Method
Every page on NorthFacts starts with a question. Most come from readers, some from my own reference desk at the Ottawa Public Library, and a few from gaps I notice while fact-checking other entries. My job is to turn that question into a concise answer card with a quick answer, key dates, and enough context to make sense. Here is how I do it, step by step.
Which sources may be used
I rely on primary sources whenever possible: official records, government databases, academic publications, and reputable news organizations with a track record of corrections. For historical topics, that means archives, museum collections, and peer-reviewed journals. For biographical entries, I look for interviews, memoirs, and verified public records. For sports statistics, I cross-check against league databases and contemporaneous game reports. For entertainment facts, I use production credits, official studio materials, and interviews with the people involved. I avoid blogs, forums, and any site that does not name its own sources.
How claims are evidenced
Each claim on a page must be traceable to at least one source I can name. I keep a working file for every entry with the exact source, the date I accessed it, and a note on how the claim is supported. When a fact appears in multiple independent sources, I mark it as confirmed. When only one reliable source exists, I say so on the page. I never guess, and I never fill gaps with assumptions.
What happens when sources don't answer
Sometimes the sources are silent, contradictory, or simply not good enough. In those cases, I do not publish a guess. I either narrow the scope of the page to what can be verified, or I state clearly that a particular detail is unconfirmed and why. If the core question cannot be answered with confidence, I will not publish the page at all. Instead, I note the question in my backlog and revisit it when new material appears.
How often facts are re-checked
Facts are not static. I review every page at least once every 12 months, and more often for topics that change quickly. When a source updates its data, I check whether my page needs a revision. I also track corrections from the sources themselves; if a newspaper issues a retraction, I update my page and add a note. Readers can always flag an error via the contact page, and I treat those reports as priority checks.
This method is not flashy, but it is honest. NorthFacts is ad-free and independent, funded by my own savings and a small Patreon, so I have no sponsor to please and no algorithm to chase. The only thing I owe is a straight answer, backed by evidence.