Page 96 - Forbes Magazine-September 30, 2018

SIDELINES

EDITOR-IN-CHIEF Just the Facts
Steve Forbes

FORBES MAGAZINE
CHIEF CONTENT OFFICER IT’S BEEN A TOUGH YEAR or two for the concept of accuracy. In the
Randall Lane political sphere, inane relativism (“alternative facts,” “truth isn’t truth”)
EXECUTIVE EDITOR
Michael Noer has popularized the idea there can be two sets of reality. It’s been a tough
couple years for content creators as well, who have overseen too many
ART & DESIGN DIRECTOR
Robert Mansfield slip-ups—a by-product of an ever-worsening business model, pushing
FORBES DIGITAL fewer people to produce more.
VP, DIGITAL EDITOR I’ve been watching this acutely. Since our founding, Forbes has always
Mark Coatney
had a point of view. But those opinions were always built upon a pedestal
VP, INVESTING EDITOR
Matt Schifrin of facts. It’s the accuracy of reporting that grants the ability to make a
SVP, PRODUCT AND TECHNOLOGY strong, informed opinion.
Salah Zalatimo
That’s why Forbes is one of the very few media outlets that still use
VP, WOMEN’S DIGITAL NETWORK
Christina Vuleta fact-checkers. Some 25 full-time staffers spend a big chunk of their time
VP, VIDEO going over our journalism line by line with highlighters, double-checking
Kyle Kramer
the math, flipping through notes and original sources (a company’s an-
ASSISTANT MANAGING EDITORS
Kerry A. Dolan, Luisa Kroll WEALTH nual report is kosher; a Wall Street Journal clip isn’t), and re-interviewing
Frederick E. Allen LEADERSHIP subjects. The “checker,” the writer and their editor then review and clarify
Loren Feldman ENTREPRENEURS before publication. Details matter: Our guidelines remind the checker to
Tim W. Ferguson FORBES ASIA
Janet Novack WASHINGTON verify whether a company’s office is really redbrick or whether the heart
Michael K. Ozanian SPORTSMONEY really does beat a billion times a month.
Mark Decker, John Dobosz, Clay Thurmond DEPARTMENT HEADS
Jessica Bohrer VP, EDITORIAL COUNSEL “Hopefully, it gives readers peace of mind that what they’re getting
BUSINESS
Mark Howard CHIEF REVENUE OFFICER
Tom Davis CHIEF MARKETING OFFICER
Jessica Sibley SENIOR VP, SALES, U.S. & EUROPE
Janett Haas SENIOR VP, BRAND SOLUTIONS & STRATEGY
Achir Kalra SENIOR VP, REVENUE OPERATIONS & STRATEGIC PARTNERSHIPS
Alyson Papalia VP, DIGITAL ADVERTISING OPERATIONS & STRATEGY
Penina Littman VP, SALES PLANNING & ANALYTICS
Nina La France SENIOR VP, CONSUMER MARKETING & BUSINESS DEVELOPMENT
Lisa Serapiglia DIRECTOR MEDIA PLANNING & OPERATIONS
FORBES MEDIA
Michael Federle CHIEF EXECUTIVE OFFICER
Michael York CHIEF FINANCIAL OFFICER
Will Adamopoulos CEO/ASIA FORBES MEDIA Michela Tindera (front center), the “checkers” (front) and checker alums.
PRESIDENT & PUBLISHER, FORBES ASIA
Rich Karlgaard EDITOR-AT-LARGE/GLOBAL FUTURIST
Moira Forbes PRESIDENT, FORBESWOMAN from Forbes is quality, fair, credible journalism,” says Michela Tindera,
MariaRosa Cartolano GENERAL COUNSEL
Margy Loftus SENIOR VP, HUMAN RESOURCES who started as a checker and now meticulously oversees the process.
Matthew Hutchison SENIOR VP, CORPORATE COMMUNICATIONS It’s more than a service to our audience and our brand. Fact-
FOUNDED IN 1917 checking is like a reporting autopsy—young reporters get to take apart
B.C. Forbes, Editor-in-Chief (1917-54)
Malcolm S. Forbes, Editor-in-Chief (1954-90) and then put together stories from some of the best journalists in the
James W. Michaels, Editor (1961-99) business. It’s not a coincidence that most of the editors at the top of this
William Baldwin, Editor (1999-2010)
masthead, myself included, started out checking at Forbes. All of them
will testify how a fealty to facts helped shaped their careers.
SEPTEMBER 30, 2018 — VOLUME 201 NUMBER 7 While we don’t fact-check each story we publish online (at 250-plus
posts a day, that’s not feasible—and less necessary, since the format allows
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—RANDALL LANE, CHIEF CONTENT OFFICER
14 | FORBES SEPTEMBER 30, 2018