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What message does it send if the Poynter Institute declines to correct mistakes in its reporting on fact-checking? On July 3, 2019 the International Fact-Checking Network at the Poynter Institute published a review of a Pew Research report on public trust in the media. We flagged an error in Daniela Flamini’s reporting. And with a month having passed, the error…
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It turns out there’s a crisis of trust for fact-checking organizations, at least with respect to the U.S. audience. So far, it seems that fact-checking organizations are content to ignore the problem. After all, they know they are doing a fantastic job fact-checking. So isn’t it just a matter of time before the reliability of fact-checking sinks in with the…
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International Fact-Checking Network Director Baybars Orsek said this week that the IFCN has completed its collection of evidence about charges that fact checker Alt News (India) transgressed the IFCN Code of Principles. Critics charged in June that Alt News broke the code through an executive’s association with a political group. The IFCN requires nonpartisanship from its signatory organizations. The IFCN…
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The International Fact-Checking Network re-verified PolitiFact on June 20, 2019. The re-verification serves as the IFCN’s assurance that PolitiFact has complied with the IFCN’s Code of Principles. The Poynter Institute owns the IFCN and PolitiFact. Independent assessor Michael Wagner judged that PolitiFact fully complied with each of the established criteria from the Code of Principles. [Disclosure: Zebra Fact Check submitted…
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The International Fact-Checking Network added Jordan’s Fatabyyano Project to its list of verified signatories to the IFCN Code of Principles on June 20, 2019. The IFCN’s independent assessor, Sarphan Uzunoğlu, recommended accepting the Fatabyyano Project on the condition it made some changes: They need to be more transparent about their financial models. Their existing statement is shady and not explanatory…
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On June 13, 2019 the International Fact-Checking Network added UAB Delfi (Lithania) to its list of verified signatories to its Code of Principles. Independent assessor Martiins Kaprans recommended accepting UAB Delfi contingent on making changes (“Accept with edits”) to its fact-check publishing frequency and disclosure about its staff: The applicant is reliable and professional organization who can contribute to the…
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The International Fact-Checking Network accepted the re-verification of the fact-checking organization Lead Stories on June 13, 2019. The annual assessment, by independent assessor Margot Susca, was dated May 17, 2019. Susca rated Lead Stories fully compliant with IFCN criteria, recommending the IFCN accept Lead Stories as compliant with the Code of Principles: I think Lead Stories has shown that it…
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On June 14, 2019 Fact Check Georgia re-appeared on the International Fact-Checking Network’s list of verified signatories to its Code of Principles. The independent assessment was dated May 24, 2019, and shows on the IFCN website as accepted by its governing board on June 13, 2019. The independent assessor, Sarphan Uzunoğlu, praised Fact Check Georgia’s professionalism: It seems to be…
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On June 7, 2019 the International Fact-Checking Network announced that one of its verified signatory organizations stood accused of breaching the IFCN Code of Principles. Later reports appeared to confirm that Alt News (based in India) was the accused organization. Critics alleged that one of Alt News’ executives held membership in a political advocacy organization. The IFCN Code of Principles…
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One day after the International Fact-Checking Network moved France’s Libération – CheckNews to the list of “expired verified signatories,” Kenya’s Pesa Check joined it there. Pesa Check was verified by the IFCN on June 12, 2018. The IFCN requires annual re-certification of signatories to its statement of principles (related: IFCN principles in for changes). With a year having passed since…
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