Tag Archive: PolitiFact

Complaint to the International Fact-Checking Network about PolitiFact, June 17, 2020

Bryan W. White June 18, 2020 0 Comments

On June 17, 2020 Zebra Fact Check submitted a formal complaint to the International Fact-Checking Network about PolitiFact. The complaint noted that two PolitiFact stories published in 2015 dealing with intraracial crime omitted mention of the high rate of black intraracial murder. The complaint alleged that PolitiFact’s failure transgressed an IFCN principle calling for fairness. The complaint noted that PolitiFact…
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IFCN Complaints, PolitiFact

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

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

PolitiFact’s subjective treatment of Val Demings

Bryan W. White February 7, 2020 0 Comments

“Everyone is entitled to his own opinion,” said the late Sen. Patrick Moynihan, “but not to his own facts.” Fact checkers like PolitiFact have a way around Moynihan’s maxim. They first choose which claim to check, then choose how to check the claim. Both steps feature subjective judgments. The end result? The fact checkers choose their own facts. PolitiFact’s Feb….
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Fact Checks, Zebra Fact Checks

fact checking, PolitiFact

A Trifecta of Fact Checker Error on IG Report

Bryan W. White January 24, 2020 0 Comments

The so-called “elite three” mainstream fact checkers, FactCheck.org, PolitiFact and the Washington Post Fact Checker, all followed the mainstream press in making a serious error reporting on the Inspector General’s report on the FBI’s “Crossfire Hurricane” investigation. What the IG Report Said The IG report repeatedly said investigators failed to find “documentary or testimonial evidence” of political bias. But the…
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Commentary, Zebra Fact Checks

Annenberg Fact Checck, PolitiFact, The Washington Post Fact Checker

PolitiFact's Medicare-For-All Unexplainer

Bryan W. White January 8, 2020 0 Comments

CORRECTION: This article received a significant correction the same day it was published, affecting three paragraphs. Find specific details here. In addition to its “Truth-O-Meter” and “Flip-O-Meter” judgments on political speech, PolitiFact delves fairly often into the “explainer” genre. PolitiFact’s November 2019 “Medicare For All” explainer contained a number of misleading elements while offering its readers a credulous view of…
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Commentary, Zebra Fact Checks

explanatory journalism, PolitiFact

IFCN News: IFCN re-verifies PolitiFact

Bryan W. White June 21, 2019 0 Comments

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 Blog

IFCN News, PolitiFact

PolitiFact Gives Zebra Fact Check the Brush-off

Bryan W. White October 12, 2018 0 Comments

The Brush-off On Oct. 3, 2018 Zebra Fact Check contacted PolitiFact to point out the need for a correction to a PolitiFact Missouri fact check from Sept. 20, 2018. Our message explained the correction was necessary because PolitiFact Missouri had rated “Mostly False” a claim PolitiFact had stated as true in 2013. PolitiFact gave Zebra Fact Check the brush-off. PolitiFact…
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the Blog, Uncategorized, Zebra Fact Checks

International Fact-Checking Network, PolitiFact

Dark Money, Brett Kavanaugh and PolitiFact

Bryan W. White October 9, 2018 3 Comments

If a fact checker cannot verify that something is true but finds that it might be true, does that make it half true? And what if a fact checker runs a headline asking one question while the fact check content answers a different question? Dark Money Paid for Over 80 Percent? PolitiFact’s Oct. 5, 2018 fact check of a claim…
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Commentary, Zebra Fact Checks

PolitiFact