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projects
Collaboration between Lunar and First Draft Newsx symbolThe First Draft client logo

A fast paced and reactive news and fact checking platform.

  • User Experience
  • Component Libraries
  • Performance
  • Accessibility

Project overview.

A fast paced and reactive news and fact checking platform

The client.

First Draft News have a multifaceted website that delivers news and research around misinformation in the media, as well as training and cutting edge tools, to journalists and academics. The focus of the website changes with the current global climate. Whether the focus is around controversial election campaigns or the emergence of new social media platforms that are changing the lanscape of news reporting, First Draft's mission is to protect communities from harmful misinformation. Lunar's role is consultative, proactive and reactive.

First Draft News Misinformation Monitor

The brief.

First Draft needed an expert engineering team to work alongside their internal project teams to add new features to the website, build innovative tools as part of important standalone projects and help them to deliver against their ever shifting needs in the fast evolving world of verification and journalism.

The approach.

Lunar and First Draft developed a long term partnership. First Draft's need to be nimble and reactive was supported through a close and consultative relationship. Changes in the business roadmap over the years led to multiple iterations of the main website and the creation of many important and innovative standalone projects.

We provided guidance and technical expertise to help them achieve their progressive goals and ambitions. Lunar played a critical role in organisational meetings, leading to a deep understanding of their needs, and the challenges they faced in a world of fast paced news and misinformation.

CrossCheck Project First Draft News

CrossCheck - an award winning news verification platform and suite of tools to connect a cross-border, inter-news-agency, collaboration - backed by Google News Lab

  • Developed an award winning online news verification platform and suite of tools to connect a cross-border, inter-news-agency, collaboration backed by Google News Lab

  • Created a platform that facilitated 37 different newsroom partners in France, and the UK, to collaborate on reporting, investigating and debunking 1000s of false, misleading and confusing claims that circulated online in the ten weeks leading up to the French Presidential election

  • Developed an online learning platform to educate journalists on verification techniques, skills and resources 

  • Created an ever evolving CMS website that continued to adapt to new ways of delivering content and fighting misinformation

The result.

Lunar have undertaken multiple reskins and entirely reworked the website over the years. We are continually working on making the site more flexible and improving site performance so that it can adapt to First Draft's ever evolving requirements.

  • An adaptable and highly flexible website

  • A long-standing technical partnership

  • Delivery of cutting edge tools and infrastructure for multiple stand-alone projects

  • Created a platform for online course delivery

The feedback.

Lunar has brought stellar innovation coupled with a keen eye for UX to our website development. When the team at Lunar developed a customized online curriculum section to our website, they listened closely to our goals and delivered an intuitive system that has become the centerpiece of our work online. Lunar has, more than once, saved us from unnecessary features, they deliver work on time and are always around for adjustments. Lunar is no ordinary website development company: it stands above others for its long term dedication to its clients.

Aimee Rinehart, Director of special projects and partnerships

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Let’s talk?

Whether you’re exploring a new idea or looking to improve an existing product, we’re happy to talk. Share a few details and we’ll get back to you to see if there’s a good fit.