Clarify the information you receive when gathering news. Reporters cover a lot of topics and will often come across unfamiliar material. Don't be too proud to ask a source to repeat what he said or give a better explanation.
Question anything that sounds "off." If a public official boasts about a huge cost-cutting measure, ask for materials to back up the claim. Talk with people who witnessed a crime if the police version of events sounds suspicious.
Corroborate whenever possible. Even when you have an honest source, follow the late President Reagan's advice: "Trust but verify." Multiple sources giving the same account gives your article solid footing if someone disputes the accuracy of your reporting.
Fact check online. The Internet is a terrific tool for double-checking facts, and a quick search engine query usually will answer your question. This is especially helpful for verifying the official title and spelling of government agencies and businesses.
Call back or email a source as you write the article if you have any questions at all. It's better to pester a source four or five times than write an inaccurate article, and, honestly, your source would rather that you correctly quote him.
Know your weaknesses. If fractions and percentages trip you up, have your figures triple-checked to make sure they are perfect. Get some help if you can't decipher jargon in a crime report.
Consult other reporters if you're working outside your beat. If you have a question about a school board meeting or a teacher's salary, the education reporter can fill you in. Give your finished story to another reporter on the beat for a read; she can spot esoteric inaccuracies that require intimate knowledge of the subject.
Leave out information that you cannot verify or personally vouch for. Don't deliberately omit facts out of bias, but it's better to have an article with unanswered questions than print inaccurate information. Write a follow-up story the next day if needed.