Organization: Newsmeter (Fifth Estate Digital Private Limited)
Applicant: Coreena Enet Suares
Assessor: Surekha Deepak
Background
NewsMeter is a legally registered company, with a fact checking section.
The website publishes caters mainly to two states in South India and covers a range of topics from politics to entertainment and defence.
Details of funding are clearly listed and there does not seem to be any obvious bias.
The website is a private digital network they call themselves the first satellite journalism site in the country. They have been fact checking regularly over the last 3 months. They have posted more than 20 stories per month over the last 3 months.
NewsMeter picks up stories that appear on social media and have verified and published them. There does not seem to be a particular bias in the treatment of the stories.
They say they do not make any judgement on the merit or importance or even on the superficiality of the stories they chose.
Many of the stories are verified using google tools. In many instances the sources involved tweet clarification and that is used. In some instances they have spoken to an expert to debunk. However there are a few stories that do not have the links to sources used to debunk .
Team members are clearly listed. There is a form for readers to contact the organisation.
The website explains its fact checking methodology. It’s corrections policy is defined, they say they have made a correction to one story. There is no reference to any corrections readers may have asked for.
Assessment Conclusion
The signatory has compiled most of the criteria and can be accepted. Would recommend that point 1.4 be reviewed by the board for the final decision.
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.
Newsmeter (Fifth Estate Digital Private Limited)
03-Apr-2020 (4 years ago) Updated: 4 years ago
We have explained the legal status of our organisation in 'About Newsmeter'. https://newsmeter.in/about-newsmeter/
NewsMeter is a digital media brand of Fifth Estate Digital Pvt. Ltd running English, Telugu news websites and Youtube channels. Newsmeter is a brand and Fifth Estate Digital Pvt Limited is a company. (such as Alt News of Pravada Media Foundation) Newsmeter Fact Check is a separate independent unit (It’s similar to India Today Fact Check as part of TV Today Network Ltd)
Fifth Estate Digital private limited is a legally registered company under Section 7 of Companies Act 2013 with Registrar of Companies Hyderabad of Ministry of Corporate Affairs India. The Corporate Identity Number of the company is U22300TG2019PTCI34125.
Newsmeter has dedicated fact checking team in both English and Telugu. The details of the Fact Check team can be found on Fact Check methodology page of the website.
Surekha Deepak Assessor
21-Apr-2020 (4 years ago) Updated: 4 years ago
NewsMeter is a legally registered organisation with a separate 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?
Newsmeter (Fifth Estate Digital Private Limited)
03-Apr-2020 (4 years ago) Updated: 4 years ago
1. The fact-check operations started from September 12, 2019. Fact-check is one of NewsMeter 's important element of reportage and our prime objective besides Satellite journalism, Investigative stories and Data journalism. The team debunking misinformation through their fact-check stories are Journalists trained by Google News Initiative- India. NewsMeter started a dedicated category for fact-check stories with a total of 158 claims fact checked so far.
2. Currently, a team of four (all Journalists) have been designated to debunk misinformation, for NewsMeter. They include Ms. Satya Priya and Coreena Suares both trained by Google News Initiative in TOT programme. Amritha Mohan and Aishwariya Sriram (both trained by Google trainers) are also part of the team. Besides this, a dedicated team of five journalists work for the organization for conventional reporting.
3. NewsMeter is India's first English website to do 'Satellite Journalism'. Besides bringing to the table conventional and special stories from South India particularly Andhra Pradesh and Telangana, NewsMeter Bureau focuses on highlighting graft and holding the government accountable. For instance one of our stories has drawn the attention of Women Commission -Government of India, the organization pulled up the 'Telangana state-police chief' which led to the suspension of the cop. The website has dedicated a column for 'Consumer voice ', where success stories of consumers are reported further leading to building hope to fight against the corrupt system.
Our fact check stories are quoted by other fact checkers like boomlive and Logical Indian.
https://www.boomlive.in/fake-news/video-showing-suicide-bid-falsely-linked-to-caa-6563
https://thelogicalindian.com/fact-check/jagan-govt-bhavani-island/
https://thelogicalindian.com/fact-check/coronavirus-clapping-vibration-janta-curfew-20283
4. April 2020 marks 7 months since NewsMeter started its fact-check operations. The organization envisages to further build the team by inducting at least 2-3 trained journalists with GNI certification, besides training the other team members. The year-ahead plan is to amplifying the fact check stories for three per day and have them published in our vernacular version NewsMeter Telugu also . We will be working incessantly on Covid-19 and other health related claims and Misinformation that are likely to increase in coming days.
Surekha Deepak Assessor
21-Apr-2020 (4 years ago) Updated: 4 years ago
NewsMeter is a legally registered organisation and the details of them being digital media news website is clearly found on their website. . It states that they have a separate fact checking operations.
The website shows three fact checkers working on the English site. They also have fact checkers working in the regional language.
News Meter has stories on topics from politics, region, and crime, business to offbeat, entertainment, fact check, education, and podcasts.
One of their goals is to is to fight misinformation and disinformation with the help of Google News initiative trained fact checkers.
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.
Newsmeter (Fifth Estate Digital Private Limited)
03-Apr-2020 (4 years ago) Updated: 4 years ago
Attached a spread sheet. We have taken up several claims pertaining to those spreading misinformation on religions, politics and other. We have taen up fight against Misinformation on Covid-19 Corona virus and did fact checking since the outbreak on daily basis.
Surekha Deepak Assessor
21-Apr-2020 (4 years ago) Updated: 4 years ago
They have published on average more than 20 stories a month over the past 3 months.
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.
Newsmeter (Fifth Estate Digital Private Limited)
03-Apr-2020 (4 years ago)
Surekha Deepak Assessor
21-Apr-2020 (4 years ago) Updated: 4 years ago
The stories in the fact checking section seem to be taken off social media and debunked. One is not sure of the impact they might have had as the number of shares etc is not mentioned in all the stories. They say they do not make any judgement on the merit or importance or even on the superficiality of the stories they chose.
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.
Newsmeter (Fifth Estate Digital Private Limited)
03-Apr-2020 (4 years ago) Updated: 4 years ago
The details of funding is explained on our website https://newsmeter.in/fact-check-methodology/
Funding
Newsmeter is mostly self-funded through the Investments from promoters. Around 50 per cent of operational costs are borne through the investments from promoters. Both fact check unit and editorial team operates independently.
Newsmeter also receives funding(revenue) through advertisements from Google Adsense, Taboola and other advertisers. We have received a revenue of Rs 48,900,57 in the financial year 2019-2020. Around 50 per cent of operational costs are borne through the advertisement revenue. The figures are yet to be audited. None of the advertisers has any role in deciding the selection of claims for a fact check or findings to be published or in editorial policy. We are a free and separate fact-checking unit that acts independently.
Newsmeter receives nominal revenue from news aggregators like daily hunt who pick up our stories. We do not provide any content separately to any news aggregators. All the news stories published on the site are picked up by them automatically with RSS feed. News aggregators has no role in deciding the editorial policy or selection of news stories or fact check to be published on Newsmeter Website. Moreover the revenue generated from news aggregators is insignificant amounting to less than 0.1 per cent of operational costs/budget and they have no influence on either fact checking or editorial. We have received nominal revenue of Rs 4688 in financial year 2019-20 from aggregators.
Newsmeter doesn’t receive any funding from local or foreign state or political sources.
We have NO commercial or financial or institutional relationship with State or politicians or political parties in the country or outside. We haven't received any fund from foreign or local state or political leaders at any point in time since we started our operations to till date. Our objective is to remain independent.
NewsMeter is a digital media brand of Fifth Estate Digital Pvt. Ltd running English, Telugu news websites and Youtube channels. Newsmeter is a brand and Fifth Estate Digital Pvt Limited is a company. (such as Alt News of Pravada Media Foundation) Newsmeter Fact Check is a separate independent unit (It’s similar to India Today Fact Check as part of TV Today Network Ltd)
Fifth Estate Digital private limited is a legally registered company under Section 7 of Companies Act 2013 with Registrar of Companies Hyderabad of Ministry of Corporate Affairs India. The Corporate Identity Number of the company is U22300TG2019PTCI34125.
This has been explained on https://newsmeter.in/about-newsmeter/
Surekha Deepak Assessor
21-Apr-2020 (4 years ago) Updated: 4 years ago
There does not currently seem to be any political influence on the stories selected or the way in which they are written. Most of the fact checks are based on social media not all of them are political. The ones they fact checked do not carry a bias . The scope of many of the political stories are limited to a two of states in South India.
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.
Newsmeter (Fifth Estate Digital Private Limited)
03-Apr-2020 (4 years ago) Updated: 4 years ago
We are not receiving any funding from a local or foreign state or political sources.
Surekha Deepak Assessor
21-Apr-2020 (4 years ago) Updated: 4 years ago
NewsMeter does not claim any financial dependence on the state or political actors. They say that they do not get any funding from state or politicians.They have clearly listed out the sources of funding on the site.
Most of the funding comes from investors and promoters. They have also listed the other sources of income to show they do not influence findings.
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.
Newsmeter (Fifth Estate Digital Private Limited)
03-Apr-2020 (4 years ago) Updated: 4 years ago
Newsmeter follows a non-partisan policy of fact-checking claims from both sides of the political spectrum. To ensure this, our Journalists have built out social media feeds on Twitter and Facebook that track the statements made by politicians from all walks of Life. We generally focus on claims that follow the news cycle, have been shared widely on social media, or have been made by prominent public figures.
Once a claim is chosen, we ensure that every article is balanced. We have dedicated editor who scrutinizes each article to prevent fallacies. Whenever possible, we reach out to experts to make sure our research is thorough and fair, and also refer to more than one reliable resource to ensure we had enough proof.
Here are some examples:
https://newsmeter.in/stacks-of-money-found-in-dk-shivakumars-residence-fact-check/
https://newsmeter.in/fact-check-is-this-video-of-pm-modis-mother-dancing-garba/
https://newsmeter.in/fact-check-telangana-government-extends-school-holidays-till-october-31-2019/
https://newsmeter.in/fact-check-did-asaduddin-owaisi-dance-after-kamlesh-tiwaris-murder/
https://newsmeter.in/did-pm-modi-wear-arabic-headgear-in-saudi-arabia-to-woo-investments/
https://newsmeter.in/fact-check-jana-sena-party-leaders-are-not-going-on-a-hunger-strike/
https://newsmeter.in/fact-check-did-ambani-meet-yogi-over-ram-temple-at-ayodhya/
https://newsmeter.in/fact-check-is-hindu-population-decreasing-in-pakistan-and-bangladesh/
https://newsmeter.in/fact-check-jesus-picture-on-ap-ration-card/
https://newsmeter.in/fact-check-does-chiranjeevi-support-three-capital-formula/
https://newsmeter.in/fact-check-did-gen-rawat-say-he-wants-to-run-navy-on-army-lines/
Surekha Deepak Assessor
21-Apr-2020 (4 years ago) Updated: 4 years ago
The fact checks are mainly social media posts and there does not seem to be a bias with reference to the stories they have chosen to fact check.
Should one be checking for this on their website and not limiting it to the fact checking section.
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.
Newsmeter (Fifth Estate Digital Private Limited)
03-Apr-2020 (4 years ago) Updated: 4 years ago
Any viral information shared on various platforms and is misleading a large portion of audience is chosen for fact checking. We monitor different social media platforms and verify the authenticity of the viral news.
The tweets, statements and posts of politicians and influencers from various walks of life are monitored. Several users message us directly or tag us on tweets with some claims which need verification. We ensure that there is no political bias in selecting the claims to be fact-checked.
We maintain clear standards across our fact checks by selecting trending topics that are aimed at misleading the public in favor of a political party or an individual or those aimed at creating unnecessary panic among all.
NewsMeter keeps an eye on regular editorial news and messages in the mainstream media and also social media platforms. We do not make any judgment of our own, whether they merit coverage based on their perceived importance, degree of controversy or superficiality.
We take up a claim for fact-checking without any bias or political affinity. Process is strictly followed for every fact check and all the claims, whether offensive or elusive, are taken up for study. We thoroughly examine a claim and try to explain it with layman words so that a reader can understand the fact without much difficulty.
Surekha Deepak Assessor
21-Apr-2020 (4 years ago) Updated: 4 years ago
They say they monitor social media and they say they pick stories that are in the news and are shared widely on social media. However, with regard to the reach and importance of the stories they choose they say they do not make any judgement on the merit or importance or even on the superficiality of the stories they chose.
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.
Newsmeter (Fifth Estate Digital Private Limited)
03-Apr-2020 (4 years ago) Updated: 4 years ago
we have published at least 158 fact check since we started operations in 2019 September.
Surekha Deepak Assessor
21-Apr-2020 (4 years ago) Updated: 4 years ago
While the public may send in claims they want verified there do not seem to be any interested parties involved in these fact checks
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.
Newsmeter (Fifth Estate Digital Private Limited)
03-Apr-2020 (4 years ago) Updated: 4 years ago
Surekha Deepak Assessor
21-Apr-2020 (4 years ago) Updated: 4 years ago
There is no evidence of the organisations affiliation to any political party.
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.
Newsmeter (Fifth Estate Digital Private Limited)
03-Apr-2020 (4 years ago) Updated: 4 years ago
As a news outlet, we mandate that our employees do not advocate for individual politicians or candidates. Doing so would violate our journalistic code of ethics and make reporting the news in a non-biased way impossible.
More information on our nonpartisanship and fairness can be found here:
https://newsmeter.in/non-partisanship-policy/Surekha Deepak Assessor
21-Apr-2020 (4 years ago) Updated: 4 years ago
They have clearly stated their non-partisan stance.
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.
Newsmeter (Fifth Estate Digital Private Limited)
03-Apr-2020 (4 years ago) Updated: 4 years ago
Thorough analysis of the origin and context of the claim are done. Date of origin of the claim is crucial, the source of the claim needs to be a reliable one. Images are searched using reverse image search through various search engines to backtrack the earliest date they were posted. In case of videos, we use online tools like Invid, to extract the keyframes from the video and then those pictures are used for reverse image search. Any kind of manipulation, such as photoshop, can be found out using this technique. Official press releases, posts or tweets of official and verified social media handles are also used.
Claims from various languages can also be checked by translating the content to any desirable language by using translating tools like Google translate etc. Features like Geolocation, Maps, Street view etc are used to identify the location of the image or video.
Various search engines like Yandex, Bing, Baidu, Tineye along with Google are used to find and analyze the origin of the claims shared.
Surekha Deepak Assessor
21-Apr-2020 (4 years ago) Updated: 4 years ago
Many of the stories are verified using Google tools. In many instances the parties involved tweet clarification and that is used.
In some instances they have spoken to an expert to debunk.
However there are a few stories that do not have the links to sources used to debunk .
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.
Newsmeter (Fifth Estate Digital Private Limited)
03-Apr-2020 (4 years ago) Updated: 4 years ago
We have been using mostly official, authentic sources as explained in our factcheck methodolgy.
The credibility of one’s argument depends on the credibility of its sources. Therefore, we are extremely careful about picking up sources that we use in our stories. We strive to provide all the links to debunk the claims made, thus, enabling our readers to verify the information for themselves. Whenever we find the information insufficient, we refrain from passing on any conclusive judgment and make it clear.
We rely on non-partisan and government agencies for expertise, analysis and official reports. We also use academic books and reputed websites for authoritative information on a subject. Apart from reputed newspapers and magazines, we often refer to websites of well-known organisations and company publications.
We follow globally acknowledged tools of verification for fact-checking such as Google search, Google Reverse Image Search, InVid Verification tool, video inspection tools, Google Earth and Google Maps. Depending on the story, we use multiple tools of fact-checking and explain the process for our readers, so they can replicate the fact-checking and also be aware of such false information in the future.
The focus is on reaching out for the primary source from where the information might have originated. It is important to evaluate if the source is directly related to the story that we are investigating. The idea is to find out if the person sharing the information is also the original author of the content.
To our maximum extent, we try to track down the people who are either the author or eyewitnesses to the original audio/video clip. We also look for people who are in a position to have access to credible information.
We clearly specify our sources in a story. We describe in reasonable detail about the process and evidences on the basis of which we arrive at a conclusion. We provide hyperlinks in most of the stories so that readers could replicate the fact check process and go back to the primary source for cross-verification.
Surekha Deepak Assessor
21-Apr-2020 (4 years ago) Updated: 4 years ago
They have explained that they try to reach out to primary sources where possible, however in many cases the sources are not official sources. They tend to rely on digital tools to verify.
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.
Newsmeter (Fifth Estate Digital Private Limited)
03-Apr-2020 (4 years ago) Updated: 4 years ago
We have been using mostly official, authentic sources as explained in our factcheck methodology. We are working on constantly to make published fact check adhering to the code of principals.
Surekha Deepak Assessor
21-Apr-2020 (4 years ago) Updated: 4 years ago
Most cases they use digital tools to verify.
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.
Newsmeter (Fifth Estate Digital Private Limited)
03-Apr-2020 (4 years ago) Updated: 4 years ago
We have been using mostly official, authentic sources as explained in our factcheck methodology.
Surekha Deepak Assessor
21-Apr-2020 (4 years ago) Updated: 4 years ago
Again most of the fact checks rely on digital tools.
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.
Newsmeter (Fifth Estate Digital Private Limited)
03-Apr-2020 (4 years ago)
Surekha Deepak Assessor
21-Apr-2020 (4 years ago) Updated: 4 years ago
NewsMeter explains the funding the organisation receives clearly. They are registered as a Pvt. Ltd. company
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.
Newsmeter (Fifth Estate Digital Private Limited)
03-Apr-2020 (4 years ago)
Surekha Deepak Assessor
21-Apr-2020 (4 years ago) Updated: 4 years ago
NewsMeter has a separate fact checking unit. Details are explained on the website.
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.
Newsmeter (Fifth Estate Digital Private Limited)
03-Apr-2020 (4 years ago)
Surekha Deepak Assessor
21-Apr-2020 (4 years ago) Updated: 4 years ago
They say stories are reviewed by one or more fact checkers before publication as the way they control what is published.
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.
Newsmeter (Fifth Estate Digital Private Limited)
03-Apr-2020 (4 years ago)
Surekha Deepak Assessor
21-Apr-2020 (4 years ago) Updated: 4 years ago
The team has brief biographies on the website.
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.
Newsmeter (Fifth Estate Digital Private Limited)
03-Apr-2020 (4 years ago)
Surekha Deepak Assessor
21-Apr-2020 (4 years ago) Updated: 4 years ago
Contact details are clearly provided on the website.
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.
Newsmeter (Fifth Estate Digital Private Limited)
03-Apr-2020 (4 years ago)
Surekha Deepak Assessor
21-Apr-2020 (4 years ago) Updated: 4 years ago
The methodology is explained.
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.
Newsmeter (Fifth Estate Digital Private Limited)
03-Apr-2020 (4 years ago) Updated: 4 years ago
Surekha Deepak Assessor
21-Apr-2020 (4 years ago) Updated: 4 years ago
Stories are selected from social media. They say they do not make any judgment whether the stories merit coverage based on their perceived importance, degree of controversy or superficiality.
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.
Newsmeter (Fifth Estate Digital Private Limited)
03-Apr-2020 (4 years ago) Updated: 4 years ago
Surekha Deepak Assessor
21-Apr-2020 (4 years ago) Updated: 4 years ago
They show the message being shared on multiple platforms. The fact checks provide explanations as the tools used to undermine them.
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.
Newsmeter (Fifth Estate Digital Private Limited)
03-Apr-2020 (4 years ago) Updated: 4 years ago
We have been adhering to the methodology on the lines of IFCN principles.
Surekha Deepak Assessor
21-Apr-2020 (4 years ago) Updated: 4 years ago
They mainly use digital tools to assess the merits of the claim
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.
Newsmeter (Fifth Estate Digital Private Limited)
03-Apr-2020 (4 years ago) Updated: 4 years ago
Fact Check Methodology is available on our Newsmeter portal.
Surekha Deepak Assessor
21-Apr-2020 (4 years ago) Updated: 4 years ago
Since most of the stories are online claims so there is not much effort shown to contact with those who made the claim.
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.
Newsmeter (Fifth Estate Digital Private Limited)
03-Apr-2020 (4 years ago) Updated: 4 years ago
Surekha Deepak Assessor
21-Apr-2020 (4 years ago) Updated: 4 years ago
Yes it does give details for readers to send in claims to check. But there is no explanation what is not fact check-able
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.
Newsmeter (Fifth Estate Digital Private Limited)
03-Apr-2020 (4 years ago) Updated: 4 years ago
Our stories undergo thorough scrutiny at various levels before getting published.
Even then, to err is human. We believe in providing accurate and reliable information each time we post our stories. However, if any discrepancy is found in our stories, we correct them as soon as possible. NewsMeter also welcomes feedbacks from its users be it on social media platforms or on its website.
Readers are encouraged to send the corrections to the mail ID newsmeter.info@gmail.com, which are carried out promptly. We clearly indicate the date of the corrections and the corrections made at the end of the article and also on the correction policy page.
Surekha Deepak Assessor
21-Apr-2020 (4 years ago) Updated: 4 years ago
The corrections policy is clearly listed.
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.
Newsmeter (Fifth Estate Digital Private Limited)
03-Apr-2020 (4 years ago) Updated: 4 years ago
Our correction policy is available online on our website .https://newsmeter.in/correction-policy/
Surekha Deepak Assessor
21-Apr-2020 (4 years ago) Updated: 4 years ago
It does not give details on what it does or does not cover. They assure a changes within 48 hours if an update is needed.
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.
Newsmeter (Fifth Estate Digital Private Limited)
03-Apr-2020 (4 years ago) Updated: 4 years ago
Non Partisan Policy was thoroughly adhered for all the Fact Checks published over the past year. All the claims, no matter to which community or Political party they belong to, were analysed and concluded in Non partial nature. The conclusions derived were NOT influenced by any kind of social liabilities or communal or political pressure. They were completely unbiased, with the intention to bring out the Facts.
One correction request was done by Himalaya Drug Company, as few errors occurred in the reporting. The errors were immediately corrected as per the request. These corrections were minor changes and did not affect the core of the Fact Check.
https://newsmeter.in/fact-check-is-owner-of-himalaya-global-holdings-funding-islamic-jihad/
Surekha Deepak Assessor
21-Apr-2020 (4 years ago) Updated: 4 years ago
They have shown an example of a correction regarding the name and designation in a story.
There is no reference to requests for correction.They need to state that there was no request for correction on the website.
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.
Newsmeter (Fifth Estate Digital Private Limited)
03-Apr-2020 (4 years ago) Updated: 4 years ago
No, we are not an existing signatory.
Surekha Deepak Assessor
21-Apr-2020 (4 years ago) Updated: 4 years ago
Not Applicable
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.
Newsmeter (Fifth Estate Digital Private Limited)
03-Apr-2020 (4 years ago) Updated: 4 years ago
Surekha Deepak Assessor
21-Apr-2020 (4 years ago) Updated: 4 years ago
They have clearly listed the corrections policy on the web page