An independent experimental fact-checking site, exploring and advocating ways to make fact-checking better.
In January 2019 (likely Jan. 23, 2019 based on its edit history) we sent a complaint to the International Fact-Checking Network regarding PolitiFact’s failure to adhere to an open and honest corrections policy. The message detailed PolitiFact’s failure to support its conclusion that President Trump had contradicted himself on the subject of Mexico paying by check for the proposed U.S….
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On Jan. 16, 2019, Zebra Fact Check sent an email to PolitiFact alerting the IFCN-certified fact checkers that their fact check of President Trump on Jan 10, 2019 (our email incorrectly says 2018) failed to produce adequate evidence of an alleged contradiction. As of Sept. 15, 2019 we could detect no action on PolitiFact’s part to explain or correct the…
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On October 5, 2018 we submitted a complaint through the IFCN noting PolitiFact Missouri’s ruling on a claim from Republican Josh Hawley unduly ignored the precision of Hawley’s statement. This complaint differs from most of the others in that PolitiFact sent a response. It is worth noting that we specifically requested a response in this case. It is also worth…
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We have long criticized PolitiFact for failing to heed reasonable requests for corrections as well as its too-frequent failures to follow its own corrections policies. When the International Fact-Checking Network committed itself to the role of policing signatories to its statement of principles and stated it would accept and review specific complaints about the fact-checking organizations under its umbrella, we…
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On Nov. 14, 2018 we sent a message to PolitiFact regarding an omitted piece of evidence in its “PunditFact” fact check of a claim by Ken Blackwell. As of Sept. 15, 2019 we received no response from PolitiFact and have noted no corrective change to its Aug. 29, 2018 report, though the omitted evidence was reported in the Poynter-owned Tampa…
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On September 20, 2018 we registered a complaint about PolitiFact through the International Fact-Checking Network. A .pdf image of that complaint follows:
On Sept. 3, 2018 we send notice to PolitiFact regarding a mistake in its Aug. 29, 2018 fact check of a claim by President Donald Trump. A .pdf image of that complaint follows. As of this date (Sept. 15, 2019) we have received no response or acknowledgment from PolitiFact and the fact checkers have not addressed the mistake.
On Sept. 25, 20198 (corrected Dec. 17, 2023) we submitted a complaint to the International Fact-Checking Network regarding PolitiFact’s failure to follow an open and honest corrections policy. A .pdf image of that complaint follows.
With the exception of Zebra Fact Check, which features a rating system designed to minimize subjectivity, there are two kinds of fact checkers. The first type follows the FactCheck.org model and offers readers fact-checking and explanatory journalism using a traditional media presentation with text, pictures and graphs.. The second type follows the PolitiFact model, expanding on the FactCheck.org model by…
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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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