Organization: MMI Online Limited
Applicant: Rajesh Upadhyay
Assessor: Surekha Deepak
Background
The applicant is a fact checking unit of a legally established news organisation. Vishwas News (MMI Online Limited) has as a dedicated staff and publishes in English as well as in English, Hindi and 10 other Indian langauages.
The claims that are debunked cover a variety of topics and all sides of the topic are covered. Sources are stated and claims can be replicated.
Assessment Conclusion
The signatory has compiled most of the criteria and can be accepted.
They have published more than the required number of fact checks required for compliance. Most of the stories they debunk have a recognisable impact. They have a clear non partisanship policy.
There is no evidence of any political influence on the stories selected or the way in which they are written.
Sources are linked and referenced. The fact checks are replicable.
Stories from all sides of the spectrum are covered. There is no evidence of any bias.
Vishwas News (MMI Online Limited) is fully funded by the parent company, they have submitted financial statements and documents to back this. The applicant does not claim any financial dependence on the state or political actors, nor is there evidence of an affiliation to any political party.
The fact checks cover a variety of subjects, and most aspects of the topic. The process followed is well explained and carried out depending on the need of the story. All claims are checked using similar standards.
The applicant mentions the sources used in the fact checking process clearly. They use digital tools, in addition they also contact sources. There is no evidence that the sources that could influence their findings. All sources are linked and referenced. The fact checks are replicable.
The website clearly shows the ownership. The organizational structure is clearly mentioned on the website. They use the same standards across all fact checks they publish.
The corrections policy is clearly listed on the website, with links to the IFCN complaints page.
Surekha Deepak assesses application as Compliant
A short summary in native publishing language
Section 1: Eligibility to be a signatory
To be eligible to be a signatory, applicants must meet these six criteria
- 1.1 The applicant is a legally registered organization, or a distinct team or unit within a legally registered organization, and details of this are easily found on its website.
- 1.2 The team, unit or organization is set up exclusively for the purpose of fact-checking.
- 1.3 The applicant has published an average of at least one fact check a week over the course of the six months prior to the date of application. For applicants from countries with at least 5 or more verified signatories need to have at least a fact check a week over the twelve months of publishing track. Consult to factchecknet@poynter.org for confirmation.
- 1.4 On average, at least 75% of the applicant’s fact checks focus on claims related to issues that, in the view of the IFCN, relate to or could have an impact on the welfare or well-being of individuals, the general public or society.
- 1.5 The applicant’s editorial output is not, in the view of the IFCN, controlled by the state, a political party or politician.
- 1.6 If the organization receives funding from local or foreign state or political sources, it provides a statement on its site setting out to the satisfaction of the IFCN, how it ensures its funders do not influence the findings of its reports.
Criteria 1.1
Proof you meet criteria
Please explain where on your website you set out information about your organization’s legal status and how this complies with criteria. Attach a link to the relevant page of your website.
MMI Online Limited
23-Feb-2023 (1 year ago)
Vishvas.News is an initiative by MMI Online Limited that focuses on fact-checking and media literacy. It is run and managed by a team of dedicated and experienced journalists trained and certified in the field of fact-checking. The team is committed to providing accurate and verified information to the public, and works tirelessly to ensure that claims and news stories are thoroughly investigated and verified before the fact-check articles are published. The team debunks viral misinformation that has the potential to create social unrest and negatively influence people’s ability to make the best possible choices.
Vishvas.News adheres to the guidelines set by the International Fact Checking Network (IFCN), and has in-house editorial and ethics policies in place. The team has also established an internal and external auditing system to ensure that all due processes (Non-partisanship, Correction, Methodology, Sources etc.) are followed in a transparent manner and that the quality of the articles is consistently maintained.
Internal Auditing
Members of the Vishvas.News team are qualified, certified, and trained fact-checkers who rigorously follow the guidelines set forth by the IFCN and the website's in-house editorial and ethics policies. Their work process is clearly defined, and they follow a standard operating procedure (SOP) at every step, from claim selection to publishing the final article or explainer. Physical verification from primary or secondary sources, or from other relevant and authentic sources, is a critical step in the investigation and article-filing process.
Vishvas.News has a clearly defined Correction Policy (https://www.vishvasnews.com/correction-policy/), which welcomes suggestions and rectifications from readers via comments, emails, and phone calls. In case the team receives any complaints regarding the accuracy of the content, they immediately put the story on hold and re-examine the facts. Once the facts have been cross-checked, the team takes a considered decision and responds appropriately to the feedback. Depending on the veracity of the feedback and the magnitude of the error, they either edit the published information with a disclaimer or inform the reader that the original article doesn't qualify as erroneous, and also tell them how the team arrived at its decision.
The internal auditing process is constant and consistent: If the team finds any SOP violations, they reinvestigate the article and update it on the basis of the new findings or inputs, if any. According to our Correction Policy, the disclaimer is added to all such articles, clearly articulating the issue in the previous version and the new inputs used. The entire correction process is put on record under the name of the respective team member(s) on the Fact-Check Team, Author page and Correction Policy pages.
Additional level of quality/SOP checks
Maker-Checker: Vishvas.News has set up a process of 'Maker-Checker' through the publishing CMS as part of the SOP, in which the person who files the fact-check copy doesn't have the right to publish that copy. The article is cross-checked and published by another fact-checker after the completion of the article, following the SOP one more time. This is to ensure that the copy is 100% error-free and follows all IFCN guidelines and in-house policies and processes. Before publishing any article, the team conducts a quality check for grammar/structure and makes sure that the article focuses only on the facts in simple language.
The primary objective of news dissemination is to ensure that people know what is happening and understand the possible causes, so that they can understand and arrive at logical conclusions. Vishvas.News strives to publish news based on facts and without any fear or favour. The team's journalism is aimed at being insightful, meaningful, and essential to the daily lives of people.
The Fact Check Team within MMI Online Limited was formed on October 24, 2018, with approval from the Board of Directors of the company. The team is independent of other editorial operations of the Company and is engaged in fact-checking, busting misinformation in mainstream and social media, and conducting media literacy awareness campaigns for combating misinformation.
The team reports to Rajesh Upadhyay (Editor-in-Chief and Senior Vice President), who reports to Bharat Gupta (Director of MMI Online Limited).
The relevant documents are attached below. These are also available on the website here: https://www.vishvasnews.com/vishvas-news-ownership-and-funding/
Surekha Deepak Assessor
03-Mar-2023 (1 year ago)
Vishvas News (MMI Online Limited) is a legally registered company with a separate and dedicated fact checking team.
done_all 1.1 marked as Compliant by Surekha Deepak.
Criteria 1.2
Proof you meet criteria
Please answer the following questions – (see notes in Guidelines for Application on how to answer)
1. When and why was your fact-checking operation started?
2. How many people work or volunteer in the organization and what are their roles?
3. What different activities does your organization carry out?
4. What are the goals of your fact-checking operation over the coming year?
MMI Online Limited
23-Feb-2023 (1 year ago) Updated: 1 year ago
1. When and why was your fact-checking operation started?
Vishvas.News was established in 2018 as a fact-checking division of MMI Online Limited. At the time, social media platforms were already flooded with false or misleading information, but only a handful of fact-checking websites with limited reach were available. As a responsible media company that values equipping ordinary individuals with accurate and credible information, we decided to launch a separate, dedicated unit that focuses solely on fact-checking. We assembled a team of seasoned journalists with 5-25 years of experience, all of whom were either certified and affiliated with the GNI India Training network or were properly trained by certified trainers. The main objective of creating this fact-checking unit was to assist the general public in combating misinformation and safeguarding society against the potential hazards of false information. In addition to fact-checking, the team also conducts media literacy programmes in which they train the common people on how to recognize and debunk misinformation.
2. How many people work or volunteer in the organization and what are their roles?
Currently, the Vishvas.News team consists of 11 fact-checkers who directly report to Jatin Gandhi, Executive Editor. Three members responsible for training and media literacy report to Urvashi Kapoor, Associate Editor, in charge of the training division.
It is important to note that the entire team is capable of fact-checking and contributes to training and media literacy initiatives as needed. Both Jatin Gandhi and Urvashi Kapoor report to Rajesh Upadhyay, who serves as the Editor-in-Chief and Senior Vice President of Vishvas.News.
For more information regarding the Vishvas.News team and its members, please refer to the provided details:
Team Details: https://www.vishvasnews.com/fact-check-team/
3. What different activities does your organization carry out?
Vishvas.News strongly believes in enabling the general public’s participation in the fact-checking and verification process. The organization achieves this through a combination of on-ground activities, online webinars focused on current topics, online training on fact-checking tools, and fellowship programmes.
In addition to publishing verified articles in 12 languages, the team also runs the award-winning ‘Sach Ke Sathi’ fact-checking and media literacy programme. This initiative is designed to reach out to individuals living in Tier 1, 2 and 3 cities, and aims to impart fact-checking skills among common people. ‘Sach Ke Sathi’ has won various accolades such as Best Trust Initiative by South Asian Digital Media Awards 2022. Its fourth edition, ‘Yes for Vaccine’, won the In-House Content Campaign award under the Digital Content category at the 12th India Digital Awards by the Internet and Mobile Association of India (IAMAI).
Below are the details of all ‘Sach Ke Sathi’ ((True Warriors)) drives:
A. Sach Ke Sathi 1: Fact-Checking and Media Literacy
The ‘Sach Ke Sathi’ programme was launched in 2019. Its first edition was conducted to create awareness among common citizens on misinformation and its impact on society. It was conducted in association with Meta. Under this programme, the Vishvas.News team visited nine cities in three Indian states and trained the participants on how to identify misinformation. The main objective was to make people aware of misinformation and to encourage them to spread information about fact-checking in their social circles. We reached out to 2,000 people through this programme.
Details here: https://www.vishvasnews.com/sach-ke-sathi/
B. Sach Ke Sathi 2: Health Fact-Check
The second edition of ‘Sach Ke Sathi’ was Health Fact-Check which started in early 2020. Under this programme, Vishvas.News team went to six cities in five Indian states. This programme, too, was conducted in association with Meta. At workshops in these cities, people were trained to identify fake/misinformation specifically related to health. The main objective was to spread awareness against the deadly coronavirus and suggest measures to prevent infections. People trained thus were called 'Fact Check Champs'. These champs took this campaign forward by sharing the information with people in their social circles. We reached out to 1,187 participants, who then further reached out to their peer and family groups.
Details here: vishvasnews.com/sach-ke-sathi-health-check/
C. Sach Ke Sathi 3: Bihar Elections
The third edition of ‘Sach Ke Sathi’ was conducted during the state election in Bihar, 2020. The campaign was classified into three broad categories:
a. Vishvas.News team informed people on the dos and don’ts of consuming election-related or general news on social media platforms. Further, citizens were informed about the voting process laid down by the Election Commission of India and given basic tips related to the election code of conduct.
B. Vishvas.News sensitized people on how to protect themselves from COVID-19 and the misinformation around it.
C- Vishvas News intended to create a strong hyperlocal community of “fact champions” to stop the flow of misinformation during the Bihar elections.
There were 550+ attendees. Details here: https://www.vishvasnews.com/sach-ke-sathi-bihar-election-2020/
D. Sach Ke Sathi 4 : Yes For Vaccine (For Healthy Voters)
The fourth edition established a massive reach. It was a media literacy campaign aimed at dispelling misconceptions about vaccines among the general public and motivating them to get the vaccine shots. Apart from fact-checkers, Jagran Network’s health reporters/news coordinators supported this campaign by Vishvas.News. More than 30 specialist doctors joined the campaign live. It ran from May to September 2021, and 12 cities of Uttar Pradesh, Bihar, Madhya Pradesh, and Jharkhand were involved. The overall reach was 38 million. This programme was done in association with the IFCN and Meta. It was also showcased at the ‘Global Fact 9’ event held in Oslo, Norway.
Details here: https://www.vishvasnews.com/sach-ke-sathi-yes-for-vaccine-2021/
E. Sach Ke Sathi 5: Assembly Elections 2022
The fifth edition of ‘Sach Ke Sathi’ was conducted during the assembly elections of 2022. ‘Sach Ke Sathi for Healthy Voters’ was a media literacy campaign aimed at dispelling misconceptions among the general public regarding false and misleading posts and COVID-19 spread during assembly elections in five states. More than 10 specialist doctors joined live in this campaign. Participants from Punjab and Chandigarh, and from Lucknow, Kanpur, Gorakhpur, and Varanasi in Uttar Pradesh joined this campaign, which ran from February 15 to March 5, 2022. The overall reach for this programme was 19.9 million.
Details here: https://www.vishvasnews.com/sach-ke-sathi-2022-for-healthy-voters/
F. Sach Ke Sathi 6: FactsUp
The sixth edition of ‘Sach Ke Sathi’ is ‘FactsUp’. Under this programme, the Vishvas.News team is connecting with audiences across 11 Indian states and training citizens to identify fake news, misinformation and spread awareness among their peers about the perils of falsehoods. Our goal is to make people aware of the misinformation they come across on a daily basis by connecting them to the Vishvas.News Tipline at +91 9599299372 and grow its reach. The tipline offers users a way to connect with fact-checkers, get access to debunked misinformation doing the rounds, as well as get the misinformation they received checked and debunked by a team of fact-checkers. This programme is done in association with IFCN and Meta.
Details here: https://www.vishvasnews.com/sach-ke-sathi-facts-up/
Webinars: Apart from this, during the nationwide lockdown due to Covid-19 in 2021, Vishvas.News continued its fight against the coronavirus-related and lockdown-related misinformation, and conducted 17 city-focussed webinars in which more than 1,000 people joined the sessions. They communicated with 60+ medical experts and health officials from reputed regional/national/international health organizations, and with the fact-checkers of Vishvas.News, to understand how to deal with unverified information.
Fact-Check and News Verification Fellowship Programme
Vishvas.News conducted a year-long training programme for 20 journalists from 10 major Indian news organizations to equip them with the knowledge and skills required for fact-checking and news verification. These 20 fellows included two each selected from 10 leading media organizations shortlisted by Vishvas.News: The Indian Express, The Hindu, Hindustan Times, Asianet News, Manorama Online, Lokmat, Deccan Herald, Press Trust of India, Prajavani and Mathrubhumi.
The fellows worked with trainers from Vishvas.News. It began with an intensive, five-day workshop. A number of learning modules were used for this training. This was followed by daily sessions for a year, and the modules were tailored keeping each participant in mind. More than 50 fact-checking tools were discussed and taught, to turn these journalists into professional fact-checkers.
The programme was done in association with IAMAI and Meta, began in December 2021 and culminated with a day-long conference at the Meta office on November 30, 2022.
Other trainings:
Four trainings for military and paramilitary officers:
The first was on-ground for 40 senior officers of the paramilitary force CRPF in June 2022
The second was online for CRPF officers in July 2022 for 30 officers
The third training was on-ground for 20 Indian Army officers in November 2022
In January 2023, the fourth training was conducted for a group of 20 officers of the Indian Army, Navy, and Air Force
In addition to its online and on-ground fact-checking and media literacy initiatives, five of the certified fact-checkers in the Vishvas.News team are GNI India Training Network trainers as well. These professionals provide individual fact-check training sessions at various institutions, including universities, media schools, press clubs, and the Military Headquarters of War (MHOW).
By conducting these specialized sessions, Vishvas.News is able to share its expertise and knowledge with a wide variety of individuals and organizations. We are committed to promoting accurate and reliable information, and believe that education and training are key components in achieving this goal.
Misinformation Combat Alliance (MCA): Vishvas News is part of MCA, a collaborative of fact-checking organizations and civil society that works towards tackling misinformation, spreading media and information literacy.
Ekta: Vishvas.News is also part of the Ekta consortium, which aims at using the fact-checking ecosystem to counter misinformation and facilitate prebunking. The groups use their experiences to improve how such collaborations can leverage each other's strength.
4. What are the goals of your fact-checking operation over the coming year?
Vishvas.News is committed to empowering individuals and reaching out to them through various channels to ensure that accurate information is disseminated widely. With several state elections, COVID-19 vaccine-related misinformation, Turkiye earthquake, Ukraine-Russia war, communalism and other topics circulating on social media platforms, the Vishvas.News team is dedicated to focusing on all potential fake information related to the trending events, and providing real-time, verified information to the public.
In line with its fact-check training and media literacy policy, Vishvas.News will continue to conduct on-ground training workshops and webinars. These initiatives are aimed at expanding the reach of verified information across India. The organization believes that empowering individuals with fact-checking skills and media literacy is crucial to combating the spread of misinformation.
Surekha Deepak Assessor
03-Mar-2023 (1 year ago)
1. Vishvas.News was established in 2018 as a fact-checking division of MMI Online Limited as a separate, dedicated unit for fact-checking.
In addition to fact-checking, the team also conducts media literacy programes.
2. Vishvas.News Fact checking team consists of 11 fact-checkers
3. The organization runs a combination activities, online webinars, training on fact-checking tools, and fellowship programes.
They publish in 12 languages, and run the ‘Sach Ke Sathi’ an award-winning fact-checking and media literacy programe, designed to reach Tier 1, 2 and 3 cities. This programe won the several awards as well.
They conduct individual fact-check training sessions at various institutions, including universities, media schools, press clubs, and the Military Headquarters of War (MHOW) and have conducted Four trainings for military and paramilitary officers.
4. They will continue the work they are doing to empower people by ensuring accurate information is disseminated widely. The Vishvas.News team is dedicated to focusing on all potential fake information and providing real-time, verified information.
They will continue on-ground training workshops and webinars to empower individuals with fact-checking skills and media literacy is crucial to combating the spread of misinformation.
done_all 1.2 marked as Compliant by Surekha Deepak.
Criteria 1.3
Proof you meet criteria
- The applicant has published an average of at least one fact check a week over the course of the six months prior to the date of application.
- For applicants from countries with at least 5 or more verified signatories need to have at least a fact check a week over the twelve months of publishing track.
- Consult to factchecknet@poynter.org for confirmation.
MMI Online Limited
23-Feb-2023 (1 year ago) Updated: 1 year ago
Vishvas News publishes 150+ fact-checked articles in 12 languages every month. All the articles can be seen on the website. Below are the links
1. Hindi: https://www.vishvasnews.com/
2. English: https://www.vishvasnews.com/english/
3. Urdu: https://www.vishvasnews.com/urdu/
4. Assamese: https://www.vishvasnews.com/assamese/
5. Tamil: https://www.vishvasnews.com/tamil/
6. Punjabi: https://www.vishvasnews.com/punjabi/
7. Bangla: https://www.vishvasnews.com/bangla/
8. Odia: https://www.vishvasnews.com/odia/
9. Telugu: https://www.vishvasnews.com/telugu/
10. Gujarati: https://www.vishvasnews.com/gujarati/
11. Malayalam: https://www.vishvasnews.com/malayalam/
12. Marathi: https://www.vishvasnews.com/marathi/
Surekha Deepak Assessor
03-Mar-2023 (1 year ago)
Vishvas.News (MMI Online Limited) publishes more than the required number of fact checks in English as well in the languages they publish in.
done_all 1.3 marked as Compliant by Surekha Deepak.
Criteria 1.4
Proof you meet criteria
The assessor will assess compliance through a review of the fact checks published over the previous three months. No additional information required.
MMI Online Limited
23-Feb-2023 (1 year ago) Updated: 1 year ago
In the attached Spreadsheet, the fact-checked stories published over the last three months are mentioned: https://docs.google.com/spreadsheets/d/1N1F45VeySdIyLWbNm9JnFFD9IJgKKVkD_AuXJZr4l6c/edit#gid=0
Surekha Deepak Assessor
03-Mar-2023 (1 year ago)
Vishwas.News publishes fact checks that have an impact, and cover a wide range of topics. They debunk claims sent to them for verification and publish fact checks related to politics, sports, education, and environment. They have a clear focus on health related claims.
done_all 1.4 marked as Compliant by Surekha Deepak.
Criteria 1.5
Proof you meet criteria
Please explain any commercial, financial and/or institutional relationship your organization has to the state, politicians or political parties in the country or countries you cover. Also explain funding or support received from foreign as well as local state or political actors over the previous financial year.
MMI Online Limited
23-Feb-2023 (1 year ago) Updated: 1 year ago
This is not applicable to Vishvas.News. As a matter of policy, Vishvas.News maintains a strict non-partisanship policy and does not have any commercial, financial, or institutional relationships with any political parties, politicians or state actors in the country. The organization has not received any funding or support from foreign or local state actors, political parties, or individuals with political affiliations.
Non-partisanship Policy: https://www.vishvasnews.com/nonpartisanship-policy/
Responsible Journalism: https://www.vishvasnews.com/responsible-journalism/
Partnerships: https://www.vishvasnews.com/partners/
The Income Tax Return filed MMI balance sheet and Vishvas.News funding details are attached for your reference:
1. IT Return
2. MMI Balance Sheet
3. Vishvas.News Funding
Surekha Deepak Assessor
03-Mar-2023 (1 year ago)
The applicant has declared that do not have any commercial, financial and/or institutional relationship to the state, politicians or political parties in the country. They have not received any funding or support from foreign, local state or political actors. It is primarily funded by the promoter and advertising and subscriptions.
done_all 1.5 marked as Compliant by Surekha Deepak.
Criteria 1.6
Proof you meet criteria
If you confirmed the organization receives funding from local or foreign state or political sources, provide a link to where on your website you set out how you ensure the editorial independence of your work.
MMI Online Limited
23-Feb-2023 (1 year ago) Updated: 1 year ago
This is not applicable as Vishvas.News does not receive funding from any state or political sources, local or foreign.
Surekha Deepak Assessor
03-Mar-2023 (1 year ago)
They do not receive any funding that could have an impact on the editorial independence.
done_all 1.6 marked as Compliant by Surekha Deepak.
Section 2: A commitment to Non-partisanship and Fairness
To be compliant on nonpartisanship and fairness, applicants must meet these five criteria
- 2.1 The applicant fact-checks using the same high standards of evidence and judgement for equivalent claims regardless of who made the claim.
- 2.2 The applicant does not unduly concentrate its fact-checking on any one side, considers the reach and importance of claims it selects to check and publishes a short statement on its website to set out how it selects claims to check.
- 2.3 The applicant discloses in its fact checks relevant interests of the sources it quotes where the reader might reasonably conclude those interests could influence the accuracy of the evidence provided. It also discloses in its fact checks any commercial or other such relationships it has that a member of the public might reasonably conclude could influence the findings of the fact check.
- 2.4 The applicant is not as an organization affiliated with nor declares or shows support for any party, any politician or political candidate, nor does it advocate for or against any policy positions on any issues save for transparency and accuracy in public debate.
- 2.5 The applicant sets out its policy on non-partisanship for staff on its site. Save for the issues of accuracy and transparency, the applicant’s staff do not get involved in advocacy or publicise their views on policy issues the organization might fact check in such a way as might lead a reasonable member of the public to see the organization’s work as biased.
Criteria 2.1
Proof you meet criteria
Please share links to 10 fact checks published over the past year that you believe demonstrate your non-partisanship.
Please briefly explain how the fact checks selected show that (I) you use the same high standards of evidence for equivalent claims, (II) follow the same essential process for every fact check and (III) let the evidence dictate your conclusions.
MMI Online Limited
23-Feb-2023 (1 year ago) Updated: 1 year ago
Stringent standards are ensured by the observance of Vishvas.News comprehensive Editorial Policy that lays down the code of conduct and guidelines for its journalists. Vishvas.News stands by the ethical standard of ‘no-influence policy’, which ensures that its stories are not influenced by any external bias. No one working in Vishvas.News engages in partisan political activity and never makes any contributions to candidates or advocacy organizations.
All of Vishvas.News' stories follow a logical flow in content creation, starting with the conception of an idea, followed by its development, publication, distribution, and quality check based on factual accuracy, language, ethics, and conduct. Throughout the entire process, journalistic ethics are never compromised.
Vishvas.News’ journalism is accurate, fair, and complete to the best of its ability. Its journalists are honest and carry out their responsibilities with honour, without fear or partisanship. It is expected that the staff will not act in any manner that will damage the organization's image, and any staff who do not follow this policy may face legal action, and their contracts may be cancelled.
Vishvas.News is responsible to its readers and maintains the highest standards of journalism. It uses reliable sources, deploys high-quality journalistic skills and integrity to collect news/information from different sources, which are then independently verified.
For reference, links of fact checks are provided below:
Fact Check: पीएम मोदी की 30 साल पुरानी इस तस्वीर में अमित शाह नहीं, संघ के प्रचारक हैं
Fact Check: ‘भारत जोड़ो’ यात्रा के दिल्ली में प्रवेश के बाद राहुल गांधी पहले मंदिर गए थे और बाद में दरगाह
Fact Check: गोपालगंज में क्रिकेट खेलने के विवाद के कारण हुई हिंसा की घटना को सांप्रदायिक रंग देकर किया जा रहा वायरल https://www.vishvasnews.com/viral/fact-check-an-incident-of-violence-due-to-the-dispute-over-playing-cricket-in-gopalganj-is-being-shared-with-a-communal-claim/
Fact Check: श्रद्धा मर्डर केस का आरोपी आफताब अमीन पूनावाला मुस्लिम है, न कि पारसी
Fact Check: बैंकों में जमापूंजी डूबने का दावा गलत, 2017 की पुरानी खबर भ्रामक दावे से हो रही वायरल https://www.vishvasnews.com/politics/fact-check-social-media-post-claiming-govt-is-preparing-to-end-insurance-guarantee-coverage-of-bank-depositors-is-misleading-in-nature/
Fact Check: Viral video does not show Pakistan’s national flag but IUML flags, post is fake https://www.vishvasnews.com/english/viral/fact-check-viral-video-does-not-show-pakistans-national-flag-but-iuml-flags-post-is-fake/
Fact Check : यूके के नेता के साथ खड़े राहुल गांधी की तस्वीर को BBC की डॉक्युमेंट्री से जोड़कर किया जा रहा शेयर https://www.vishvasnews.com/viral/fact-check-image-of-rahul-gandhi-standing-with-uk-leader-shared-with-bbc-documentary/
Fact Check : प्रयागराज में सड़क चौड़ीकरण के लिए हटाई गई मस्जिद, वायरल दावा गलत https://www.vishvasnews.com/viral/fact-check-mosque-removed-for-road-widening-in-prayagraj-viral-claim-false/
Fact Check : निर्मला सीतारमण के साथ नजर आ रहे शख्स उनके पिता नहीं, महाकवि सुब्रमण्यम के भांजे केवी कृष्णन हैं https://www.vishvasnews.com/politics/fact-check-the-man-seen-with-nirmala-sitharaman-is-not-her-father-it-is-kv-krishnan-nephew-of-mahakavi-subramaniam/
Fact Check : राहुल गांधी ने पगड़ी पहनने से नहीं किया था इनकार, वायरल दावा राजनीतिक दुष्प्रचार https://www.vishvasnews.com/viral/fact-check-rahul-gandhi-did-not-deny-wearing-a-turban-viral-claim-political-propaganda/
Surekha Deepak Assessor
03-Mar-2023 (1 year ago) Updated: 1 year ago
done_all 2.1 marked as Compliant by Surekha Deepak.
Criteria 2.2
Proof you meet criteria
Please share a link to a place on your website where you explain how you select claims to check, explaining how you ensure you do not unduly concentrate your fact-checking on any one side, and how you consider the reach and importance of the claims you select to check.
MMI Online Limited
23-Feb-2023 (1 year ago) Updated: 1 year ago
Vishvas.News presents its articles in an explanatory manner to ensure that readers can comprehend how the story debunks misinformation, and learn to do the same themselves. The stories are constructed in such a way that all evidence is appropriately used to support the conclusion.
We ensure that sources, whether primary or secondary, are always provided in the story so that readers can follow the fact-checking process from start to finish, including tweets, links, pictures, screengrabs, and other relevant elements, which are identified in detail with links and/or screenshots provided.
As part of the internal editorial guidelines, the Vishvas.News team physically verifies all stories, and the fact-checker in charge of a story communicates with primary or secondary sources to establish the facts. This mandatory process is strictly followed by everyone on the team.
Our first step is to verify the source of the information or news, and then find reliable sources of evidence to verify the claim. We rely on multiple sources to write our fact-checks, and if we are unable to verify a piece of information, we do not publish it. We credit the news source and image source in full, and hyperlink and/or attribute every source we refer to in the story. The news source could be newspaper articles, YouTube links, tweets, Facebook pages, and other such. In the age of the internet, some people pass off other organizations’ coverage as their own, which can lead to serious problems. We consider this our responsibility to only serve the information that is verified and authentic.
Political parties, leaders, lawyers, and other professionals have presence on Facebook and other social media sites. We track and include them in our contacts list. While adding influential persons of the society, we maintain the list only to monitor news feeds and nothing else.
At Vishvas.News, we recognize that individuals hold varied perspectives and opinions. Accordingly, if anyone denies any allegations, we make sure to include that in our article. It is imperative for us to ensure that our reporting is impartial and unbiased. Our primary objective is to guarantee that our fact-checked stories are consistently fair and unbiased.
We check data used in charts and infographics to ensure accuracy, and verify political statements at every level possible. We have initiated a double-layered, cross-check system (maker-checker), wherein the fact-checker working on an article does not have the right to publish it. Another fact-checker re-checks the story to ensure that all SOPs and guidelines are followed before publishing.
Related details can be seen here:
Responsible Journalism: https://www.vishvasnews.com/responsible-journalism/
Non-partisanship Policy: https://www.vishvasnews.com/nonpartisanship-policy/
News Verification Methodology: https://www.vishvasnews.com/methodology/
Sources Policy: https://www.vishvasnews.com/sources/
Attachments:
1. Letter of Incorporation
Surekha Deepak Assessor
03-Mar-2023 (1 year ago)
done_all 2.2 marked as Compliant by Surekha Deepak.
Criteria 2.3
Proof you meet criteria
The assessor will assess compliance through a review of the fact checks published over the previous year. No additional information required.
MMI Online Limited
23-Feb-2023 (1 year ago) Updated: 1 year ago
Surekha Deepak Assessor
03-Mar-2023 (1 year ago)
done_all 2.3 marked as Compliant by Surekha Deepak.
Criteria 2.4
Proof you meet criteria
The assessor will assess compliance through a review of the fact checks published over the previous year. No additional information required.
MMI Online Limited
23-Feb-2023 (1 year ago) Updated: 1 year ago
Surekha Deepak Assessor
03-Mar-2023 (1 year ago)
done_all 2.4 marked as Compliant by Surekha Deepak.
Criteria 2.5
Proof you meet criteria
Please share a link to a place on your website where you publish a statement setting out your policy on non-partisanship for staff and how it ensures the organization meets this criteria.
MMI Online Limited
23-Feb-2023 (1 year ago) Updated: 1 year ago
As a policy, all members of Vishvas.News formally signs an affidavit to declare non-partisanship; that none of their close relatives and friends are in politics; and a zero-tolerance policy against fake information, counterfeit content, and to follow the company code of conduct and work guidelines and ethics. Link to the non-partisanship policy statement on the website: https://www.vishvasnews.com/nonpartisanship-policy/
Scanned copies of signed affidavits by two Vishvas.News members are attached for reference.
Attachment: Scanned copy of the signed affidavit by two team members
Surekha Deepak Assessor
03-Mar-2023 (1 year ago) Updated: 1 year ago
done_all 2.5 marked as Compliant by Surekha Deepak.
Section 3: A commitment to Standards and Transparency of Sources
To be compliant on sources, applicants must meet these four criteria
- 3.1 The applicant identifies the source of all significant evidence used in their fact checks, providing relevant links where the source is available online, in such a way that users can replicate their work if they wish. In cases where identifying the source would compromise the source’s personal security, the applicant provides as much detail as compatible with the source’s safety.
- 3.2 The applicant uses the best available primary, not secondary, sources of evidence wherever suitable primary sources are available. Where suitable primary sources are not available, the applicant explains the use of a secondary source.
- 3.3 The applicant checks all key elements of claims against more than one named source of evidence save where the one source is the only source relevant on the topic.
- 3.4 The applicant identifies in its fact checks the relevant interests of the sources it uses where the reader might reasonably conclude those interests could influence the accuracy of the evidence provided.
Criteria 3.1
Proof you meet criteria
The assessor will review the applicant’s use of sources in a randomised sample of its fact checks to assess compliance. No additional evidence is required.
MMI Online Limited
23-Feb-2023 (1 year ago) Updated: 1 year ago
Surekha Deepak Assessor
03-Mar-2023 (1 year ago)
The applicant clearly mentions the relevant sources. They use digital tools as well as primary and secondary sources in the reports. The fact checks are replicable.
done_all 3.1 marked as Compliant by Surekha Deepak.
Criteria 3.2
Proof you meet criteria
The assessor will review the applicant’s use of sources in a randomised sample of its fact checks to assess compliance. No additional evidence is required.
MMI Online Limited
23-Feb-2023 (1 year ago) Updated: 1 year ago
Surekha Deepak Assessor
03-Mar-2023 (1 year ago) Updated: 1 year ago
done_all 3.2 marked as Compliant by Surekha Deepak.
Criteria 3.3
Proof you meet criteria
The assessor will review the applicant’s use of sources in a randomised sample of its fact checks to assess compliance. No additional evidence is required.
MMI Online Limited
23-Feb-2023 (1 year ago) Updated: 1 year ago
Surekha Deepak Assessor
03-Mar-2023 (1 year ago) Updated: 1 year ago
done_all 3.3 marked as Compliant by Surekha Deepak.
Criteria 3.4
Proof you meet criteria
The assessor will review the applicant’s use of sources in a randomised sample of its fact checks to assess compliance. No additional evidence is required.
MMI Online Limited
23-Feb-2023 (1 year ago) Updated: 1 year ago
Surekha Deepak Assessor
03-Mar-2023 (1 year ago)
done_all 3.4 marked as Compliant by Surekha Deepak.
Section 4: A commitment to Transparency of Funding & Organization
To be compliant on funding and organization, applicants must meet these five criteria
- 4.1 Applicants that are independent organizations have a page on their website detailing each source of funding accounting for 5% or more of total revenue for its previous financial year. This page also sets out the legal form in which the organization is registered (e.g. as a non-profit, as a company etc).
- 4.2 Applicants that are the fact-checking section or unit of a media house or other parent organization make a statement on ownership.
- 4.3 A statement on the applicant’s website sets out the applicant’s organizational structure and makes clear how and by whom editorial control is exercised.
- 4.4 A page on the applicant’s website details the professional biography of all those who, according to the organizational structure and play a significant part in its editorial output.
- 4.5 The applicant provides easy means on its website and/or via social media for users to communicate with the editorial team.
Criteria 4.1
Proof you meet criteria
Please confirm whether you are an ‘independent organization’
or ‘the fact-checking section or unit of a media house or other parent organization’ and share proof of this organizational status.
MMI Online Limited
23-Feb-2023 (1 year ago) Updated: 1 year ago
Vishvas.News is a separate fact-checking unit set up under MMI Online Limited (Jagran New Media). Jagran New Media is the digital platform of Jagran Prakashan Limited. Vishvas.News has a separate and dedicated fact-check desk consisting of fact-checkers who are experienced journalists, properly trained and certified in fact-checking processes. It also conducts media literacy programmes on fact-checking and information hygiene. The team of Vishvas.News has a separate editorial policy and it strictly follows the IFCN guidelines.
Attachment 1: Letter of Incorporation
Attachment 2: Team Set-up
Surekha Deepak Assessor
03-Mar-2023 (1 year ago)
done_all 4.1 marked as Compliant by Surekha Deepak.
Criteria 4.2
Proof you meet criteria
If your organization is an “independent organization”, please share a link to the page on your website where you detail your funding and indicate the legal form in which the organization is registered (e.g. as a non-profit, as a company etc).
If your organization is “the fact-checking section or unit of a media house or other parent organization”, please share a link to the statement on your website about your ownership.
MMI Online Limited
23-Feb-2023 (1 year ago) Updated: 1 year ago
Vishvas.News is working under the banner of ‘MMI Online Limited’ (CIN no. U72300UP2008PLC036242 ) a legal entity incorporated under the Companies Act of India and funded by the company’s promoters. None of the company’s promoters is/was part of any political party. You can see MMI Online Limited’s most recent financial disclosure (balance sheet) as on March 31, 2022.
Vishvas.News ownership and funding details: https://www.vishvasnews.com/vishvas-news-ownership-and-funding/
Attachment 1: Vishvas Funding
Attachment 2: IT Return file
Surekha Deepak Assessor
03-Mar-2023 (1 year ago) Updated: 1 year ago
done_all 4.2 marked as Compliant by Surekha Deepak.
Criteria 4.3
Proof you meet criteria
Please share a link to where on your website you set out your organizational structure, making clear how and by whom editorial control is exercised.
MMI Online Limited
23-Feb-2023 (1 year ago) Updated: 1 year ago
Currently, the Vishvas.News team consists of 11 fact-checkers who directly report to Jatin Gandhi, Executive Editor. Three members of the team responsible for training and media literacy report to Urvashi Kapoor, Associate Editor, in charge of the training division.
The entire team is capable of fact-checking and contributes to training and media literacy initiatives as needed. Both Jatin Gandhi and Urvashi Kapoor report to Rajesh Upadhyay, who serves as the Editor-in-Chief and Senior Vice President of Vishvas News.
Members of Team Vishvas.News are qualified, certified, and trained fact-checkers and they rigorously follow all the guidelines by the IFCN and the in-house editorial/ethics policies. The work process is clearly defined and all team members follow a set SOP at each step, right from the editorial discussions on claim selection to the final go-ahead for fact-check report publishing.
Physical verification from primary or secondary sources or any other authentic source in each story is a key step.
An additional level of quality check
Maker-Checker: Vishvas.News has also set up a process of 'makers-checkers' as part of the SOP in which the person who files the fact-check copy doesn't have the right to publish it. It is cross-checked and filed by another desk member. This is to make sure the copy is 100% error-free and follows all IFCN guidelines and in-house SOPs. Before publishing any fact-check report, it also goes through a quality-check process for grammar/structure to make sure that it talks only about facts and in simple language.
Methodology: https://www.vishvasnews.com/methodology/
Privacy Policy: https://www.vishvasnews.com/privacy-policy/
Fact Check team page: https://www.vishvasnews.com/fact-check-team/
Surekha Deepak Assessor
03-Mar-2023 (1 year ago)
The organisational structure is clearly mentioned on the website.
done_all 4.3 marked as Compliant by Surekha Deepak.
Criteria 4.4
Proof you meet criteria
Please share a link to where on your website you set out the professional biographies of those who play a significant part in your organization’s editorial output.
MMI Online Limited
23-Feb-2023 (1 year ago) Updated: 1 year ago
The Vishvas.News team consists of experienced journalists with 5-25 years of experience in various fields of journalism. Five members of the team (Rajesh Upadhyay, Jatin Gandhi, Urvashi Kapoor, Abhishek Parashar and Umam Noor) are fact-check trainers from the GNI India Training Network as well. The rest of the team members are properly trained, too, and have conducted various training sessions under the GNI. Many team members occasionally conduct training sessions with other GNI trainers or at the individual level.
Details of the Team: http://vishvasnews.com/fact-check-team/
Surekha Deepak Assessor
03-Mar-2023 (1 year ago) Updated: 1 year ago
done_all 4.4 marked as Compliant by Surekha Deepak.
Criteria 4.5
Proof you meet criteria
Please share a link to where on your website you encourage users to communicate with your editorial team.
MMI Online Limited
23-Feb-2023 (1 year ago) Updated: 1 year ago
At Vishvas.News, we place great emphasis on open and transparent communication with our users. We have created multiple avenues through which users can easily connect with our team whenever required. We encourage our users to share suggestions, complaints, or if they come across any doubtful claims that they want us to debunk, on our Contact Us page. In addition, we provide a link to our Methodology page, where we describe to users the process we follow while fact-checking claims.
We firmly believe that by establishing a direct line of communication with our users, we can better serve them and ensure that they have complete trust and confidence in our process.
Contact Us Page: http://vishvasnews.com/contact-us/
Submit News Page: https://www.vishvasnews.com/submit-news/
Apart from this, we have clearly mentioned an email ID, WhatsApp number, and a Tipline on our website
WhatsApp Number: +91- 9205270923
Email ID: contact@vishvasnews.com
Tipline: +91 9599299372
Surekha Deepak Assessor
03-Mar-2023 (1 year ago) Updated: 1 year ago
done_all 4.5 marked as Compliant by Surekha Deepak.
Section 5: A commitment to Standards and Transparency of Methodology
To be compliant on methodology, applicants must meet these six criteria
- 5.1 The applicant publishes on its website a statement about the methodology it uses to select, research, write and publish its fact checks.
- 5.2 The applicant selects claims to check based primarily on the reach and importance of the claims, and where possible explains the reason for choosing the claim to check.
- 5.3 The applicant sets out in its fact checks relevant evidence that appears to support the claim as well as relevant evidence that appears to undermine it.
- 5.4 The applicant in its fact checks assesses the merits of the evidence found using the same high standards applied to evidence on equivalent claims, regardless of who made the claim.
- 5.5 The applicant seeks where possible to contact those who made the claim to seek supporting evidence, noting that (I) this is often not possible with online claims, (II) if the person who makes the claim fails to reply in a timely way this should not impede the fact check, (III) if a speaker adds caveats to the claim, the fact-checker should be free to continue with checking the original claim, (IV) fact-checkers may not wish to contact the person who made the claim for safety or other legitimate reasons.
- 5.6 The applicant encourages users to send in claims to check, while making it clear what readers can legitimately expect will be fact-checked and what isn’t fact-checkable.
Criteria 5.1
Proof you meet criteria
Please provide a link to the statement on your website that explains the methodology you use to select, research, write and publish your fact checks.
MMI Online Limited
23-Feb-2023 (1 year ago) Updated: 1 year ago
Surekha Deepak Assessor
03-Mar-2023 (1 year ago) Updated: 1 year ago
done_all 5.1 marked as Compliant by Surekha Deepak.
Criteria 5.2
Proof you meet criteria
The assessor will review the methodology used in a randomised sample of your fact checks to assess compliance with these criteria. No additional evidence is required.
MMI Online Limited
23-Feb-2023 (1 year ago) Updated: 1 year ago
Surekha Deepak Assessor
03-Mar-2023 (1 year ago)
done_all 5.2 marked as Compliant by Surekha Deepak.
Criteria 5.3
Proof you meet criteria
The assessor will review the methodology used in a randomised sample of your fact checks to assess compliance with these criteria. No additional evidence is required.
MMI Online Limited
23-Feb-2023 (1 year ago) Updated: 1 year ago
Surekha Deepak Assessor
03-Mar-2023 (1 year ago)
done_all 5.3 marked as Compliant by Surekha Deepak.
Criteria 5.4
Proof you meet criteria
The assessor will review the methodology used in a randomised sample of your fact checks to assess compliance with these criteria. No additional evidence is required.
MMI Online Limited
23-Feb-2023 (1 year ago) Updated: 1 year ago
Surekha Deepak Assessor
03-Mar-2023 (1 year ago)
done_all 5.4 marked as Compliant by Surekha Deepak.
Criteria 5.5
Proof you meet criteria
The assessor will review the methodology used in a randomised sample of your fact checks to assess compliance with these criteria. No additional evidence is required.
MMI Online Limited
23-Feb-2023 (1 year ago) Updated: 1 year ago
Surekha Deepak Assessor
03-Mar-2023 (1 year ago) Updated: 1 year ago
done_all 5.5 marked as Compliant by Surekha Deepak.
Criteria 5.6
Proof you meet criteria
Please describe how you encourage users to send in claims to check, while making it clear what readers can legitimately expect will be fact-checked and what isn’t fact-checkable. Include links where appropriate. If you do not allow this, explain why.
MMI Online Limited
23-Feb-2023 (1 year ago) Updated: 1 year ago
Vishvas.News always encourages its users to contact or submit claims/news or even correction via various accessible channels:
1. On the Article Page: There is a comment box at the bottom of the article page for the users to post their comments/queries with their details (Name, Email ID etc.) so that we quickly respond to them with our remarks.
2. Contact Us page: There is a separate Contact Us link at the bottom of the website. That page also has a Comment/Submit Your News box and details of our email ID and WhatsApp contact
https://www.vishvasnews.com/contact-us/
3. Vishvas.News Tipline: Users can ask us directly on a WhatsApp tipline if any information is true, false or misleading. They can submit all the information received through the messaging platform and that they are uncertain about to the WhatsApp tipline at +91-9599299372. Next, the fact-checkers investigate the information, use the standard methodology to check the veracity of the post.
4. Email: contact@vishvasnews.com
5. WhatsApp: +91-9205270923
6. Social media handles where users connect with Vishvas.News or share their feedback/remarks
Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/vishvasnews/
Twitter: https://twitter.com/newsvishvas
Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/vishvasnews/
YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/@VishvasNews
Surekha Deepak Assessor
03-Mar-2023 (1 year ago) Updated: 1 year ago
done_all 5.6 marked as Compliant by Surekha Deepak.
Section 6: A commitment to an Open & Honest Corrections Policy
To be compliant on corrections policy, applicants must meet these five criteria
- 6.1 The applicant has a corrections or complaints policy that is easily visible and accessible on the organization’s website or frequently referenced in broadcasts.
- 6.2 The policy sets out clear definitions of what it does and does not cover, how major mistakes, especially those requiring revised conclusions of a fact check, are handled, and the fact that some complaints may justify no response. This policy is adhered to scrupulously.
- 6.3 Where credible evidence is provided that the applicant has made a mistake worthy of correction, the applicant makes a correction openly and transparently, seeking as far as possible to ensure that users of the original see the correction and the corrected version.
- 6.4 The applicant, if an existing signatory, should either on its corrections/complaints page or on the page where it declares itself an IFCN signatory inform users that if they believe the signatory is violating the IFCN Code, they may inform the IFCN, with a link to the IFCN site.
- 6.5 If the applicant is the fact-checking unit of a media company, it is a requirement of signatory status that the parent media company has and adheres to an open and honest corrections policy.
Criteria 6.1
Proof you meet criteria
Please provide a link to where you publish on your website your corrections or complaints policy. If you are primarily a broadcaster, please provide evidence you frequently reference your corrections policy in broadcasts.
MMI Online Limited
23-Feb-2023 (1 year ago) Updated: 1 year ago
http://vishvasnews.com/correction-policy/
https://www.vishvasnews.com/fact-check-team/
At Vishvas News, we take our responsibility as a credible organization seriously and prioritize transparency in all our operations. As such, we ensure that any claim made by a user about Vishvas News or other verticals under Jagran New Media is thoroughly fact-checked in accordance with all standard operating procedures. While we were in the process of filing this application, a report was published alleging errors in reporting by our sister organization. We halted the application process and carried out a thorough examination of the allegations. We have published a report clarifying the details here: https://www.vishvasnews.com/english/viral/fact-check-alt-news-report-presents-false-misleading-claims-and-distorted-facts/
Surekha Deepak Assessor
03-Mar-2023 (1 year ago) Updated: 1 year ago
done_all 6.1 marked as Compliant by Surekha Deepak.
Criteria 6.2
Proof you meet criteria
The assessor will review the corrections policy to verify it meets critera. No additional information needed.
MMI Online Limited
23-Feb-2023 (1 year ago) Updated: 1 year ago
Vishvas.News never hesitates to acknowledge and rectify its mistakes. We provide multiple open platforms where our readers can reach out to us with any claims of inaccuracy in the content published. We welcome suggestions and corrections also from the people or pages mentioned in our stories, through our WhatsApp number, email, comments, and phone calls. We have an internal quality control team, to, that impartially re-checks all content before it goes live on the site.
At Vishvas.News, we strive to rectify every mistake as quickly as possible. Upon receiving any complaints, we immediately put the article dissemination on hold and determine the facts. Once the facts have been re-verified, we make a well-considered decision and respond to the feedback accordingly. Depending on the authenticity of the complaint and the magnitude of the mistake or error, we edit the published information, if needed, or provide an explanation to the reader if the perceived error does not qualify as a mistake.
To maintain transparency, details of the correction process are available on our Correction Policy page and on the Team page below each author’s profile. We are committed to upholding the highest standards of accuracy and accountability, and we appreciate the ongoing support and feedback of our readers.
Links:
Correction Policy page - http://vishvasnews.com/correction-policy/
Team profile page - https://www.vishvasnews.com/fact-check-team/
Surekha Deepak Assessor
03-Mar-2023 (1 year ago) Updated: 1 year ago
done_all 6.2 marked as Compliant by Surekha Deepak.
Criteria 6.3
Proof you meet criteria
Please provide a short statement about how the policy was adhered to over the previous year (or six months if this is the first application) including evidence of two examples of the responses provided by the applicant to a correction request over the previous year. Where no correction request has been made in the previous year, you must state this in your application, which will be publicly available in the assessment if your application is successful.
MMI Online Limited
23-Feb-2023 (1 year ago) Updated: 1 year ago
Though we are always open to feedback or queries, Vishvas.News has not received any claims regarding any correction in any article in the previous year.
We follow a strict Correction Policy.
We work as a Third-Party Fact-Checking Partner with Meta in India. In that role, we rate Facebook and Instagram posts as Fake, Misleading or Missing Context. During the course of last year, we received a few appeals to change the ratings of certain fact-checked claims on Facebook. After receiving such appeals, Vishvas.News acknowledges the email, carefully does a detailed investigation, updates the ratings of the post after the user rectifies it, and informs the user on the same mail.
As a policy, Vishvas.News team does regular internal audits and quality checks on articles already published. As part of this practice, we update the articles accordingly with a disclaimer if the team finds any unnecessary information that doesn't have any impact on the conclusion of the article.
For example, an article by a team member of Vishvas.News was updated on December 12, 2022. In this, a paragraph, which was not needed in that story, was removed.
Another example:
A story was updated on December 23, 2023, to remove a paragraph that was not needed. Another paragraph was added in its place.
The details of all the internal audit corrections or the action taken on appeals in Vishvas News stories are clearly mentioned on:
1. The Correction Policy page: https://www.vishvasnews.com/correction-policy/
2. On the Fact Check team page under the author's name/profile details: https://www.vishvasnews.com/fact-check-team/
Surekha Deepak Assessor
03-Mar-2023 (1 year ago) Updated: 1 year ago
done_all 6.3 marked as Compliant by Surekha Deepak.
Criteria 6.4
Proof you meet criteria
If you are an existing signatory, please provide a link to show where on your site you inform users that if they believe you are violating the IFCN Code, they may inform the IFCN of this, with a link to the complaints page on the IFCN site.
MMI Online Limited
23-Feb-2023 (1 year ago) Updated: 1 year ago
This is being mentioned on the Correction Policy page and the methodology page-
Correction policy: https://www.vishvasnews.com/correction-policy/
Methodology: https://www.vishvasnews.com/methodology/
Surekha Deepak Assessor
03-Mar-2023 (1 year ago) Updated: 1 year ago
done_all 6.4 marked as Compliant by Surekha Deepak.
Criteria 6.5
Proof you meet criteria
If you are the fact-checking unit of a media company, please provide a link to the parent media company’s honest and open corrections policy and provide evidence that it adheres to this.
MMI Online Limited
23-Feb-2023 (1 year ago) Updated: 1 year ago
Jagran New Media (JNM) and Jagran Prakashan Limited welcome suggestions and corrections from our users in the form of comments, emails, and phone calls. In case JNM receives any complaint regarding the accuracy of our content, the JNM desks immediately put the content dissemination on hold and re-determine the facts. Once the facts have been cross-examined, JNM takes a considered decision and appropriately responds to the feedback.
Depending on the authenticity and magnitude of the mistake/error, JNM removes/edits the published information or duly informs the reader in case it’s not needed and how JNM News Desk arrived at such a decision.
As per its Correction Policy, JNM has strengthened its fight against misinformation and created a team to do fact-checking regularly and monitor the content flow on our websites. This fact-checking unit, Vishvas.News, is certified by the International Fact-Checking Network (IFCN). In case of any appeal or feedback, Jagran New Media takes note of the details provided, does the correction/corrections following our SOP and editorial guidelines and also puts on record the reports by the team members which needed corrections.
Below are the links to the Jagran pages:
Correction Policy: https://www.jagran.com/policies-and-standards.html#correctionspolicyActionable Feedback: https://www.jagran.com/policies-and-standards.html#actionablefeedback
Below are recent examples when stories filed under the Jagran domain were found with unverified information, and the stories were updated with a disclaimer at the bottom.
Jagran Hindi
Jagran English