Today is International Fact-Checking Day; resources are available for journalists, students and the audience

Appropriately for the day after April Fool's Day, today is International Fact-Checking Day. The observance is spearheaded by the Poynter Institute's International Fact-Checking Network, which celebrates, promotes and funds fact-checking through grants, weekly newsletters, fellowships, training, conferences and more.

Fact-checking is a hallmark of good journalism and, now more than ever, it's both "indispensable and life-saving," Cristina Tardáguila and Susan Benkelman write. This year's observance centers on the coronavirus pandemic, since there is so much misinformation. In January IFCN launched the #CoronaVirusFacts Alliance, a group of more than 100 fact-checkers from all over the world that publishes a frequently updated searchable database of covid-19 fact-checks from all over the world that both journalists and regular consumers can use as a resource.

News publications can raise awareness with readers and students by sharing this Poynter article and the accompanying MediaWise PSA video, which note that taking 20 seconds to fact-check a coronavirus claim before sharing is just as important as taking 20 seconds to wash your hands.

You can follow the conversation online today by looking for @factchecknet and #FactcheckingDay on Twitter.