PressOne.PH is a legally registered corporation in the Philippines, with business address at 1111 F.R. Hidalgo St., Quiapo, Manila. The name of the corporation is PressOnePH News and Information Service Inc. The official date of incorporation is Sept. 5, 2022 based on the Certificate of Incorporation issued by the Securities and Exchange Commission. The objectives of the corporation are to “engage in the research, writing, production, publication, and distribution of news, information, commentary, and other media products and related services in multiple formats, including, but not limited to, print, broadcast, and online, to advance excellence in journalism and inform the public; and provide a venue for the training of journalists, students, and educators in the practice of outstanding journalism.” Prior to incorporation, PressOne.PH operated as a news service under Areopagus Communications Inc., a communications and media production company, legally registered under the SEC.

The details of PressOne.PH’s corporate registration, as well as Ownership and Funding Information, may be found in the link below.

https://pressone.ph/ownership-and-funding-information/

The applicant is a legally registered organization under the name 'PressOnePH News and Information Services Incorporated.' It was issued a certificate of incorporation by the Securities and Exchange Commission on Sept. 5, 2022 although it has been operating as a news service of Areopagus, a legally registered advertising company. The applicant's website contains an 'About' button which provides a verifiable and easy accessible information about the organization and a clickable link to information about its owners and funding.

1. Our fact-checking team started in September 2021 with the formation of the core members, Mr. Felipe F. Salvosa II, Mr. Romero F. Lopez, and Mr. Niceforo Balbedina. In October 2021, PressOne.PH was selected for the Philippine Fact-Checking Incubator program of Internews, and in response to widespread disinformation in the Philippines ahead of the 2022 general elections. PressOne.PH wanted to help the country’s small but growing community of fact-checkers given the huge volume of disinformation and historical distortions spreading on social media.

2. The PressOne.PH fact-checking team is composed of seven (7) people with the following roles:

a. Editor (1). The Editor approves story pitches and gives the go-signal to writers/researchers to do fact-check pieces. The Editor verifies that all fact-checks comply with PressOne.PH’s fact-checking criteria and that arguments are supported by evidence and linked to reliable online sources. The Editor generates consensus around fact-check ratings for each piece, and corrects for grammar and style. All fact-checks must be cleared by the editor prior to publication. In case of fact-checks written by the editor, editing is assigned to another member of the staff.

b. Writers/Researchers (2). Two staff members functioning as writers and researchers pitch fact-check story ideas and seeks the go-signal of the editor, after which they conduct research. The Writer and Researcher also proposes a rating and discusses it with the Editor.

c. Translators (2). Translators translate fact-checks, usually written in English, into regional languages, namely, Filipino, Cebuano, Ilonggo, Binisaya (Waray), and Ilocano. There are two (2) dedicated translators for Cebuano (1) and Binisaya (1). Filipino translations are done by the editor and writers who are native speakers. Other regional languages are covered by contributors.

d. Multimedia/Social Media Team. Two staff members under the Multimedia/Social Media Team repurpose fact-check stories for social media platforms such as Facebook, Twitter, TikTok, and YouTube.

3. PressOne.PH is a news website that covers Philippine news events and carries commentary under a separate opinion section. Starting October 2021, PressOne.PH began carrying fact-check stories under a microsite within the main website. PressOne.PH also produces a commentary podcast uploaded to its YouTube channel as well as Spotify, Apple Podcasts, and Google Podcasts. PressOne.PH conducts fact-checking training for its staff and interns at least on an annual basis.

4. PressOne.PH’s priority is to improve the quality of its journalistic content and expand its news coverage, and at the same time find ways to make its operations financially viable and sustainable. As a fact-checker, PressOne.PH aims to expand the coverage of its topics to include claims related to business and the economy as well as faith and religion, apart from political fact-checking and Covid-19. PressOne.PH also aims to publish fact-checks more regularly, i.e., more than once a week. To do this, at least one writer/researcher will have to be onboarded over the course of the next year.

PressOnePH engages in fact checking and the details can accessed in the microsite, 'Fact Checked By Press One.' found within the website. The fact checking started in September 2021 when PressOne.PH joined the mentoring program for fact-checking established by a funding agency. The program aims to create a pool of fact-checking groups to fact-check the Philippines' 2022 elections using the IFCN standards and to train eventual IFCN signatories. The fact-checking microsite was created in October 2021.

The applicant publishes the names of its editors, staff and translators involved in fact-checking and indicated their roles. The fact-checking work benefits from a network of translators, contributors, interns, presumably student interns because two of the editors and two dedicated translators are teaching in universities and a trade school. The translators expand the reach of the fact-checks that were originally written in English to reach at least five major ethnolinguistic groups in the Philippines.

Our analysis of our fact-check output over the past 12 months showed that the PressOne.PH fact-checking team produced on average more than two fact-checks a week (average: 2.5). The lowest level of output was in June 2022, when only one fact-check was published as the team took a fact-checking break given the high production of fact-checks in the previous and succeeding months. The highest level of output was in May 2022, when the Philippines held general elections; the weekly average reached 5.75 stories a week that month. With the exception of June 2022, the overall weekly average shows that for the weeks when there were no fact-checks, output was compensated by the number of fact-checks published in each month as a whole.

The applicant's average output for a year, from October 2021 to September 2022 ranges from a low of 1 per week (November 2021) to a high of 5.2 per week (May 2022), excluding the .25 average (only one fact check for the whole month) in June 2022 when the editorial team took a break after months of covering the elections. Put together the average output is more than two fact checks a week, which met the IFCN requirement of publishing one fact-check week over the course of six months prior to the date of application. The break is justifiable but the applicant has also admitted that it wants to " publish fact-checks more regularly, i.e., more than once a week. To do this, at least one writer/researcher will have to be onboarded over the course of the next year."

In a submitted  spread sheet of fact checks, there are 118 fact-checked listed, or having an average of 2.5 fact-checks in one year. In the last six months prior to the date of application there is a total of 75 fact checks produced by the applicant. A random sampling of the monthly list showed a variety of fact-checked topics and claim. The number of fact-checks produced exceeded the minimum of 26 fact checks in six months prior to application that is required by IFCN.

PressOne.PH’s fact-checks have covered the following topics: Politics, the 2022 elections, historical distortions, health/Covid-19 pandemic, and internet hoaxes. Nearly all, if not all, of our fact checks concerned public welfare.

Majority of the claims fact-checked by the applicant are on politics. This is expected because the fact-checking project started months before the May 2022 election and disinformation related to politics persisted after the election. The topics of the fact checks were the kind that could affect voters' choices and have impact on public welfare and safety of those targeted by disinformation. This observation came after a review of 20 fact checks chosen at random.

PressOne.PH does not have any commercial, financial and/or institutional relationship with any state entity, whether Filipino or foreign, national or local. PressOne.PH does not receive and has not received any funding from any political actor or political party.

See our Ownership and Funding Information here: https://pressone.ph/ownership-and-funding-information/  

The applicant asserted its independence by declaring its sources of funds which are: online advertising, monetization of social media content, grants, and subsidies from the parent company, the Areopagus Communications. Accordingly, the parent company and  the PressOne.PH board of directors, which include the Catholic Bishops Conference of the Philippines' media director (Pedro C. Quitorio III) do not exercise editorial control over the news organization and its fact-checking arm that were solely supervised by the editors.

As stated in 1.5, PressOne.PH does not receive funding from local or foreign state or political sources. See our Ownership and Funding Information here: https://pressone.ph/ownership-and-funding-information/  

The applicant has declared that it does not receive funding from the government, foreign state, or political sources. Thus the applicant is independent from state and foreign sources and political groups and individuals and also avoid conflict of interest.

PressOne.PH demonstrates non-partisanship by subjecting political actors and parties, regardless of affiliation and ideology, to the same fact-checking processes. For instance, in the 2022 elections, rival candidates, such as Ferdinand Marcos Jr. and Maria Leonor Robredo, and their supporters, were the subject of fact-check pieces. Candidates for other positions were fact-checked. The following links provide evidence of non-partisanship.

1. Oct. 15, 2021

FACT CHECK: Tokyo Skytree was not lighted pink for Leni Robredo

https://pressone.ph/factcheck-tokyo-skytree-was-not-lighted-pink-for-leni-robredo/

2. Nov 5, 2021

FACT CHECK: Pacquiao, de Lima not convicted in any case

https://pressone.ph/fact-check-pacquiao-de-lima-not-convicted-in-any-case/

3. Jan. 8, 2022

FACT CHECK: Gonzaga sisters quit movies after film’s dismal showing

https://pressone.ph/fact-check-gonzaga-sisters-quit-movies-after-films-dismal-showing/

4. Feb 9, 2022

Fact check: Robredo says all programs brought to the local level need ‘free prior and informed consent’

https://pressone.ph/fact-check-robredo-says-all-programs-brought-to-the-local-level-need-free-prior-and-informed-consent/

5. April 4, 2022

Fact Check: Marcos son falsely quoted as saying dad was an ‘addict,’ had ‘no plans yet about his platforms’

https://pressone.ph/fact-check-marcos-son-falsely-quoted-as-saying-dad-was-an-addict-had-no-plans-yet-about-his-platforms/

6. May 3, 2022

Marcos lead over Robredo in Pulse Asia poll is more than double, not 33%

https://pressone.ph/marcos-lead-over-robredo-in-pulse-asia-poll-is-more-than-double-not-33/

7. May 6, 2022

FACT-CHECK: Knights of Columbus in the Philippines did not endorse Leni-Kiko

https://pressone.ph/fact-check-knights-of-columbus-in-the-philippines-did-not-endorse-leni-kiko/

8. May 7, 2022

FACT CHECK: Circulating messages falsely claim that votes for Robredo will be invalidated by voting for a party-list group

https://pressone.ph/fact-check-circulating-messages-falsely-claim-that-votes-for-robredo-will-be-invalidated-by-voting-for-a-party-list-group/

9. May. 8, 2022

FACT-CHECK: ‘Independent Catholic’ bishops who endorsed BBM-Sara tandem are not Catholic bishops

https://pressone.ph/fact-check-independent-catholic-bishops-who-endorsed-bbm-sara-tandem-are-not-catholic-bishops/

10. Jul. 27, 2022

Fact Check: Vlog’s cover image wrongly implies that Queen Elizabeth II, the late Lee Kuan Yew, support Marcos Jr.

https://pressone.ph/vlogs-cover-image-wrongly-implies-that-queen-elizabeth-ii-the-late-lee-kuan-yew-support-marcos-jr/

The 10 fact-checks listed by the applicant have claims that covered a range of topics in the May 2022 elections. The selected fact checks provided substantial evidence to debunk  claims by relying on documents available and by cross-checking the information with published stories and social media posts. The selected fact-checks primarily focused on the election front runners-- the administration-backed, or the Marcos-Duterte tandem, and the opposition tandem of Robredo and Pangilinan.

The PressOne.PH website contains a page detailing its Fact-Checking Policy (https://pressone.ph/fact-checking-policy/), and within this page is a section explaining how claims are selected for fact-checking. It states that, “As a general rule, only verifiable claims or statements of fact (or presented as facts) are selected for fact-checking. Opinions cannot be subjected to fact-checks, but their underlying assumptions may be examined by our fact-checkers.”

Fact-check criteria include the importance or gravity of the claim, who is making the claim (a public official or business executive, for example), and how widely it has been circulated, as indicated by social media engagement.

Content with a lower level of engagement but may have the potential to reach a bigger audience or become viral may also be fact-checked.

The applicant's "Fact Checking Policy" found in its website includes a statement on how it selects claims to check. Accordingly, it weighs the importance of the claim and assess its spread, the source of the claim, and whether it concerns public interest. However, only verifiable claims or statements asserted as facts were subject to verification while opinions were excluded.

In the past year that PressOne.PH has conducted fact-checks, there was no significant situation that necessitated the disclosure of relevant interests of sources for stories, or commercial or other relationships, to the best of the staff’s judgement. PressOne.PH will do so when the need arises.

Here are the 10 fact checks randomly chosen to determine if the applicant use primary sources available, and if secondary sources are used, an explanation is given.

1. https://pressone.ph/fact-check-umatras-ba-si-kabayan-sa-pagtakbo-sa-senado-dahil-nagpahayag-ng-kandidatura-si-robredo/

2. https://pressone.ph/fact-check-sale-of-government-power-assets-built-during-the-marcos-regime/ 

3. https://pressone.ph/fact-check-diosdado-macapagal-not-ferdinand-marcos-was-the-first-president-to-plan-a-national-highway-system-for-the-philippines/

4. https://pressone.ph/fact-check-ex-broadcaster-jay-sonza-falsely-claims-donated-water-filters-contained-lead/ 

5. https://pressone.ph/fact-check-ormoc-city-mayor-richard-gomez-falsely-credits-nutribun-project-to-late-dictator-marcos/ 

6. https://pressone.ph/fact-check-uniteam-sta-rosa-rally-attendance-estimate-bloated/ 

7. https://pressone.ph/fact-check-marcos-supporter-falsely-claims-robredo-stole-yolanda-funds-left-relief-goods-to-rot/ 

8. https://pressone.ph/fact-check-apl-de-ap-did-not-endorse-marcos-jr-nor-perform-in-uniteam-rallies/

9. https://pressone.ph/fact-check-vp-leni-used-low-quality-materials-is-false/

10. https://pressone.ph/fact-check-youtube-video-falsely-claims-catholic-sister-cannot-accept-lenis-loss/  

The ten randomly selected fact checks by the assessor showed a fair amount of diligence in selecting the sources used to verify claims. In many of the fact checks, the sources were a combination of primary (e.g. social media posts) and secondary (journal article, reports/studies, and the applicant's previously published fact-checks. The use of journal articles, studies and legislative records is unique to PressOne.PH as this practice is not typical of two established fact-checkers in the Philippines.

While there are no issues in sources, there appears a slack in the selection of some incredulous claims that came from a highly partisan sources, such as Mejorada and Magno, whose questionable affiliations weren't included as part of the context. In other words,  the diligence when giving evidence should also extend to selection of sources of claims.

PressOne.PH’s Ethics Policy (https://pressone.ph/ethics-policy/) admonishes editorial team members against potential and actual conflicts of interest. Editorial staff members must forego assignments that present situations of conflict of interest and if not possible, disclose these conflicts in any story to be published. PressOne.PH does not support and has not supported any party, any politician or political candidate. It does not advocate and has not advocated for or against any policy position, except those that concern journalism, freedom of speech and expression, and freedom of the press.

The following fact checks are randomly chose to determine if they contain information that might lead readers to think that the sources could influence the accuracy of evidence.

1. https://pressone.ph/fact-check-former-vp-robredo-did-not-lie-about-being-first-on-quake-ground-zero/

2. https://pressone.ph/fact-check-enrile-claims-cory-aquino-was-the-real-dictator/ 

3. https://pressone.ph/fact-check-veteran-journalist-said-marcos-couldnt-visit-the-united-states/ 

4. https://pressone.ph/fact-check-gawa-gawang-kwento-na-si-marcos-at-isang-pari-ang-pinakamayayamang-tao-noong-1949/ 

5. https://pressone.ph/fact-check-the-un-did-not-declare-dictator-ferdinand-marcos-the-best-president-in-the-1970s/ 

6. https://pressone.ph/fact-check-based-on-net-assets-davao-city-is-not-the-richest-city-in-mindanao/ 

7. https://pressone.ph/fact-check-covid-19-vaccines-do-not-cause-deaths-among-the-vaccinated/

8. https://pressone.ph/fact-check-marcos-says-people-with-a-track-record-in-stealing-shouldnt-work-for-govt/ 

9. https://pressone.ph/fact-check-the-philippines-used-to-have-a-local-tv-and-radio-brand-until-the-martial-law-of-marcos-destroyed-it/ 

10. https://pressone.ph/fact-check-garcias-estimate-of-cebu-uniteam-rally-overblown/ 

The above fact checks showed evidence of research to provide context and factual information to the fact checks. The thoughtful appraisal of information would leave no room for readers to doubt the credibility of the sources and the accuracy of evidence in those fact checks.

PressOne.PH’s Ethics Policy (https://pressone.ph/ethics-policy/) states that conflicts of interest, which are deemed a disservice to the public as these may cloud editorial judgment, may include outside engagements or employment as well as memberships in organizations, including and especially political organizations. Violations of the Ethics Policy may be reported to editor@pressone.ph. This email address is also found on the Ethics Policy page.

The applicant has set out clear ethical guidelines for the editorial staff of PressONe.PH. It spells out what constitutes conflict of interest and the ways to avoid it. It also provides a email address where the public could report ethical problems concerning the news organization's staff.

PressOne.PH strives to be transparent in its sourcing and requires its fact-checkers to provide hyperlinks to sources used within the text of their fact-check pieces. Direct quotes to these sources are provided, where necessary or appropriate.

The following fact checks were examined for adherence to standards and transparency in sourcing. In all the fact checks, the sources were identified and, if found online, many appeared with hyperlinks. Given the latter, it is easy for readers to double check the sources of information. Sources work in fact checks below worked two ways -- for attribution and independent verification of the readers.

1. https://pressone.ph/false-bill-gates-offered-a-journalist-a-blank-check-during-an-interview/

2. https://pressone.ph/fact-check-blue-ribbon-committee-hearings-led-to-court-cases-and-convictions-of-investigated-personalities/ 

3. https://pressone.ph/fact-check-there-is-no-new-design-for-the-p500-bill-yet/

4.  https://pressone.ph/fact-check-gonzaga-sisters-quit-movies-after-films-dismal-showing/ 

5. https://pressone.ph/fact-check-joma-sison-is-not-kiko-pangilinans-master/

As a policy (https://pressone.ph/fact-checking-policy/), fact-checkers must use primary, not secondary evidence. Examples are original sources of documents, transcripts, audio, or videos.

The fact checks below used both primary and secondary sources to build up an argument to debunk the claim. Primary sources include public documents and attributed public statementswhile secondary sources are interpreted information or texts like news stories and published interviews for historical claims. The fact checks identify clearly the sources.

1. https://pressone.ph/fact-check-three-marcoses-hold-public-office/ 

2. https://pressone.ph/fact-check-facebook-page-falsely-claims-cory-aquino-cheated-massively-in-1986-snap/

3. https://pressone.ph/vlogs-cover-image-wrongly-implies-that-queen-elizabeth-ii-the-late-lee-kuan-yew-support-marcos-jr/ 

4. https://pressone.ph/fact-check-duterte-did-not-endorse-leni-robredo-for-president/

5. https://pressone.ph/fact-check-2016-vice-presidency-was-not-stolen-from-marcos/

Fact-check ratings in general must be supported by more than one, reliable primary source, whether documentary or audio/video source. The use of reporting by news organizations as a source to support a fact-check rating is discouraged. For example, in fact-checking then President Rodrigo Duterte’s claim that no money stolen by the Marcoses was found (https://pressone.ph/fact-check-duterte-repeats-debunked-claim-that-no-stolen-marcos-money-found/), links to two (2) Supreme Court decisions were included in the story to support the rating of “false.”

The fact-checks below has multiple sources, except for the fourth one, on the former election commissioner Rowena Guanzon, who was alleged to have been disowned by Harvard, her alma mater. While single-sourced, the fact check however used the official website of the Commission on Election.

1. https://pressone.ph/fact-check-former-partylist-congressman-harry-roque-is-not-the-only-author-of-ra-11037/

2. https://pressone.ph/fact-check-old-post-claiming-jesse-robredo-was-dead-before-his-plane-crashed-in-2012-resurfaces/

3. https://pressone.ph/fact-check-kris-aquino-did-not-wear-stolen-necklace-from-imelda-marcos/

4. https://pressone.ph/harvard-did-not-disown-alumna-rowena-guanzon/

5. https://pressone.ph/fact-check-no-ban-on-crowds-in-cebu-until-june-2022/ 

Since PressOne.PH began conducting fact-checks, there has been no significant situation that required the disclosure of relevant interests of sources used for fact-check stories, or commercial or other relationships, to the best of the staff’s judgement. PressOne.PH will disclose such interests when the need arises.

The randomly selected fact checks showed no instances where disclosure of interests is needed nor there is a need to identify the relevant interest of sources. The sources included in the fact checks are public documents, statements, and established record (e.g. legislative bill) that could stand as authoritative sources.

1. https://pressone.ph/false-duterte-claims-gordon-barred-from-holding-red-cross-post/

2. https://pressone.ph/fact-check-ex-lawmaker-mistaken-for-mar-roxas-in-photo-with-bongbong-marcos/

3. https://pressone.ph/fact-check-no-such-thing-as-vaccination-exemption-cards/ 

4. https://pressone.ph/fact-check-ferdinand-marcos-sr-is-not-the-youngest-politician-ever-elected-to-any-public-office-in-the-philippines/

5. https://pressone.ph/fact-check-former-partylist-congressman-harry-roque-is-not-the-only-author-of-ra-11037/  

PressOne.PH’s fact-checking operations were financed mainly by its parent company, Areopagus Communications Inc., a legally registered communications and media production company whose board of directors and shareholders are composed of private individuals.

PressOne.PH has no audited accounts yet as it is a newly incorporated entity. Its parent, Areopagus Communications Inc., has audited accounts (attached here) filed with the Securities and Exchange Commission of the Philippines. Areopagus Communications recorded net losses in the last two available fiscal years (2020 and 2019).

PressOne.PH also received fact-checking grants from Meedan Inc., a global technology nonprofit ($9,000.00) and Internews Network, an international media support nonprofit ($7,704.00) that helped set up its fact-checking operations.

The applicant has no audited financial statement to show because it was only registered with the Securities and Exchange Commission (SEC)  in September 2022. It attached the financial statement of its parent company, Areopagus Communications, which is a SEC registered advertising company with an office at a religious center and convent in Quiapo, Metro Manila. The applicant also disclosed the modest fact checking grants it received from Meedan ($9,000),  for its fact-checking project during the May 2022, and from Internews ($7,704,000) for honing its fact-checking skills.

PressOne.PH is owned and operated by PressOnePH News and Information Service Inc., registered with the Securities and Exchange Commission (SEC) of the Republic of the Philippines (Company Registration No. 2022090066744-63) on 5 September 2022, with editorial and business offices at 1111 F.R. Hidalgo Street in Quiapo, Manila. Ownership of PressOne.PH is discussed on the Ownership and Funding Information page: https://pressone.ph/ownership-and-funding-information/. 

A majority of PressOnePH News and Information Service Inc. is owned by Areopagus Communications Inc., a communications and media production company whose board of directors and shareholders are private individuals. The minority shareholdings in PressOnePH News and Information Service Inc. are owned by employees.

The applicant is a newly registered independent media organization which engages in fact-checking. Its website provides a link to its founding directors and sources of its funds https://pressone.ph/ownership-and-funding-information/. Employees of PressOnePH are minority shareholders of the corporation.

The PressOne.PH website contains a page discussing Ownership and Funding Information https://pressone.ph/ownership-and-funding-information/. It states that editorial policy and content are determined by the editors of PressOne.PH. The page also contains a list of the members of the company’s board of directors. The members of the board are private individuals, namely, Pedro C. Quitorio III, Marcelita L. Dominguez, Cicero Roy Lagarde, Romero F. Lopez, and Felipe F. Salvosa II.

The following is the ownership structure of PressOne.PH News and Information Service Inc.:

Areopagus Communications Inc. - 51%

Pedro C. Quitorio III - 10%

Cicero Lagarde - 10%

Marcelita L. Dominguez - 9%

Romero F. Lopez - 10%

Felipe F. Salvosa II - 10%

Total - 100%

Staff members occupying editorial roles are the following:

Felipe F. Salvosa II - Editor

Romero F. Lopez - Writer/Researcher

Niceforo Vince Balbedina III - Multimedia/Social Media

Anne Beatrice Lagman - Multimedia/Social Media

John Ezekiel J. Hirro - Writer/Researcher

Ryan Christopher J. Sorote - Translator

Rey Sandy Abayan - Translator

The applicant's website has buttons that provide information about the news organization and which has links to its editorial policy that includes ethics, fact-checking and corrections. The page has also a button linked to ownership and funding information with the names of the founding directors. Another microsite is on the editorial team where the names  and photographs of the editors and staff are found. All these information supply information on the ownership and organization structure of the PressOne.PH.

Professional biographies of the PressOne.PH Editorial Team (https://pressone.ph/the-editorial-team/) may be found on a dedicated page on the website. Members of the editorial team directly involved in fact-checks, including their brief biographies, are enumerated at the bottom of PressOne.PH’s Fact-Checking Policy (https://pressone.ph/fact-checking-policy/). 

The microsite of the Editorial Team has the names and brief bio of the editors, social media staff and correspondents, where their roles, in relation to fact-checking and overall operations, were included. The editors include academics who are also veteran journalists. Its fact checking policy micro-site contains the names of editors, writers, social media manager and translators, some of them affiliated with academic institutions.

PressOne.PH provides multiple points of contact for the public to be able to communicate with the editorial team. The PressOne.PH public email address is news@pressone.ph, and a link to it can be found in the upper left portion of the homepage. In the upper right portion, a link to the public comment box is also provided (https://pressone.ph/contact/). The public may also contact PressOne.PH through its official Facebook messenger account found on its Facebook page (https://www.facebook.com/pressoneph).

The applicant's websites has several email addresses which  readers can use to contact the editors and fact-checkers. PressOne.PH's  Facebook account also receives feedback and communication with the audience/social media users.

The methodology for fact-checks forms a section within PressOne.PH’s Fact-Checking Policy (https://pressone.ph/fact-checking-policy/). The methodology section outlines the fact-check process from story-pitching to research and writing, and the assignment of ratings. In summary, writers/researchers pitch stories or the editor may assign fact-checks to writers/researchers, utilizing tips or individual monitoring or scans of social media. The writer/researcher conducts the research and writes the story, as well as proposes the rating. The editor facilitates discussions around the rating and builds consensus around it. All fact-checks must be edited and cleared by the editor prior to posting. Fact-checks are clearly labeled as such to distinguish them from regular news reporting.

The applicant provides readers with a detailed fact-checking methodology, starting with how the claims are chosen, the steps how verification or fact-checking is done, the research, and up to the editorial decision whether to release the fact-check. The methodology also includes the five ratings given to a fact-checked claim: False, Altered, Missing Context, Satire, and True.

The selection of which claims to fact-check generally relies on objective criteria – primarily the importance or gravity of the claim, who is making the claim (a public official or business executive, for example), and how widely it has been circulated, as indicated by social media engagement. While the level of engagement on social media (likes, shares, comments) is an important criterion, content that may have the potential to reach a bigger audience or become viral may also be fact-checked.

The following fact checks will be examined on how the applicant selects claims to check explains the reason for choosing the claim to check. 

1. https://pressone.ph/fact-check-based-on-net-assets-davao-city-is-not-the-richest-city-in-mindanao/ 

2. https://pressone.ph/fact-check-covid-19-vaccines-do-not-cause-deaths-among-the-vaccinated/ 

3. https://pressone.ph/fact-check-marcos-says-people-with-a-track-record-in-stealing-shouldnt-work-for-govt/ 

4. https://pressone.ph/fact-check-the-philippines-used-to-have-a-local-tv-and-radio-brand-until-the-martial-law-of-marcos-destroyed-it/

5. https://pressone.ph/fact-check-garcias-estimate-of-cebu-uniteam-rally-overblown/ 

Some of the above claims were chosen on the basis of their reach or the potential to reach a number of people. Since the context of the fact-checking is the May 2022 election, is presumed that those fact-checked claims are relevant. However, the methodology could be improved if fact-checkers explicitly state the reason why they chose a claim over other claims, by mentioning the risk, harm, the source, and likely beneficiary of the false claim. Giving the possible explanation for choosing the claim to be fact-check would educate the audience and highlight the purpose and  importance of fact-checking as an intervention to end disinformation. A model for this is Rappler's approach that explains why it fact-checks a particular claim.

Fact-checkers are required to cite evidence to support the rating assigned to each claim. Based on the PressOne.PH Fact-Checking Policy (https://pressone.ph/fact-checking-policy/), sources must primarily be first-hand. Original sources of documents, transcripts, audio, or videos must be used.

The fact checks chosen here will be assessed if they contain relevant evidence that appears to support the claim as well as relevant evidence that appears to undermine it.

1. https://pressone.ph/false-bill-gates-offered-a-journalist-a-blank-check-during-an-interview/

2. https://pressone.ph/fact-check-blue-ribbon-committee-hearings-led-to-court-cases-and-convictions-of-investigated-personalities/ 

3. https://pressone.ph/fact-check-there-is-no-new-design-for-the-p500-bill-yet/ 

4. https://pressone.ph/fact-check-joma-sison-is-not-kiko-pangilinans-master/

5. https://pressone.ph/fact-check-former-partylist-congressman-harry-roque-is-not-the-only-author-of-ra-11037/

The narrative approach of the applicant in presenting the fact-checks does not support a counterfactual presentation. The usual presentation of PressOne.PH is more like a discussion of a series  arguments and the pieces of evidence that support them. 

Based on PressOne.PH’s Fact-Checking Policy (https://pressone.ph/fact-checking-policy/), the same standards for fact-checks are applied to equivalent claims, whoever made the claim. This is shown by fact-checks made on claims made by political figures or supporters from opposing sides of the fence.

The selected fact checks here will be assessed on how the applicant evaluates the merits of evidence using the same high standards applied to evidence on equivalent claims, regardless of who made the claim.

1. https://pressone.ph/false-duterte-claims-gordon-barred-from-holding-red-cross-post/

2. https://pressone.ph/fact-check-no-such-thing-as-vaccination-exemption-cards/

3. https://pressone.ph/fact-check-ferdinand-marcos-sr-is-not-the-youngest-politician-ever-elected-to-any-public-office-in-the-philippines/

4. https://pressone.ph/fact-check-old-post-claiming-jesse-robredo-was-dead-before-his-plane-crashed-in-2012-resurfaces/ 

5. https://pressone.ph/fact-check-robredo-says-all-programs-brought-to-the-local-level-need-free-prior-and-informed-consent/ 

The applicant's fact checking policy declares that it strives to be fair and non-partisan. It  fact checks various political groups -- opposition and pro-administration candidates alike- in the last election. When writing the fact-checks, the applicant generally uses neutral  and news-like language.

PressOne.PH’s Fact-Checking Policy (https://pressone.ph/fact-checking-policy/), as outlined on its website, states that sources of claims may be contacted by fact-checkers if necessary, and allowed to provide evidence to support claims within a reasonable period. However, the absence of a timely reply or any qualification to the original claim will not impede the publication of fact-check pieces.

Claims of these selected fact checks were verified using primary and secondary fact checks.  The applicant states that it is open to contacting sources of claims of necessary although it added that if a timely reply or qualification is not available, the fact checks will be published. This is acceptable. However, in some of the fact-checks below, evidence could be enhanced by contacting either the source of the claim or the target of a false claim.  Examples of these fact checks are  on Vice President Robredo, journalist Marites Vitug, and former election commissioner Rowena Guanzon. Fact checking is not like breaking news so there's time to assess claims, conduct research, and interview sources and subject of the claims.

1. https://pressone.ph/fact-check-veteran-journalist-said-marcos-couldnt-visit-the-united-states/

2. https://pressone.ph/fact-check-robredo-says-all-programs-brought-to-the-local-level-need-free-prior-and-informed-consent/

3. https://pressone.ph/fact-check-independent-catholic-bishops-who-endorsed-bbm-sara-tandem-are-not-catholic-bishops/

4. https://pressone.ph/harvard-did-not-disown-alumna-rowena-guanzon/ 

5. https://pressone.ph/fact-check-political-analyst-falsely-claims-vp-robredo-not-a-victim-of-disinformation/ 

The public may send requests for fact-checks to a dedicated email address for the purpose, factcheck@pressone.ph. This email address is found on the page discussing the Fact-Checking Policy (https://pressone.ph/fact-checking-policy/) and at the bottom (footer) of each fact-check story. Alternatively, there is a space at the bottom of each page for the submission of comments.

The Fact-Checking Policy (https://pressone.ph/fact-checking-policy/) explains that as a general rule, only verifiable claims or statements of fact (or presented as facts) are selected for fact-checking; opinions cannot be subjected to fact-checks, but their underlying assumptions may be examined by fact-checkers. The selection of which claims to fact-check generally relies on objective criteria – primarily the importance or gravity of the claim, who is making the claim (a public official or business executive, for example), and how widely it has been circulated, as indicated by social media engagement. While the level of engagement on social media (likes, shares, comments) is an important criterion, content that may have the potential to reach a bigger audience or become viral may also be fact-checked.

In its fact checking policy explainer, the applicant encourages the public to contribute claims to be fact checked. It also states what could be fact-checked and what isn’t fact-checkable. Among the considerations for the choice of claims is when the questionable claim is widely spread and when it came from a public official or public figure who can be help accountable for this statements.

PressOne.PH’s Corrections Policy may be accessed by the public through its About (https://pressone.ph/about/) page. It may also be accessed through the footer of every page on the site. The link to the Corrections Policy may be found here: https://pressone.ph/corrections-policy/. The editor’s email address, where requests for correction may be sent (editor@pressone.ph), is also found on this page.

PressOne.PH has a well-explained corrections policy that covers its editorial and fact checking work -- https://pressone.ph/corrections-policy/. An email address to receive  requests for corrections is included in the page which is visible and accessible to readers.

PressOne.PH’s corrections policy states that corrections will be made for errors that turn out to be substantive. This may include revised conclusions to fact-check pieces. Editors will investigate and determine if requests sent to them merit corrections. These decisions will be communicated to the requesters.

The applicant's corrections policy states that it accommodates substantive errors that may entail, among others, revising the conclusion or parts of the fact checks. The editors will evaluate the request for corrections and inform the person who made request of the editorial decision. Revisions will be accompanied by an explanatory note.

Since fact-check operations began, only one complaint or correction request was received. This was from the Office of the Mayor of the City of Ormoc in Leyte Province, received by email on Feb. 8 2022. The request concerned a Feb. 1, 2022 fact-check (https://pressone.ph/fact-check-ormoc-city-mayor-richard-gomez-falsely-claims-that-bongbong-marcos-is-the-only-presidential-candidate-who-helped-ormoc-city-during-calamities/) in which the claim of the mayor, Richard Gomez, that only presidential candidate Ferdinand Marcos Jr. helped his city during disasters and difficult times was rated false. Receipt was acknowledged on Feb. 9, 2022 and PressOne.PH’s response was sent on Feb. 10, 2022. Gomez’s letter (https://pressone.ph/richard-gomez-writes-to-pressone-ph-on-fact-check-story/) as well as PressOne.PH’s response (https://pressone.ph/pressone-ph-responds-to-richard-gomezs-letter-on-fact-check-story/) were posted on the PressOne.PH website, on separate pages, for transparency. The complaint was deemed without merit, and additional evidence supporting the rating was provided in the response to Mayor Gomez.

The fact check of a claim made by a mayor during election has tested the fairness and adherence to accuracy of PressOne.PH. The mayor sent a letter requesting corrections but the applicant said that it stood by its fact check, and then then supplied the bases. The exchange of letters is now part of the fact check log where readers can appraise the adherence of PressOne.PH to high standards of fact checking and the implementation of  its corrections policy.

PressOne.PH is not a verified signatory but undertakes to provide a mechanism for readers or users to inform the IFCN of violations to the IFCN Code.

Not Applicable

Anyone who wants to request a correction may do so by sending a request to editor@pressone.ph. As a policy, substantial errors will be corrected, whether on the website or on any of our social media accounts. Corrections will be accompanied by a note from the editor explaining the correction. The full Corrections Policy is contained in this link: https://pressone.ph/corrections-policy/. The editor’s email address is also found on this page.

PressOne.PH is a news organization that engages in fact checking. It has an open corrections policy that is clearly explained and accessible to the public.