South Asia Check is an initiative of Stichting PANOS South Asia which has its seat in the Hague.

South Asia Check is a non-profit media development organization active in South Asia. It is an initiative of the PANOS Foundation, South Asia. Panos has its headquarters in The Hague. See attached PDF (in Dutch) for the Panos Foundation’s registration. (I have a basic knowledge of Dutch and used Google translate to confirm my translation of the document’s content).

southasiacheck.org/category/fact-check/

Latest fact checks appear on the home page (http://southasiacheck.org/). There is also a “Fact Check” tab on the top of the home page that links (http://southasiacheck.org/category/fact-check/) to a dedicated fact check page. Earlier fact-checks are archived and easy to navigate by clicking on numbered tabs at the end of latest featured fact-checks

We always establish the primary source of the statement or claims, for example, audio/vidoe clip or byte or official statement or press release. While we don't have ratings for the fact checks we make sure that we give a verdict of true, false or in some cases partially true or false. We make sure that all our fact checks are based on facts and not heresy or popularly held belief.

http://southasiacheck.org/fact-check/icg-brussels-bloats-madhesi-numbers/

http://southasiacheck.org/fact-check/ciaa-chief-karki-credited-for-things-he-didnt-do/

http://southasiacheck.org/fact-check/constitution-hasnt-ensured-33-percent-representation-of-women-in-all-state-organs/

http://southasiacheck.org/fact-check/pm-dahal-wrong-in-saying-nepal-has-been-supporting-indias-bid-for-permanent-unsc-seat-since-2004/

http://southasiacheck.org/fact-check/kp-oli-gets-fact-wrong-while-attacking-dahal-modi-joint-statement/

http://southasiacheck.org/fact-check/deuba-didnt-meet-the-dalai-lama-in-goa/

http://southasiacheck.org/fact-check/shekhar-koirala-was-not-alone-opposing-lokman-appointment/

http://southasiacheck.org/fact-check/uml-chief-oli-wrongly-claims-current-parliament-is-only-authorized-to-make-election-related-laws/

http://southasiacheck.org/fact-check/constitution-wont-be-defunct-even-if-the-elections-deadline-is-missed/

http://southasiacheck.org/fact-check/mahatos-false-claims-about-madhesis-in-bureaucracy-police-army/

Links to fact checks from past three months:

http://southasiacheck.org/fact-check/dahals-claim-load-shedding-ended-unfounded/

http://southasiacheck.org/fact-check/myth-debunked-nepal-isnt-second-richest-country-water-resources/

http://southasiacheck.org/fact-check/roads-not-reached-two-district-headquarters/

http://southasiacheck.org/fact-check/oli-exaggerates-killings-congress-government/

http://southasiacheck.org/fact-check/nepali-congress-made-false-claims-election-manifesto/

http://southasiacheck.org/fact-check/kamal-thapa-misstates-migrant-worker-numbers/

http://southasiacheck.org/fact-check/icg-brussels-bloats-madhesi-numbers/

http://southasiacheck.org/fact-check/deuba-not-40th-prime-minister/

http://southasiacheck.org/fact-check/mahato-wrong-constitutional-provision-altering-provincial-borders/

http://southasiacheck.org/fact-check/kamal-thapa-exaggerates-nepali-migrant-worker-death-numbers/

Some interesting earlier fact checks

http://southasiacheck.org/fact-check/constitution-hasnt-ensured-33-percent-representation-of-women-in-all-state-organs/

http://southasiacheck.org/fact-check/pm-dahal-wrong-in-saying-nepal-has-been-supporting-indias-bid-for-permanent-unsc-seat-since-2004/

http://southasiacheck.org/fact-check/kp-oli-gets-fact-wrong-while-attacking-dahal-modi-joint-statement/

http://southasiacheck.org/fact-check/deuba-didnt-meet-the-dalai-lama-in-goa/

From South Asia Check’s application:

“We always establish the primary source of the statement or claims, for example, audio/video clip or byte or official statement or press release. While we don't have ratings for the fact checks we make sure that we give a verdict of true, false or in some cases partially true or false. We make sure that all our fact checks are based on facts and not heresy or popularly held belief.”

From website: (from “About Us” and “fact-checking of statements and claims”) http://southasiacheck.org/about/

“South Asia Check is an independent, non-partisan, non-profit initiative by Panos South Asia which aims to promote accuracy and accountability in public debate. We examine statements and claims made by public figures in Nepal and occasionally across South Asia and publish our findings on this site. This is not a finger-pointing exercise, but an attempt to promote transparency, truth and accountability in politics and media in the region.”

Also from “About Us” on website:

"Fact-checking of statements and claims

We consider statements and/or claims from politicians, government figures (ministers, bureaucrats and diplomats), multilateral agencies and organizations that come out with research or statistics on issues of public importance. Our aim is to first determine the authenticity of such statements through the primary source and then examine the veracity of statements/claims."

Our code of conduct states that our fact checkers cannot be members of political parties and political party- affiliated bodies or professional unions. All care must be taken to avoid being seen as prejudiced, biased or carrying an agenda to defame or harm or discriminate against a person or organisation. 

From South Asia Check’s application: (This info needs to be included on About Us page - See recommendations)

“Our code of conduct states that our fact checkers cannot be members of political parties and political party- affiliated bodies or professional unions. All care must be taken to avoid being seen as prejudiced, biased or carrying an agenda to defame or harm or discriminate against a person or organisation.”

Our reports including fact-check reports are accompanied by audio/video clips, photographs, tables, charts and weblinks or the reference of the documents. Our verdicts are based on publicly-available documents or evidences such as nation’s constitution, laws, government’s official gazette, government websites, national census report, reports of the central bank, government ministries and the official websites of the subjects concerned. We provide weblink of the document if available or provide full reference of the documents cited.

Here are some examples of fact-check reports:

http://southasiacheck.org/fact-check/ciaa-chief-karki-credited-for-things-he-didnt-do/

http://southasiacheck.org/fact-check/rpp-n-done-better-kathmandu-jhapa-2013-ca-election/

http://southasiacheck.org/fact-check/cbs-2014-report-wrong-figures-kailalis-tharu-population/

From South Asia Check’s application:

“Our reports, including fact-check reports, are accompanied by audio/video clips, photographs, tables, charts and web links or the reference of the documents. Our verdicts are based on publicly-available documents or evidences such as nation’s constitution, laws, government’s official gazette, government websites, national census report, reports of the central bank, government ministries and the official websites of the subjects concerned. We provide web link of the document if available or provide full reference of the documents cited.

Here are some examples of fact-check reports with supporting links, documentation etc:

http://southasiacheck.org/fact-check/ciaa-chief-karki-credited-for-things-he-didnt-do/

http://southasiacheck.org/fact-check/rpp-n-done-better-kathmandu-jhapa-2013-ca-election/

http://southasiacheck.org/fact-check/cbs-2014-report-wrong-figures-kailalis-tharu-population/"

From “About Us” http://southasiacheck.org/about/

Fact-checking of statements and claims

”We consider statements and/or claims from politicians, government figures (ministers, bureaucrats and diplomats), multilateral agencies and organizations that come out with research or statistics on issues of public importance. Our aim is to first determine the authenticity of such statements through the primary source and then examine the veracity of statements/claims.”

 http://southasiacheck.org/about/

The fact that South Asia Check is a project of PANOS is disclosed on the “About Us” page http://southasiacheck.org/about/

The ownership statement reads:

“South Asia Check is an independent, non-partisan, non-profit initiative by Panos South Asia which aims to promote accuracy and accountability in public debate. We examine statements and claims made by public figures in Nepal and occasionally across South Asia and publish our findings on this site. This is not a finger-pointing exercise, but an attempt to promote transparency, truth and accountability in politics and media in the region.”

In addition, it states: “Panos South Asia is a non-profit media development organization active in South Asia and beyond since 1997."

 http://southasiacheck.org/about/

South Asia Check’s funders, the National Endowment for Democracy and the Open Society Foundation, are also clearly identified on the “About Us” page.

 http://southasiacheck.org/about/

The South Asia team is clearly identified, with individual email contact addresses for each person, on the “About Us” page http://southasiacheck.org/about/#team But biographical details as supplied on the application (see below) should be included on the “About Us” page where the team’s names and contact details are already published. (See recommendation)

Mohan Mainali is the editor of South Asia Check. He has more than 20 years of journalism working in different newsrooms. He is also an accomplished documentary maker and has written several books about Nepal. He was awarded the prestigious Padmashree Literary Prize in 2015 for his latest book ‘Mantha Darayeko Jug’.

Bhrikuti Rai is a reporter at South Asia Check. She is a media studies graduate from Kathmandu University with past experience in media research and journalism. Her works have appeared in Nepali Times, Los Angeles Times, BBC and Radiolab. She is also the co-creator of Bojubajai podcast.

Sujit Mainali is currently associated with South Asia Check as a reporter. He is active in journalism since the past nine years. He also works as a lecturer in Kathmandu based Madan Bhandari Memorial College and teaches sociology to the graduate-level students. Before joining South Asia Check, he was associated with Naya Patrika, a Nepali language national daily published from Kathmandu, as a sub-editor. He has pursued Masters in Sociology from the Purbanchal University, Nepal. Having keen interest in the social and cultural issues, his articles on social, cultural and historical issues get published in leading Nepali print media periodically. He also has edited a book "Bhasan (Speech)" published in Nepali language.

Dilip Dhakal is a copy editor at South Asia Check. He is business studies graduate of Tribhuvan University. He has more than fifteen years of experience working in Nepal’s leading newsrooms. He was also the head of media monitoring analysis project of Panos South Asia between 2012 and 2015.

There is a dedicated “Contact” page with a form that readers can use to contact South Asia Check. There is also a general email address on the page, and each of the SEC team’s individual emails is supplied on the About Us page.

 http://southasiacheck.org/about/

See “About Us” page for details of methodology and how claims for fact-checking are chosen

 http://southasiacheck.org/about/

There is a large, clearly marked photo link for readers to suggest or request a fact check on the home page http://southasiacheck.org/ A form is launched by clicking on the link. (See recommendation about adding details of what can/can’t be fact-checked)

We do not have a corrections policy, but it is our policy that whatever changes or corrections we make, we acknowledge it with additional remark in the end. Our code of conduct states "Accept any criticism or critique of the published peices and immediately take steps to see if any corrective measures are required. If so, those measures should be taken. If a mistake has been detected by the team or pointed out by readers, that mistake should be acknowledged and corrections made. Under no circumstances, the posted piece can be deleted."

In its application South Asia check refers to a corrections policy contained in their Code of Conduct, but details are not stated publicly on their website. This should be included under a “Corrections” heading on the “About Us” page or somewhere equally prominent. (See recommendations)

From South Asia Check’s application: (while they state they do not have a policy, they clearly do have one based on this statement).

“We do not have a corrections policy, but it is our policy that whatever changes or corrections we make, we acknowledge it with additional remark in the end.

Our code of conduct states "Accept any criticism or critique of the published pieces and immediately take steps to see if any corrective measures are required. If so, those measures should be taken. If a mistake has been detected by the team or pointed out by readers, that mistake should be acknowledged and corrections made. Under no circumstances, the posted piece can be deleted."

In both these fact checks we had made errors in acknowleding the picture's correct location and the year it was taken which we later corrected.

http://southasiacheck.org/fact-check/photo-not-from-tikapur-incident/

http://southasiacheck.org/fact-check/deuba-didnt-meet-the-dalai-lama-in-goa/

Examples of corrections:

http://southasiacheck.org/fact-check/photo-not-from-tikapur-incident/ (wrong photo correction)

http://southasiacheck.org/fact-check/deuba-didnt-meet-the-dalai-lama-in-goa/ (caption correction)