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Journalism & Media vocabulary · Fact-Checking and Verification

Reverse image search

Meaning in journalism & media, with examples

nounAdvanced term

In journalism & media, reverse image search means: A search that uses an image instead of words to find where else that image appears online and when it was first published.

In Turkish: tersine görsel arama, ters görsel arama

How it is used

A basic verification step for photos and video stills shared during breaking news. Journalists run or do a reverse image search with search engines and specialist tools, then compare dates, places and versions.

Example sentences

  1. A quick reverse image search showed the 'flood photo' was from another country.

  2. Always run a reverse image search before using a picture sent by a reader.

Common collocations

  • run a reverse image search
  • do a reverse image search
  • reverse image search tool
  • verifyTo check carefully that information, a photo, a video or a source is real and true before you use or publish it.
  • debunkTo show with clear evidence that a claim, rumour, theory or image is false or misleading.
  • user-generated contentPhotos, videos, posts and other material created by members of the public rather than by journalists, which news outlets may verify and use.
  • footageRecorded film or video of an event, used in news reports, documentaries or programmes.

More terms: Fact-Checking and Verification

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