An independent experimental fact-checking site, exploring and advocating ways to make fact-checking better.
In August 2022 Zebra Fact Check sent an email to the International Fact-Checking Network and Poynter Institute president Neal Brown asking why the IFCN does not answer our inquiries (giving two examples). A long email exchange eventually ensued, which we document here with the exception of one email specified as off-the-record and our response to that email. We are not…
Read more
When PolitiFact happened to vindicate our complaint about the International Fact-Checking Network’s evaluation of a challenged Health Feedback (Science Feedback) fact check, Zebra Fact Check sent an email to the IFCN pleading for improved transparency and movement toward reform. Update Aug. 2, 2022: Supplied a missing apostrophe. Also note that we received an automated reply from Poynter’s Neal Brown (to…
Read more
With Global Fact 9 receding in the rear view mirror, Zebra Fact Check attempted another outreach to the International Fact-Checking Network’s program director, Ferdi Özsoy.
Before Zebra Fact Check submitted its lone 2019 complaint about Science Feedback to the International Fact-Checking Network, we sent an email to the IFCN suggesting that its review of the fact check, intended to settle a dispute between Young America’s Foundation and Science Feedback, incorrectly judged the fact check solid aside from the involvement of biased doctors.
A PolitiFact fact check got out ahead of the facts, evident after Uvalde, Texas law enforcement issued contradictory reports about events surrounding a shooting incident. PolitiFact obscured from readers that it issued apparent false reports while relying on official sources. Instead of admitting it changed its reporting, PolitiFact told readers it updated its story with new information that came out…
Read more
Having received no apparent acknowledgment of our May 16, 2022 inquiry about the International Fact-Checking Network’s complaints process, we sent the same inquiry again on May 26, 2022 with a new subject line. The IFCN busies itself with an annual fact-checking convention this time of year, so that may help explain a slow response.
Zebra Fact Check again tried to obtain information from the International Fact-Checking Network about its practices touching its complaints process. This time we focused our message on Project Manager Ferdi Özsoy. Özsoy oversees the IFCN’s application and verification process.
On Jan. 21, 2022, after PolitiFact declined to act in response to our Jan. 14, 2022 correction request, we sent this formal complaint to the International Fact-Checking Network, noting on the complaint form that PolitiFact’s inaction breached its pledge to “scrupulously” adhere to an open and honest policy on corrections. Updated a few minutes after publication to add the date…
Read more
On or about June 21, 2021, a Google search discovered a complaint we had submitted to the International Fact-Checking Network about PolitiFact. We’ve lobbied the IFCN for years to encourage it to adopt a more open policy with its system of complaints. We’d prefer for the public to have free access to all the complaints the IFCN receives about its…
Read more
On March 9, 2021, Zebra Fact Check sent an email message to the International Fact-Checking Network, Director Baybars Örsek, Associate Director Cristina Tardáguila, and Program Manager Ferdi Ferhat Özsoy. We also cc’d Poynter Institute President Neil Brown. Our message pointed out the inconsistency of the International Fact-Checking Network’s system of accountability and its resulting ineffectuality. It called for the the…
Read more