Vermont Journalism Trust Tax ID #: 27-1553931