Organization: Premium Times Center for Investigative Journalism
Applicant: Deji Adekunle
Assessor: Raymond Joseph
Background
When I last assessed Dubawa in late 2019, they were fully operational in Nigeria and had only recently begun fact-checking in Ghana, Since then, they have also begun fact-checking in Sierra Leone.
I am impressed by the ease of navigation of Dubawa’s website, the level of transparency and the simple and easy-to-understand language they use to explain their protocols and processes. For this assessment, I only suggested minor tweaks, which were quickly done.
Overall, I am impressed with the growth of Dubawa and the progress that it has made since the last assessment. Although Dubawa is a part of PTCIJ, it works with media beyond the Premium Times stable in order to “equip newsrooms with the skills and environment to make fact-checking and truth a norm in media houses.” This strategy to fight "eroding trust in media" will be achieved through training and fellowships, Dubawa says.
They partner with newsrooms and data-driven agencies to “obtain and digitalise factual information on politics, economy/statistics, and health" so that Dubawa becomes "the #1 hub for verified information in Nigeria, Ghana and Sierra Leone."
Dubawa plays an important role in combatting mis- and disinformation in West Africa, a region where social media and the online space are widely abused by politicians and others with nefarious ulterior motives. Importantly, they also play a key role in exposing “fake news” intended to exploit ethnic differences and divides. Sadly this kind of ethnic disinformation can lead to severe, sometimes fatal, consequences for some minority communities, in the countries where Dubawa is active. Dubawa is not the only fact-checking organisation active in West Africa. Despite this, they are managing to keep up a regular flow of relevant fact-checks. The volume, as well as the wide diversity of these fact-checks, is impressive.
Assessment Conclusion
Dubawa has met all the required criteria and I recommend that their IFCN membership be renewed
Raymond Joseph assesses application as Compliant
A short summary in native publishing language
Not applicable as Dubawa's publishing language is English. (See background).
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.
Premium Times Center for Investigative Journalism
15-Dec-2020 (3 years ago) Updated: 3 years ago
Dubawa operates as a distinct unit within a legally registered non-profit organization in Nigeria, the Premium Times Centre for Investigative Journalism (PTCIJ). PTCIJ is headquartered in Nigeria with registration number CAC/IT/NO 69519 by Nigeria's Corporate Affairs Commission (CAC). PTCIJ was founded in 2014 to promote a truly independent media landscape that advances fundamental human rights, good governance and accountability in West Africa through investigative journalism, open data and civic technology.
More information relating to Dubawa can be found here.
Copies of PTCIJ's certificate of incorporation, constitution and a notary form showing the relationship between PTCIJ and Dubawa are attached.
Raymond Joseph Assessor
28-Feb-2021 (3 years ago) Updated: 3 years ago
Dubawa operates as a distinct unit within a legally registered non-profit organization in Nigeria, the Premium Times Centre for Investigative Journalism (PTCIJ). PTCIJ is headquartered in Nigeria. It provided all the required documentation, including proof of registration, required as part of the accreditation process;
When I last assessed Dubawa, they were fully operational in Nigeria and had recently begun fact-checking in Ghana, Since then, they have also begun fact-checking in Sierra Leone.
PTCIJ was founded in 2014 to promote a truly independent media landscape that advances fundamental human rights, good governance and accountability in West Africa through investigative journalism, open data and civic technology.
In its mission statement, Dubawa says its aim is to "institute a culture of truth and verification in public discourse and journalism through strategic partnerships between the media, government, civil society organizations, technology giants and the public."
Dubawa says it "basic assumptions (which are integral to our theory of change) are that factual information enables people to make more informed choices in a democratic society and on other public interest issues. Therefore, providing verified information will likely promote good governance and accountability."
Its objectives are to:
* encourage a more engaged and information-literate citizenry who are capable of making informed decisions about issues that affect their development, through media literacy articles, fact-checks, analysis, fact sheets, and online/offline engagement;
* equip newsrooms with the skills and environment to make fact-checking and truth a norm in media houses. This will be done through training and fellowships, in order to restore "eroding trust in media";
* Conduct research and build technological tools that adequately identify, analyse and counter-information disorder, while building a body of knowledge around misinformation in Nigeria and Ghana.
* partner with newsrooms and data-driven agencies to obtain and digitalise factual information on politics, economy/statistics, and health so that Dubawa becomes the #1 hub for verified information in Nigeria and Ghana.
More info about Dubawa here: https://dubawa.org/about-us/
done_all 1.1 marked as Compliant by Raymond Joseph.
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?
Premium Times Center for Investigative Journalism
15-Dec-2020 (3 years ago) Updated: 3 years ago
1. Dubawa was founded in 2018 in Nigeria; since then, it had expanded into Ghana and Sierra Leone in 2020. This project’s raison d'être is informed by the dual response of citizens [Nigerians] to the challenges of information management in their roles as consumers and as information producers.
As consumers, Nigerians expressed a desire for verified information. Still, for many reasons, including high illiteracy rate and mistrust for the media, they have been subjected to misinformation in various forms that have fueled ethnic, religious, and most recently, the health-related crisis at all societal levels.
As producers, the ubiquitous presence of phone-wielding Nigerian content producers is compelling and often frightening. More so, as it is impossible to vouch that these drive-through content creators always have the resources to mediate their contents with any substantive form of verification. Thus, both classes of people influencing our public discourse [consumers and producers], through tiny unverified texts emitted from transparent phone screens, tend to be purveyors of misinformation.
Therefore, to ensure a well-informed citizenry, one that is capable of making rational political, economic, and social decisions, it falls to reason that an initiative which helps promotes the culture of truth, and that combats misinformation, is important for the health of Nigeria's democracy and society. Such an investment in amplifying truth has the added value of promoting accountability by raising the quality of information available to the public. Dubawa is therefore an important response to these challenges and, through capacity building for journalists and by actively verifying statements and assertions of public officials, it helps to promote democratic accountability, a culture of truth, fact-based journalism, and accuracy in policy making.
2. Dubawa has a total of 14 full-time staff.
- 1 programme manager: provides programmatic leadership and support for Dubawa in all countries
- 1 consultant (partnerships): manages both internal and external partnerships, and ensures they meet the organisation's objectives
- 2 programme officers: manage the operations of the researchers and oversees the implementation of other project activities in each of the operational countries (Ghana/Sierra Leone and Nigeria)
- 3 editors: responsible for editing fact-checks to ensure they remain compliant with universal methods and standards while responding to specificities that the local context may require
- 7 researchers: responsible for investigating public claims and writing fact-checks that respond to misinformation in line with our editorial standards
Through Dubawa’s other activities (explained below), some regular volunteers provide content for publication on the website. For Dubawa to ensure consistency and quality of fact-checks, each volunteer is subjected to rigorous training on the tenets and art of fact-checking and editorial protocols. In 2020, Dubawa had a total of 35 volunteers at various points. This number includes the volunteers from our Fellowship Program and our affiliated network of student journalists through PTCIJ’s campus journalism project.
3. As part of our mandate, Dubawa has historically carried out the following activities:
- Daily fact-checking of public policy claims culminating in the publication of accurate, unbiased news reports that are a true reflection of the country’s political, social and economic conditions.
- Promote capacity-building activities for journalists and other relevant stakeholders.
- Implementation of programs that encourage innovation in the fact-checking field. For instance, projects that serve to reach a wider audience or introduce new formats to fact-checking
4. In 2021, Dubawa aims to achieve the following:
- Through media literacy articles, fact-checks, analysis, fact sheets and online/offline engagement, encourage a more involved and information-literate citizenry who are capable of making informed decisions about issues that affect their development
- Equip newsrooms with the skills and environment to make fact-checking and promotion of truth as a norm in Nigerian media houses. This is to be implemented through training and fellowships so that the eroding culture of trust in media will be gradually restored.
- Conduct research and build technological tools that adequately identify, analyze and counter information disorder while building a body of knowledge around misinformation in Nigeria and Ghana.
- Partner newsrooms and data-driven agencies to obtain and digitalize factual information on politics, economy/statistics and health so that Dubawa becomes the hub for verified information in West Africa
Raymond Joseph Assessor
28-Feb-2021 (3 years ago) Updated: 3 years ago
1) Dubawa was founded in Nigeria in 2018 and expanded to Ghana and Sierra Leone in 2020. West Africa has serious problems with "fake news" and mis- and disinformation and the founders believed that people in their region wanted access to verified information. But, for a variety of reasons, including high illiteracy rate and mistrust of the media, they have been subjected to misinformation in various forms that have fueled ethnic, religious, and most recently, the Covid-19 health-related crisis at all societal levels, Dubawa says in its application.
Their aim is to ensure a well-informed citizenry capable of making rational political, economic, and social decisions. “It falls to reason that an initiative which helps promotes the culture of truth, and that combats misinformation, is important for democracy and society.
“Such an investment in amplifying truth has the added value of promoting accountability by raising the quality of information available to the public. Dubawa is, therefore, an important response to these challenges and, through capacity building for journalists and by actively verifying statements and assertions of public officials, it helps to promote democratic accountability, a culture of truth, fact-based journalism, and accuracy in policymaking.”
2) 2. Dubawa has a total of 14 full-time staff.
a) a programme manager who provides programmatic support in all countries where Dubswa is active;
b) a partnership consultant who manages internal and external partnerships;
c) Two programme officers, who manage researchers and oversees projects in Nigeria, and in Ghana/Sierra Leone and Nigeria)
d) Three editors: responsible for editing fact-checks;
e) Seven researchers who investigate claims and write fact-checks for publication;
Dubawa also makes regular use of volunteers to provide content for its website. All volunteers receive "rigorous" training in fact-checking and the organisation's editorial protocols. In 2020, Dubawa had a total of 35 volunteers at times, including people participating in its Fellowship Program, and others who were part of an affiliated network of student journalists through PTCIJ’s campus journalism project.
3) a) Daily fact-checking and publication of public claims; .
b) promotes capacity-building activities for journalists and other relevant stakeholders.
c) Implements programmes to encourage innovation in fact-checking to reach a wider audience.
4) In its application, Dubawa says its goals for 2021 are:
a) Encourage a more involved and information-literate citizenry through media literacy articles, fact-checks, analysis, fact sheets, and online/offline engagement;
b) Equip newsrooms with the requisite skills and environment to make fact-checking and promotion of truth a norm in media houses. This will be implemented through training and fellowships;
c) Conduct research and build tools that identify, analyse and counter mis- and disinformation disorder;
d) Build a body of knowledge around misinformation in the countries in which Dubawa is active;
e) Partner newsrooms and data-driven agencies to ensure thatDubawa becomes a hub for verified information in West Africa
done_all 1.2 marked as Compliant by Raymond Joseph.
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.
Premium Times Center for Investigative Journalism
15-Dec-2020 (3 years ago) Updated: 3 years ago
All Dubawa's published fact-checking content can be assessed on these websites:
- Nigeria - https://dubawa.org/category/fact-check/
- Ghana - https://ghana.dubawa.org/category/fact-check/
- Sierra Leone - https://dubawa.org/category/sierra-leone/
For even easier review, the document attached to this criteria shows fact-checks published in each of our operational countries since June 2020.
Raymond Joseph Assessor
28-Feb-2021 (3 years ago) Updated: 3 years ago
Dubawa more than meets this requirement
done_all 1.3 marked as Compliant by Raymond Joseph.
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.
Premium Times Center for Investigative Journalism
15-Dec-2020 (3 years ago) Updated: 3 years ago
Dubawa's scope covers political, health, economy, security and other forms of information disorder that do not fall under the previously mentioned categories. As a result, our content is always varied and never focused on any single political faction or subject. Moreover, we adhere to a process of scrupulous and diligent selection, research, writing, and editing for our fact-checking exercise.
To ensure consistency across fact-checks, we have developed a standard methodology while refraining from limiting individual creativity.
Raymond Joseph Assessor
28-Feb-2021 (3 years ago) Updated: 3 years ago
Criteria have been met
done_all 1.4 marked as Compliant by Raymond Joseph.
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.
Premium Times Center for Investigative Journalism
15-Dec-2020 (3 years ago) Updated: 3 years ago
Dubawa has no financial affiliation to any politician, political party or state actor. Nevertheless, in the height of the coronavirus pandemic in Nigeria, Dubawa entered into a partnership with the National Centre for Disease Control (NCDC) to verify public health misinformation that could cause panic or death. This partnership does not result in any financial remuneration and is strictly voluntary. This press release explains further.
Raymond Joseph Assessor
28-Feb-2021 (3 years ago) Updated: 3 years ago
Dubawa has no financial affiliation to any politician, political party, or state actor. But, as a result of the coronavirus pandemic in Nigeria, Dubawa entered into a partnership with the National Centre for Disease Control (NCDC) to verify public health misinformation that could cause panic or death. This partnership does generate any remuneration and is strictly voluntary. Details of this partnership > https://bit.ly/3rh8Xqc
done_all 1.5 marked as Compliant by Raymond Joseph.
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.
Premium Times Center for Investigative Journalism
15-Dec-2020 (3 years ago) Updated: 3 years ago
Dubawa receives no funding from local or foreign state actors or political sources. For our funding source, this page on our website outlines our funders' names and includes a statement showing total editorial independence of our work.
Raymond Joseph Assessor
28-Feb-2021 (3 years ago) Updated: 3 years ago
Not applicable
done_all 1.6 marked as Compliant by Raymond Joseph.
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.
Premium Times Center for Investigative Journalism
15-Dec-2020 (3 years ago) Updated: 3 years ago
Dubawa adheres to a process of conscientious and diligent selection, research, writing, and editing for its fact-checking exercise. A standard fact-checking process begins with the suggestion to fact-check a claim by the public or internally by any team member, followed by the assignment of the claim to a researcher, investigation of the claim by the researcher, two-level editing of the fact-check by the editors and then publication. Our research policy is keenly guided by a five-layered evaluation mechanism that privileges:
- Named Sources as against unnamed sources
- Authoritative as against random sources
- Independent as against self-interested sources
- Verifiable as against assertive sources
- Multiple as against single sources
A longer description of our process can be found on this page.
Here are a few of our fact-checks which provide evidence of our diversity, non-partisanship and high standards:
- https://dubawa.org/reno-omokris-claims-on-buharis-n3-2bn-food-travel-budget-false/
- https://dubawa.org/police-chiefs-claim-that-nigeria-police-is-least-corrupt-agency-false/
- https://dubawa.org/is-edo-unemployment-rate-19-percent-as-claimed-by-obaseki/
- https://dubawa.org/fact-checking-twitter-users-claims-that-fg-earmarked-n380bn-to-prosecute-terrorists-gave-asuu-n20bn/
- https://ghana.dubawa.org/fact-check-has-the-akufo-addo-government-sent-ghana-into-hipc/
- https://ghana.dubawa.org/is-ghana-among-countries-with-one-of-the-highest-numbers-of-covid-19-tests-in-africa/
- https://ghana.dubawa.org/is-the-claim-of-a-pandemic-every-100-years-accurate/
- https://ghana.dubawa.org/new-ebola-cases-true-or-false/
- https://dubawa.org/did-nigerias-2012-abortion-rate-double-the-1996-figure/
- https://ghana.dubawa.org/education-minister-makes-false-claim-on-ghanas-position-in-teacher-status-ranking/
These fact-checks begin with a statement indicating the need for verification: virality; impact on national security; value for public health; or importance for public discourse.
The fact-checks also show precisely where Dubawa obtained the claim with a screenshot for audience verification.
Next, the verification process includes selecting authoritative/verifiable/independent/multiple sources, ensuring to get as close as possible to the primary source of information. We try to explain numbers in simple terms, easy to understand by our audience.
Context, clarity and transparency are ensured in our writing process, which is why our fact-checks are structured in sections - summary, introduction, verification and conclusion.
We also try to publish fact-checks that may or may not be (un)favourable to the government in power. Hence, sometimes our fact-checks may lead to a true rating for a claim made by a political office holder; other times, false or misleading as in the examples stated above.
Our guiding principle is to fact-check claims, not people.
Raymond Joseph Assessor
28-Feb-2021 (3 years ago) Updated: 3 years ago
Criteria for compliance have been met.
done_all 2.1 marked as Compliant by Raymond Joseph.
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.
Premium Times Center for Investigative Journalism
15-Dec-2020 (3 years ago) Updated: 3 years ago
Our researchers ask the following questions when interrogating data:
- Is this source/evidence the closest to the original?
- When was it gathered?
- Was this survey representative or particular?
- What is the interest of this organization releasing the report?
- Can I quote this source?
- Is this evidence relevant to this fact-check, or am I just writing it because I need to include multiple sources?
- Even though every opinion supports this claim, is there one document that may refute it and why?
- What’s the expertise of the source, and is it transparent/reliable?
- How representative is the respondent?
- Was it diverse enough?
- Was the report presented truthfully?
In essence, we do our due diligence!
Find out more here.
Raymond Joseph Assessor
28-Feb-2021 (3 years ago) Updated: 3 years ago
Dubawa explains its fact-checking process clearly and comprehensively. I'd recommend that new fact-checking startups consult it as a guide. Details: https://dubawa.org/about-us/our-fact-check-process/
done_all 2.2 marked as Compliant by Raymond Joseph.
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.
Premium Times Center for Investigative Journalism
15-Dec-2020 (3 years ago) Updated: 3 years ago
Find an archive of our fact-checks on the following websites:
- For Nigeria - https://dubawa.org/category/fact-check/
- For Ghana - https://ghana.dubawa.org/category/fact-check/
- For Sierra Leone - https://dubawa.org/category/sierra-leone/
Raymond Joseph Assessor
28-Feb-2021 (3 years ago) Updated: 3 years ago
Criteria for compliance have been met.
done_all 2.3 marked as Compliant by Raymond Joseph.
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.
Premium Times Center for Investigative Journalism
15-Dec-2020 (3 years ago) Updated: 3 years ago
Find an archive of our fact-checks on the following websites:
- For Nigeria - https://dubawa.org/category/fact-check/
- For Ghana - https://ghana.dubawa.org/category/fact-check/
- For Sierra Leone - https://dubawa.org/category/sierra-leone/
Raymond Joseph Assessor
28-Feb-2021 (3 years ago) Updated: 3 years ago
Criteria for compliance have been met.
done_all 2.4 marked as Compliant by Raymond Joseph.
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.
Premium Times Center for Investigative Journalism
15-Dec-2020 (3 years ago) Updated: 3 years ago
As published on our website, this policy is read and agreed to by our researchers and volunteers. We also refer to the policy from time to time to ensure compliance by all staff.
Find it here.
Raymond Joseph Assessor
28-Feb-2021 (3 years ago) Updated: 3 years ago
Dubawa's policy of non-partisanship is clearly and unequivocally spelled out. I find it of interest that they state that this policy also includes board members. While I would take this for granted, it is good that it is stated. I also find it of great interest that they have a policy in place for when a family member of Dubawa may engage in any form of political activity.
"Team members must know that perfectly proper political activity by their spouses, family or companions may nevertheless create conflicts of interest or the appearance of conflict. When such a possibility arises, the team member should advise the program officer or managing editor. Depending on circumstances, the staff member may have to recuse himself or herself from certain coverage or even move to a job unrelated to the activities in question."
Full policy here: https://dubawa.org/about-us/independence-policy/
done_all 2.5 marked as Compliant by Raymond Joseph.
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.
Premium Times Center for Investigative Journalism
15-Dec-2020 (3 years ago) Updated: 3 years ago
Our fact-checks can be assessed on our website using these links:
Raymond Joseph Assessor
28-Feb-2021 (3 years ago) Updated: 3 years ago
Criteria for compliance have been met.
done_all 3.1 marked as Compliant by Raymond Joseph.
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.
Premium Times Center for Investigative Journalism
15-Dec-2020 (3 years ago) Updated: 3 years ago
Our fact-checks can be assessed on our website using these links:
Raymond Joseph Assessor
28-Feb-2021 (3 years ago) Updated: 3 years ago
Criteria for compliance have been met.
done_all 3.2 marked as Compliant by Raymond Joseph.
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.
Premium Times Center for Investigative Journalism
15-Dec-2020 (3 years ago) Updated: 3 years ago
Our fact-checks can be assessed on our website using these links:
Raymond Joseph Assessor
28-Feb-2021 (3 years ago) Updated: 3 years ago
Criteria for compliance have been met.
done_all 3.3 marked as Compliant by Raymond Joseph.
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.
Premium Times Center for Investigative Journalism
15-Dec-2020 (3 years ago) Updated: 3 years ago
Our fact-checks can be assessed on our website using these links:
Raymond Joseph Assessor
28-Feb-2021 (3 years ago) Updated: 3 years ago
Criteria for compliance have been met.
done_all 3.4 marked as Compliant by Raymond Joseph.
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.
Premium Times Center for Investigative Journalism
15-Dec-2020 (3 years ago) Updated: 3 years ago
Dubawa is a fact-checking project of a non-governmental organization. Attached is the Articles of Incorporation of the parent organization and a notary public showing relationship between the parent body and Dubawa as a project.
Our website also provides sufficient information about this relationship.
Raymond Joseph Assessor
28-Feb-2021 (3 years ago) Updated: 3 years ago
Dubawa operates as a distinct unit within a legally registered non-profit organization in Nigeria, the Premium Times Centre for Investigative Journalism. Documentation confirming this has been supplied with the application.
An explanation of this relationship is available on Dubawa's website: https://dubawa.org/about-us/
done_all 4.1 marked as Compliant by Raymond Joseph.
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.
Premium Times Center for Investigative Journalism
15-Dec-2020 (3 years ago) Updated: 3 years ago
Since 2018, Dubawa has received grants to fund project activities that support the culture of truth in Nigeria, Ghana and Sierra Leone.
Here is the link to the page on our website detailing our funding.
Raymond Joseph Assessor
28-Feb-2021 (3 years ago) Updated: 3 years ago
Dubawa's funding sources are clearly explained on its website: https://dubawa.org/about-us/funding/
Independence from the influence of funders is also made clear on the page:
"While we are open about reporting our funding support, the funders have absolutely no influence on our judgments and editorial decisions. "
done_all 4.2 marked as Compliant by Raymond Joseph.
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.
Premium Times Center for Investigative Journalism
15-Dec-2020 (3 years ago) Updated: 3 years ago
https://dubawa.org/about-us/governance-organisation/
On this page, Dubawa explains the organizational structure, the role of its Board and the fact-checking team. The Dubawa fact-checking team is set up solely for fact-checking and its related activities. It is composed of a handful of experts who develop fact-checked stories in a structured way, reflecting the basic tenets of fact-checking.
Raymond Joseph Assessor
28-Feb-2021 (3 years ago) Updated: 3 years ago
Dubawa's governance structure, including the role of its Board and the fact-checking team, is clearly explained here: https://dubawa.org/about-us/governance-organisation/
done_all 4.3 marked as Compliant by Raymond Joseph.
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.
Premium Times Center for Investigative Journalism
15-Dec-2020 (3 years ago) Updated: 3 years ago
Key staff, including volunteers and fellows, are listed on this page: https://dubawa.org/about-us/team/
Raymond Joseph Assessor
28-Feb-2021 (3 years ago) Updated: 3 years ago
Key staff, including its advisory board and f and volunteers and fellows, are listed here with their bios: https://dubawa.org/about-us/team/
done_all 4.4 marked as Compliant by Raymond Joseph.
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.
Premium Times Center for Investigative Journalism
15-Dec-2020 (3 years ago) Updated: 3 years ago
Dubawa can be contacted through various channels - our website, email, WhatsApp, Twitter, Facebook or Instagram. Our audience can easily find this information by clicking the contact us icons at the top right corner of our page.
Raymond Joseph Assessor
28-Feb-2021 (3 years ago) Updated: 3 years ago
People can contact Dubawa via various channels: its website, email, WhatsApp, Twitter, Facebook, or Instagram. All pages of their website also have icons with links to their Facebook, Twitter, and Instagram accounts, but not for WhatsApp and email.
There is also a clearly marked "contact us" tab in the drop-down menu in the "About Us" tab in the navigation bar that runs across the Duwba Home page. This same navigation bar is also available on all pages of the Dubawa site. , as well as all other pages.
There are also details of how people can submit claims for fact-checking on the "Our Fact-Checking Process" page" https://dubawa.org/about-us/our-fact-check-process/
It states: "You can send a claim that you’re unsure of, about a wide range of issues, to our email account: contact@dubawa.org, tweet or send a direct message: @dubawaNG, @dubawaGH, send a message on Facebook: @dubawa or send a message to our Whatsapp number: 09131167621."
done_all 4.5 marked as Compliant by Raymond Joseph.
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.
Premium Times Center for Investigative Journalism
15-Dec-2020 (3 years ago) Updated: 3 years ago
Dubawa maintains a five-step process that culminates in the publication of a fact-check. From our claim selection to research, writing and publication, our fact-checking team MUST answer specific questions and go through an internal checklist to ensure the reports are truth-based, relevant and unbiased.
Raymond Joseph Assessor
28-Feb-2021 (3 years ago) Updated: 3 years ago
Dubawa has a five-step process that all fact-checks go through prior to publication.
The fact-checking team must answer specific questions, and also go through an internal checklist to ensure the reports are truth-based, relevant, and unbiased. See: https://dubawa.org/about-us/our-fact-check-process/
done_all 5.1 marked as Compliant by Raymond Joseph.
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.
Premium Times Center for Investigative Journalism
15-Dec-2020 (3 years ago) Updated: 3 years ago
Our fact-checks can be assessed on our website using these links:
Raymond Joseph Assessor
28-Feb-2021 (3 years ago) Updated: 3 years ago
Criteria for compliance have been met.
done_all 5.2 marked as Compliant by Raymond Joseph.
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.
Premium Times Center for Investigative Journalism
15-Dec-2020 (3 years ago) Updated: 3 years ago
Our fact-checks can be assessed on our website using these links:
Raymond Joseph Assessor
28-Feb-2021 (3 years ago) Updated: 3 years ago
Criteria for compliance have been met.
done_all 5.3 marked as Compliant by Raymond Joseph.
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.
Premium Times Center for Investigative Journalism
15-Dec-2020 (3 years ago) Updated: 3 years ago
Our fact-checks can be assessed on our website using these links:
Raymond Joseph Assessor
28-Feb-2021 (3 years ago) Updated: 3 years ago
Criteria for compliance have been met.
done_all 5.4 marked as Compliant by Raymond Joseph.
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.
Premium Times Center for Investigative Journalism
15-Dec-2020 (3 years ago) Updated: 3 years ago
Our fact-checks can be assessed on our website using these links:
Raymond Joseph Assessor
28-Feb-2021 (3 years ago) Updated: 3 years ago
Criteria for compliance have been met.
done_all 5.5 marked as Compliant by Raymond Joseph.
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.
Premium Times Center for Investigative Journalism
15-Dec-2020 (3 years ago) Updated: 3 years ago
We regularly ask our audience to interact with our content and tell us what they want to be fact-checked via our social media channels. Nevertheless, this page explains in great detail our guidelines for choosing fact-checks and clearly states how our audience can contact us.
Raymond Joseph Assessor
28-Feb-2021 (3 years ago) Updated: 3 years ago
Besides encouraging to interact with our content and inviting them to submit fact-checks via its social media channels, the process - including what can and can't be fact-checked - can be found here: https://dubawa.org/about-us/our-fact-check-process/
done_all 5.6 marked as Compliant by Raymond Joseph.
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.
Premium Times Center for Investigative Journalism
15-Dec-2020 (3 years ago) Updated: 3 years ago
If any fresh evidence comes after publication that significantly changes that story, we will promptly clarify, correct or update the story. In the spirit of transparency, explanations will be offered on what warranted the change, why it was made, and when it was made. We also make sure to publish the correction on our social media pages so that the new information is not lost on the website.
Raymond Joseph Assessor
28-Feb-2021 (3 years ago) Updated: 3 years ago
Dubawa's policy on fact-checking is clear and can be found here: https://dubawa.org/corrections-policy/
This statement in the corrections policy sums up it up:
"If any fresh evidence comes after publication that significantly changes that story, we will promptly clarify, correct or update the story. In the spirit of transparency, explanations will be offered on what warranted the change, why it was made, and when it was made."
done_all 6.1 marked as Compliant by Raymond Joseph.
Criteria 6.2
Proof you meet criteria
The assessor will review the corrections policy to verify it meets critera. No additional information needed.
Raymond Joseph Assessor
28-Feb-2021 (3 years ago) Updated: 3 years ago
The corrections policy meets the necessary criteria.
done_all 6.2 marked as Compliant by Raymond Joseph.
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.
Premium Times Center for Investigative Journalism
15-Dec-2020 (3 years ago) Updated: 3 years ago
Dubawa rarely gets corrections to its publications. We get angry publishers, especially under Facebook’s Third-Party Fact-checking Program, asking for changes to our fact-check or requesting a rating change after making corrections to their publication. We have a publisher’s policy to help with this.
Nevertheless (and if this is worth mentioning), we updated a publication upon receiving additional information in the last year. We included the changes at the top of the page, explained what warranted the change, why the change was made, and when the change was made. We also posted the update on our social media channels.
https://ghana.dubawa.org/how-true-is-the-claim-that-covid-19-patients-do-not-truly-recover/
In 2019, we corrected a WhatsApp message urging public obedience to a military order in Nigeria - https://dubawa.org/yes-you-will-need-a-valid-id-when-travelling-though-some-n-e-states-not-the-whole-country/. We changed the title of the fact-check to show this change and explained more in a paragraph. As it was an evolving story, we promised to keep our audience updated if new information arises.
Raymond Joseph Assessor
28-Feb-2021 (3 years ago) Updated: 3 years ago
In its application, Dubawa says that it "rarely" has to make corrections to its publications. But, they say, they sometimes have to deal with "angry publishers", especially under Facebook’s Third-Party Fact-checking Program. These requests are for changes to a fact-check or requesting a rating change after making corrections to their publication. They have developed a policy to deal with this: See: https://dubawa.org/publishers-correction-policy/
In July 2020 they updated a Covid-19 fact-check after receiving additional contextual information. The reason for the update and when it was done, was clearly spelled out at the top of the fact-check. They also posted a link to the updated fact-check on all their social media channels.
See updated fact-check here: https://ghana.dubawa.org/how-true-is-the-claim-that-covid-19-patients-do-not-truly-recover/
done_all 6.3 marked as Compliant by Raymond Joseph.
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.
Premium Times Center for Investigative Journalism
15-Dec-2020 (3 years ago) Updated: 3 years ago
Here is the link that shows where users that believe Dubawa is violating the IFCN Code can inform the IFCN of violations.
Raymond Joseph Assessor
28-Feb-2021 (3 years ago) Updated: 3 years ago
A link to the IFCN complaints page (https://bit.ly/2S4TNok) is clearly hyperlinked on the page where Dubawa explains its corrections policy https://dubawa.org/corrections-policy/
done_all 6.4 marked as Compliant by Raymond Joseph.
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.
Raymond Joseph Assessor
28-Feb-2021 (3 years ago) Updated: 3 years ago
Besides having its own corrections policy (https://dubawa.org/corrections-policy/), Dubawa's parent organisation, Premium Times Centre for Investigative Journalism, has a similar policy: https://bit.ly/3qxz4rT