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Complaint to the International Fact-Checking Network about PolitiFact, May 19, 2020

Bryan W. White May 26, 2020 0 Comments

On May 19, 2020, Zebra Fact Check submitted a formal complaint about PolitiFact to the International Fact-Checking Network. The complaint alleges that a PolitiFact explainer article on the Gen. Michael Flynn prosecution reversal reported self-contradictory information and presented readers with a completely one-sided view of the Justice Department’s decision. The complaint also notes PolitiFact failed to fix the described problems…
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PolitiFact

Correction request sent to PolitiFact, May 11, 2020

Bryan W. White May 24, 2020 0 Comments

On May 11, 2020 Zebra Fact Check sent PolitiFact a correction request. The message addressed an apparent internal contradiction in PolitiFact’s reporting as well as the extreme one-sidedness of its May 8, 2020 explainer article on decision by the Department of Justice to drop its prosecution of Gen. Michael Flynn on a false statements charge. As of May 23, 2020…
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PolitiFact

Email interview with Barbara McQuade, May 18, 2020

Bryan W. White May 23, 2020 0 Comments

On May 18, 2020 Zebra Fact Check sought comment from Barbara McQuade. PolitiFact quoted McQuade in one of its fact checks in a way that seemed to contradict PolitiFact’s reporting. We did not find that McQuade’s new comments resolved the apparent contradiction.

Interviews

Correction request sent to PolitiFact, May 18, 2020

Bryan W. White May 21, 2020 0 Comments

PolitiFact Pennsylvania published a fact check on May 14, 2020 and used information published after May 10, 2020 to justify a “False” rating it issued to a statement published on May 9, 2020. PolitiFact’s statement of principles assures readers it judges political claims based on information available when the claim was made. Zebra Fact Check sent notice to PolitiFact about…
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PolitiFact Pennsylvania

Complaint to the International Fact-Checking Network about PolitiFact, May 20, 2020

Bryan W. White May 20, 2020 0 Comments

When we could not see any attempt from PolitiFact to fix a fact check containing three instances of statements taken out of context, we submitted the case to the International Fact-Checking Network as an example of PolitiFact failing to uphold its commitment to fact check fairly.

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IFCN Complaints, PolitiFact Health Check

Email outreach/correction request to PolitiFact, March 23-April 17, 2020

Bryan W. White May 20, 2020 0 Comments

When PolitiFact Health Check published a fact check that took President Trump out of context at least three separate times in the service of a misleading narrative, we asked PolitiFact to fix the problem. PolitiFact has apparently made no move to fix its fact check or reply to our critique. Correction May 21, 2020: Tweaked the title to read “March…
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PolitiFact Health Check

Correction request submitted to PolitiFact, April 20, 2020

Bryan W. White May 19, 2020 0 Comments

PolitiFact, and particularly PolitiFact North Carolina, have done a poor job reporting the issue of legal protections for persons with pre-existing conditions seeking health insurance. A fact check from PolitiFact North Carolina made it sound like repeal of the Affordable Care Act could end “coverage” for people with pre-existing conditions. In fact, it would have ended the ACA’s particular protections…
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PolitiFact

Media Bias/Fact Check Blinded by Science Feedback? (Updated)

Bryan W. White May 14, 2020 0 Comments

Recently we chanced on the Science Feedback evaluation at Media Bias/Fact Check, a website that uses subjective ratings to score the bias and accuracy of various websites (including Zebra Fact Check). Apparently blinded by “Science,” Media Bias/Fact Check gave Science Feedback its highest rating for factual accuracy. Indeed, Media Bias/Fact Check proclaimed Science Feedback a “Pro-Science” source. Yet in 2019…
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Commentary

Media Bias/Fact Check

Short Q&A with Dave Van Zandt of Media Bias/Fact Check

Bryan W. White May 14, 2020 0 Comments

We contacted Media Bias/Fact Check’s creator, Dave Van Zandt, for background information contributing to our commentary article “Media Bias/Fact Check Blinded by Science Feedback.”

Interviews

Media Bias/Fact Check

Scarves and coronavirus: CNN’s bogus fact checks

Bryan W. White May 13, 2020 0 Comments

A pair of April 3, 2020 fact checks from CNN cry out for critical attention. CNN produced two versions of the same fact check, one in video format and the other in text, where both contain flaws and one disagrees with the other. Both fact checks looked at President Trump’s April 1, 2020 claim about the effectiveness of scarves compared…
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Commentary, Zebra Fact Checks