Organization: FactChecker.in
Applicant: Krishna Karthik Madhavapeddi
Assessor: Kanchan Kaur
Edits made by the organization after this assessment
IFCN Staff wrote:
Factchecker.in listed its funders in much greater detail in this section, as requested by the Board: http://factchecker.in/about-us/trustees-patrons/
Conclusion and recommendations
Kanchan Kaur wrote:
The organisation has complied with nearly all principles and can be accepted.
It is a fairly established fact-checking organisation and averages a little over one fact-check a week. It makes an effort to maintain fairness, though sometimes its infographics might require an edit or two to reflect accuracy. It seems to be pretty clear on it policy on advocacy and has made that clear to its employees.
All key sources are clearly referenced and linked.
Details of funding are not explicitly laid out, but the source of funding—trustees and donors—is quite transparent. The team members and their profiles are clearly listed. Readers can reach out quickly and directly to the organisation with complaints and comments.
Its methodology is succinctly explained and readers can send claims to be checked.
It has an open corrections policy, as is evidenced from the examples it has submitted.
Kanchan Kaur recommended Accept
Section 1: Organization
Criterion 1a
Proof of registration
Evidence required: Please provide evidence that the signatory is a legally-registered organization set up exclusively for the purpose of fact-checking or the distinct fact-checking project of a recognized media house or research institution.
FactChecker.in
08-Nov-2017 (6 years ago) Updated: 5 years ago
FactChecker.in is an initiative of The Spending & Policy Research Foundation which also runs www.indiaspend.org, India’s first data journalism initiative. We are located in Lower Parel in Mumbai and are registered as a Charitable Trust with the Charity Commissioner, Mumbai. (Details here: http://factchecker.in/about-us/)
Kanchan Kaur Assessor
08-Nov-2017 (6 years ago) Updated: 5 years ago
More than one fact-check for the past two weeks. A little inconsistent before that. Nothing for three weeks, and then about one a week before that.
done_all 1a marked as Fully compliant by Kanchan Kaur.
Criterion 1b
Archive
Evidence required: Insert a link to the archive of fact checks published in the previous three months. If you do not collect all fact checks in one place, please explain how the fact-checking is conducted by your organization.
FactChecker.in
08-Nov-2017 (6 years ago)
Kanchan Kaur Assessor
08-Nov-2017 (6 years ago) Updated: 5 years ago
Sixteen stories from Feb through April. If we count two weeks in May, twenty-one. That amounts to an average of over one story a week.
done_all 1b marked as Fully compliant by Kanchan Kaur.
Section 2: Nonpartisanship and Fairness
Criterion 2a
Body of work sample
Evidence required: Please share links to ten fact checks that better represent the scope and consistency of your fact-checking. Provide a short explanation of how your organization strives to maintain coherent standards across fact checks.
FactChecker.in
08-Nov-2017 (6 years ago)
FactChecker.in is India’s first dedicated fact-checking initiative. Since early 2013, we have been scrutinising and researching for veracity and context, statements made by individuals in public life, as well as picking up on issues where we feel there is a strong need to examine data that is in public domain.
In each of our fact checks, we ensure that the statement/claim being checked is reproduced from the original, and the data used to back/call out a claim, or put it in context are linked to official sources.
Appended is a list of ten of our recent fact checks.
1. 99.99% Indian Households Have Bank Accounts, Says BJP; But 35 Million Not Surveyed: http://factchecker.in/99-99-indian-households-have-bank-accounts-says-bjp-but-35-million-not-surveyed/
2. Modi’s Claim Of New Maternity Benefit Scheme Is Misleading: http://factchecker.in/modis-claim-of-new-maternity-benefit-scheme-is-misleading/
3. Modi Is Wrong: His Govt Changed Law On Foreign-Funding Of Political Parties: http://factchecker.in/modi-is-wrong-his-govt-changed-law-on-foreign-funding-of-political-parties/
4. Modi Government’s Claim of Reducing Maternal And Neonatal Deaths Misleading: http://factchecker.in/modi-governments-claim-of-reducing-maternal-and-neonatal-deaths-misleading/
5. Chief Justice Thakur Is Right: High Courts Face 42% Shortage Of Judges: http://factchecker.in/chief-justice-thakur-is-right-high-courts-face-42-shortage-of-judges/
6. Jaitley Right–And Wrong–On Currency In Circulation: http://factchecker.in/jaitley-right-and-wrong-on-currency-in-circulation/
7. Maneka Gandhi Wrong On Rape Claim: India Ranks In Top 4, Not Bottom 4: http://factchecker.in/maneka-gandhi-wrong-on-rape-claim-india-ranks-in-top-4-not-bottom-4/
8. Urban Swachh Bharat Mission: Delhi Meets 0.006% Of Target, Northeast Also Lags: http://factchecker.in/urban-swachh-bharat-mission-delhi-meets-0-006-of-target-northeast-also-lags/
9. Humans, Cows Share 80% Genes, As Home Minister Said, But Mice, Dogs, Apes Are Closer: http://factchecker.in/humans-cows-share-80-genes-as-home-minister-said-but-mice-dogs-apes-are-closer/
10. Despite 2015 Claim By PM, 24% Schools In 9 States Still Lack Toilets For Girls: http://factchecker.in/despite-2014-claim-by-pm-24-schools-in-9-states-still-lack-toilets-for-girls-2/
Kanchan Kaur Assessor
08-Nov-2017 (6 years ago)
More than a bias, there seems to be an inadvertent inaccuracy. This article’s facts and infographics belie the headline. A couple of edits will help. They’ve offered to make the changes.
done 2a marked as Partially compliant by Kanchan Kaur.
Criterion 2b
Nonpartisanship policy
Evidence required: Please share evidence of your policy preventing staff from direct involvement in political parties and advocacy organizations. Please also indicate the policy your organization has as a whole regarding advocacy and supporting political candidates.
FactChecker.in
08-Nov-2017 (6 years ago)
All our employment contracts have the following clause: “During the appointment with the Company you shall not take up directly or indirectly any other employment in any company, firm, associates or undertaking or any other work (part time or otherwise) or work on advisory capacity without written permission from the company.”
Our editorial team vets the credentials of any outside contributors before assigning or accepting their work.
Kanchan Kaur Assessor
08-Nov-2017 (6 years ago)
It has explained its policy position in its application, and says that the employment contracts have a clause barring employees from taking up any other employment or working in an advisory capacity.
done_all 2b marked as Fully compliant by Kanchan Kaur.
Section 3: Transparency of Sources
Criterion 3a
Sources Policy
Please share a brief and public explanation (500 words max) of how sources are provided in enough detail that readers could replicate the fact check. If you have a public policy on how you find and use sources for your fact-checking, it should be shared here.
FactChecker.in
08-Nov-2017 (6 years ago)
All our fact checks are based on public data released by various government departments or credible non-governmental surveys and studies. Links to the original sources are generously used, for each figure and each source, so as to enable interested readers to replicate the fact check.
Our data visualisations detailing the fact checks are also accompanied by the source.
Kanchan Kaur Assessor
08-Nov-2017 (6 years ago)
Nearly all key sources are linked, so is the evidence it provides.
done_all 3a marked as Fully compliant by Kanchan Kaur.
Section 4: Transparency of Funding & Organization
Criterion 4a
Funding Sources
Evidence required: Please link to the section where you publicly list your sources of funding (including, if they exist, any rules around which types of funding you do or don't accept), or a statement on ownership if you are the branch of an established media organization or research institution.
FactChecker.in
08-Nov-2017 (6 years ago)
Our sister-website, indiaspend.com, as mentioned in the About Us section, lists all our trustees and patrons: http://www.indiaspend.com/about/trustees
Kanchan Kaur Assessor
08-Nov-2017 (6 years ago)
While each source of funding has not been listed, the website does indicate the form in which the organisation is registered. It also makes a statement on ownership.
done_all 4a marked as Fully compliant by Kanchan Kaur.
Criterion 4b
Staff
Evidence required: Please link to the section detailing all authors and key actors behind your fact-checking project with their biographies. You can also list the name and bios of the members of the editorial board, pool of experts, advisory board, etc. if your organization has those.
FactChecker.in
08-Nov-2017 (6 years ago)
The About Us page (http://factchecker.in/about-us/) on the website has detailed bios of all our regular authors. The bios of our contributors are mentioned below their stories.
Kanchan Kaur Assessor
08-Nov-2017 (6 years ago)
Criterion 4c
Contact
Evidence required: Please link to the section where readers can get in touch with the organization.
FactChecker.in
08-Nov-2017 (6 years ago)
Kanchan Kaur Assessor
08-Nov-2017 (6 years ago)
They have a clearly indicated contact page and invite comments and corrections.
done_all 4c marked as Fully compliant by Kanchan Kaur.
Section 5: Transparency of Methodology
Criterion 5a
Detailed Methodology
Evidence required: Please link to a section or article detailing the steps you follow for your fact-checking work.
FactChecker.in
08-Nov-2017 (6 years ago) Updated: 5 years ago
As a data journalism and policy research organisation, The Spending & Policy Research Foundation deals with issues, which should be—but usually are not—in the public domain, including: health, sanitation, law and justice, education, environment, employment, innovation, science, environment and disadvantaged groups. As a fact checking initiative, we at Factchecker.in pick claims/statements made by public figures or government reports and check for veracity and context. We refer to official data in the public domain to verify claims. Often, claims are found to be true, but misleading as the context and historical perspective is missing. In such cases, we provide context to the claim in question.
Kanchan Kaur Assessor
08-Nov-2017 (6 years ago)
Criterion 5b
Claim submissions
Evidence required: Please link to the page or process through which readers can submit claims to fact-check. If you do not allow this, please briefly explain why.
FactChecker.in
08-Nov-2017 (6 years ago) Updated: 5 years ago
Our 'Contact Us' page invites readers to send in suggestions, and share knowledge, insights, ideas, etc. We are also accessible through our social media handles (https://twitter.com/FactCheckIndia & https://facebook.com/IndiaSpend), and engage with readers.
Kanchan Kaur Assessor
08-Nov-2017 (6 years ago)
Readers are invited to send claims to fact check by email.
done 5b marked as Partially compliant by Kanchan Kaur.
Section 6: Open & Honest Corrections Policy
Criterion 6a
Corrections policy
Evidence required: Please link to the page with your policy to address corrections. If it is not public, please share your organization's handbook.
FactChecker.in
08-Nov-2017 (6 years ago)
We acknowledge all errors and clarifications, and publish them prominently on the website and our social media handles.
Kanchan Kaur Assessor
08-Nov-2017 (6 years ago) Updated: 5 years ago
Corrections policy is clearly mentioned, though not in a separate page, but as part of the Contact Us page.
done_all 6a marked as Fully compliant by Kanchan Kaur.
Criterion 6b
Examples of corrections
Evidence required: Please provide two examples of a correction made, or correction requests handled, in the past year.
FactChecker.in
08-Nov-2017 (6 years ago)
1. In November 2016, we fact-checked the Prime Minister’s claim, in his Independence Day speech 2015, that separate toilets had been constructed for girls in all Indian schools. We referred to our earlier nationwide fact check from September 2015, and to a 2016 study by WaterAid India. Readers pointed out that we had wrongly said that the PM’s claim was made in his 2014 Independence Day speech, on Twitter. We made the correction and issued an apology: http://factchecker.in/despite-2014-claim-by-pm-24-schools-in-9-states-still-lack-toilets-for-girls-2/
2. Our most notable episode of correction/clarification happened with the Power Ministry in 2015. The ministry had issued a statement, point-by-point, in response to our fact check. We published the ministry’s comments, and added our response to the comments: http://factchecker.in/power-ministry-marginal-improvements/
Kanchan Kaur Assessor
08-Nov-2017 (6 years ago)
Examples are provided.