In a fact-checking workflow involving images, what is a key step?

• A. Rely on the subject's word that images are authentic.
• B. Remove all captions to avoid bias.
• C. Verify image provenance and check for manipulation or miscaptioning.
• D. Use images without attribution.

Answer: (C)

Verifying image provenance and checking for manipulation or miscaptioning is how you ensure an image’s truth and context in a fact-check. Tracing where the image came from, confirming the original source, and looking for signs it has been altered or paired with a misleading caption keeps you from unintentionally spreading doctored visuals or captions that don’t fit the picture. Practical steps include reverse image searches, examining metadata, and scanning for telltale signs of edits such as inconsistent lighting, shadows, or unusual artifacts, along with making sure the caption matches what’s shown and the surrounding story. This proactive verification supports accuracy and ethical reporting, whereas relying on someone’s claim of authenticity is risky, removing captions strips essential context, and using images without attribution ignores provenance and can be unethical or illegal.