Organization: Fatabyyano project
Applicant: Moath Nabeel Althaher
Assessor: Sarphan Uzunoğlu
Edits made by the organization after this assessment
IFCN Staff wrote:
There's Notes on 3a,4a,4c,5a. So according to your notes we made these updates:
3a. We were asked to add hyperlinks of doubtful Claims to our Articles. we do our best to add the doubtful sources to all of our website articles as soon as possible ( we estimate to finish before the whole website within 1 week.)
Here you can see the list of articles that list of articles that we finished adding the doubtful source to it: https://docs.google.com/spreadsheets/d/11QmxbnsifA1xvMO-3LNO8EslF1x3FZe954fVG-7ACU4/edit?usp=sharing
4a. According to the source of funding and the rules of which funding we do or don't accept.
The Reviewer ask us to provided more details about our income in Last Year. as It is an important criterion for a website working on fact-checking as financial transparency signifies our independency and loyaly to the cause of fact-checking. According to your ask we provide details about our Criteria and Last year income Online on our website.
https://fatabyyano.net/funding-transparency/
4c. We found it an advantage in our website, but we made the Contact form more simple: https://fatabyyano.net/contact_us.
And in addition to this section, our facebook page is very highly interactive with audience as we receive many messages per day as we have 500,000 followers.
5a. We were asked to publicize more details about our fact-checking processes in our methodology section by adding more technical details. We did add more details to most of the steps we follow when we fact check any post. We also add details to Receiving team, Classification, Specialist, Editors, Mistake hunters, Proofreading and Publishing. The details we added is already used by our team except linking the sources of the doubtful content in our myth section in every article we publish on our website. This part was suggested by the reviewer which we eagerly agreed to start doing and finish it as soon as possible ( we wrote more details about this in 3a Section).
Conclusion and recommendations
Sarphan Uzunoğlu wrote:
They need to be more transparent about their financial models. Their existing statement is shady and not explanatory at all. Besides this, they seem to be operating fairly and they have a long history of fact-checking. Stories they provided seem to have a stable language and they have stayed loyal to their agenda. I think they should be asked to submit more details about their financial structure and policies regarding non-partisanship.
Sarphan Uzunoğlu recommended Accept with edits
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.
Fatabyyano project
26-Dec-2018 (5 years ago) Updated: 5 years ago
- Fatabyyano is an Independent legally-registered organization set up exclusively for the purpose of fact-checking. registered in 22 / Feb / 2016.
- As we declare in our Profile; Fatabyyano exclusively specialized for Fact-checking, Resource: https://fatabyyano.net/fatabyyano-team/
- Also according to Transparency aspect in Wikipedia, Fatabyyano is defined as an Platform which exclusively specialized for Fact-checking and Debunking Fake-news, Rumors and Pseudoscience. Resource https://ar.wikipedia.org/wiki/%D9%81%D8%AA%D8%A8%D9%8A%D9%86%D9%88%D8%A7.
Fatabyyano Located in; Jordan/Amman/ Shmisani / Near Housing Bank / 23 / Phone: 00962789765947
Sarphan Uzunoğlu Assessor
29-Apr-2019 (5 years ago)
done_all 1a marked as Fully compliant by Sarphan Uzunoğlu.
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.
Fatabyyano project
26-Dec-2018 (5 years ago) Updated: 5 years ago
Fatabyyano platform started as Facebook page in June 2014, then we established Fatabyyano website ( Fatabyyano.net ) in October_2017, so you can found archives of fact checks published in the previous 19 months.
https://fatabyyano.net/category/fake_news/
On our Facebook page you can found archive of 5 Years of working ( 50 months of fact-checking ! )
https://facebook.com/fatabyyano
Sarphan Uzunoğlu Assessor
29-Apr-2019 (5 years ago) Updated: 5 years ago
done_all 1b marked as Fully compliant by Sarphan Uzunoğlu.
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.
Fatabyyano project
26-Dec-2018 (5 years ago) Updated: 5 years ago
Fatabyyano as a non-partisan fact-checking platform has established a( standard methodology )for the sourcing of claims, writing and editing of fact checks.
As requested, here are 10 links to some of our fact checks:
https://fatabyyano.net/first_frozen_lady_defrozed
https://fatabyyano.net/senator/
https://fatabyyano.net/creature_produced_from_reproduction_between_pig_sheep/
https://fatabyyano.net/kiki_dance_death
https://fatabyyano.net/indonessia_plane_crash
https://fatabyyano.net/photos_process_chopping_khashoqgi_body/
https://fatabyyano.net/cancer_b17/
https://fatabyyano.net/1burma_air_ballon_explosion_death_person/
https://fatabyyano.net/activate_facebook/
https://fatabyyano.net/toilet/
Each Article starts with Claim ( FakeNews / Misinformation / Myth / Rumor ) then followed by the truth with details, then ended with the Sources of the article.
Sarphan Uzunoğlu Assessor
29-Apr-2019 (5 years ago) Updated: 5 years ago
Themes and subjects they focused on so far are not directly political. So, it is impossible to make a certain judgement about political partisanship, but in terms of their methodology and loyalty to factfulness and science, their reports seem to be relying on multiple types of sources and contents produced by scientific, governmental, nongovernmental and journalistic institutions. They focus on how the story was disseminated, why it is factful or wrong and they also reveal their methodology towards the factfulness of the issues they have focused on.
done_all 2a marked as Fully compliant by Sarphan Uzunoğlu.
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.
Fatabyyano project
26-Dec-2018 (5 years ago) Updated: 5 years ago
To maintain a high level of clarity and objectivity for Fatabayyano, Members of our editorial staff are not allowed to donate to political campaigns or participate in political activities of any party
Team members can participate occasionally in media but they are requested to avoid taking sides or biasing towards or against any side in conversations
Fatabayyano has a clear code for transparency that is agreed upon by all members that they have to declare their political connections, if exist, and refrain from using Fatabayyano platform to advocate or promote for individual politicians or political parties.
ALSO
RED NOTE in Team bio page
Sarphan Uzunoğlu Assessor
29-Apr-2019 (5 years ago) Updated: 5 years ago
I made a research on background of Fatabyyano and asked journalism professionals from MENA and confirmed that they are known to have a policy regarding non-partisanship. Their code of transparency and existing publications seem to be parallel with their statements. I also checked comments on their potentially controversial posts on social networks but I didn't come across any rational statement regarding their biases nor partisanship.
done_all 2b marked as Fully compliant by Sarphan Uzunoğlu.
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.
Fatabyyano project
26-Dec-2018 (5 years ago) Updated: 5 years ago
Fatabayyano editors detect the source of fake news propagation and publish them pointing to the most spreading source of the rumor without any change in the contents and display it under the title “Wrong Information”. Under the title “Correction”, comes the edited correction of the fake news accompanied with photos and videos from the correction sources. Links to sources are listed in the tail of the article under a specific category titled as “Sources”. Each hyperlink directs the viewer to the full articles of trusted websites.
Fatabayyano avoids linking to gutter press as a source to any correction, and depends on highly reputed media institutions that are known to be highly professional and non-biased. For some cases, Fatabayyano may directly contact concerned persons to confirm or deny the diffused news.
Sarphan Uzunoğlu Assessor
29-Apr-2019 (5 years ago) Updated: 5 years ago
They are not linking to sources of doubtful contents as part of their policies yet they copy and publish the content they corrected below on their web sites and they list related. It seems like a doubtful methodological approach to me since hyperlinks are providing credibility for news organizations even if the content source is manipulative or biased.
done 3a marked as Partially compliant by Sarphan Uzunoğlu.
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.
Fatabyyano project
26-Dec-2018 (5 years ago) Updated: 5 years ago
Fatabyyano is an independent and registered institute. Fatabyyano's revenue comes from online advertising (social media, website and Fatabyyano show ). Also, from as well as Co-founders support.
The project costs mainly cover as follows:
- Staff ( writers and Editors ) : 49%
- Video Production 33%
- graphic designers 6%
- Technical support & Web developing 10%
- Others : 2%
Sarphan Uzunoğlu Assessor
29-Apr-2019 (5 years ago) Updated: 5 years ago
They provided no concrete detail about their income. It is an important criterion for a website working on fact-checking and they just gave details about their costs instead of income. I definitely recommend that, their application shouldn't be accepted unless they provide data about their income last year. I believe that their financial transparency signifies their independency and loyaly to the cause of factchecking.
cancel 4a marked as Non compliant by Sarphan Uzunoğlu.
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.
Fatabyyano project
26-Dec-2018 (5 years ago) Updated: 5 years ago
Sarphan Uzunoğlu Assessor
29-Apr-2019 (5 years ago) Updated: 5 years ago
done_all 4b marked as Fully compliant by Sarphan Uzunoğlu.
Criterion 4c
Contact
Evidence required: Please link to the section where readers can get in touch with the organization.
Fatabyyano project
26-Dec-2018 (5 years ago) Updated: 5 years ago
https://fatabyyano.net/Contact_us
We also communicate with our followers through the message section, we are proud to say that we are highly active and ensure to respond to many of our followers as soon as possible.
Also Fatabyyano followers can contact us through : Contact_us@fatabyyano.net
Sarphan Uzunoğlu Assessor
29-Apr-2019 (5 years ago) Updated: 5 years ago
Their content module seems to be more developed than other institutions I made assesments for so far. Of course using instant messaging services or other direct or public channels may encourage more people to get in touch with them.
done 4c marked as Partially compliant by Sarphan Uzunoğlu.
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.
Fatabyyano project
26-Dec-2018 (5 years ago) Updated: 5 years ago
Sarphan Uzunoğlu Assessor
29-Apr-2019 (5 years ago) Updated: 5 years ago
As a web site focusing on issues such as scientific facts, I think they should publicize more details about their fact-checking processes in their methodology section. While it is describing the editorial flow of the organization, it misses many technical details we come across in the websites of well known fact-checking organizations. In this case, I think they might develop a more detailed methodology section.
done 5a marked as Partially compliant by Sarphan Uzunoğlu.
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.
Fatabyyano project
26-Dec-2018 (5 years ago) Updated: 5 years ago
Readers can suggest a claim to be fact checked through our website. ( https://fatabyyano.net/send-rumor/ )
Our receiving team monitor the messages we receive daily as we stated in our methodology. ( https://fatabyyano.net/our-methodology/ )
Sarphan Uzunoğlu Assessor
29-Apr-2019 (5 years ago) Updated: 5 years ago
There is a successful module enabling readers to send their claims. It seems to be very functional and easy to access from the homepage.
done_all 5b marked as Fully compliant by Sarphan Uzunoğlu.
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.
Fatabyyano project
26-Dec-2018 (5 years ago) Updated: 5 years ago
Corrections Policy
Our policy is to promptly correct errors of fact and to clarify any potentially confusing or ambiguous statements in our articles. Readers can submit potential corrections through the Contact form; those submissions will be routed to an editor for evaluation and action.
Whenever we change the rating of a fact check (for any reason), correct or modify a substantive supporting fact (even if it does not affect the item’s overall rating), or add substantial new information to an existing article, those changes are noted and explained in an Update box at the foot of the article.
Corrections of typographical errors, misspellings, or other minor revisions not deemed substantive by our editors are not noted.
Sarphan Uzunoğlu Assessor
29-Apr-2019 (5 years ago) Updated: 5 years ago
They have a section for corrections and updates in the bottom of the articles and this system seems to be fair enough regarding this criterion.
done_all 6a marked as Fully compliant by Sarphan Uzunoğlu.
Criterion 6b
Examples of corrections
Evidence required: Please provide two examples of a correction made, or correction requests handled, in the past year.
Fatabyyano project
26-Dec-2018 (5 years ago) Updated: 5 years ago
Here in this post we mistake the date saying the event was in 2012 instead of 2011 and you can review the update in the article.
We stated this on our website: here; https://fatabyyano.net/wind-dubai/
Another example of a correction dates back to 3 November 2016 when we corrected a post about a mosque that was closed, nevertheless people can still hear the AZAN (call for praying for Muslims) from it.
Our mistake was putting a wrong name for the mosque as we relied on a news agency which stated the name wrong. One of our followers corrected the name for us through our website, we checked his correction and made this edit when we republished the post when it went back viral in 23 February 2019.
You can check the post where the name of the mosque was stated wrong from the link of our website: here
In this post we updated the name after checking ,you can review it on our website.
Sarphan Uzunoğlu Assessor
29-Apr-2019 (5 years ago) Updated: 5 years ago
The example and explanation they provided fits to the criterion. It is verifiable via clicking the hyperlinks.