In January 2020 we renewed our efforts to obtain a reply from the International Fact-Checking Network or the Poynter Institute addressing various problems with the IFCN’s efforts to ensure fact checker accountability.
We hoped inquiring after the various holidays might find IFCN or Poynter officials less busy and more likely to respond.
We obtained automated replies from Poynter Institute President Neil Brown and IFCN Director Baybars Orsek, both saying they would be out of the office until Jan. 6, 2020.
We sent another copy of the email message on Jan. 6, 2020 and received no reply from any of the designated recipients.
Thu, Jan 2, 2020 at 3:09 PM
Dear Neil Brown, Baybars Orsek, International Fact-Checking Network,
Again, I am repeating my request for an official statement regarding the unknown reasoning the IFCN has used to remain silent on issues that ought to be public.
1) Does the IFCN admit that its investigation of Science Feedback was flawed? If not, how does it defend the investigation from our critique?
2) Does the IFCN stand behind (outside assessor) Michael Wagner’s reasoning for dismissing complaints about PolitiFact’s adherence to its policy on corrections? If so, how does it answer our overpowering criticism of that reasoning?
If the Poynter Institute continues to champion prompt corrections and transparency, those commitments are difficult to detect in its response to this situation.
Please respond in keeping with a commitment to prompt corrections and transparency.
Thanks.