Telugupost is a digital-only media published by Truth Serum Media Private Limited, based in India.  Truth Serum Media Private Limited is a legal company incorporated on September 30, 2021, with the Registrar of Companies Hyderabad of the Ministry of Corporate Affairs in India. www.telugupost.com started operations in 2017 and was run by the Indian independent senior journalist Srinivasa Ravi Batchali till 2021. Ravi Srinivas and others promoted the registered legal entity Truth serum media private limited with the Corporate Identification Number U22210TG2021PTC155468 of ROC Hyderabad MCA India.

As a digital media platform, Telugupost is deeply committed to publishing news and in-depth analysis of contemporary issues of public interest. The team is firmly committed to reporting news unbiasedly as it happens and shows the utmost respect for democratic values, privacy, and dignity of citizens while reporting. We have a committed and well-established fact-check unit that fact-checks the claims of Disinformation and Misinformation online. The fact check Unit is independent of Telugu Post's news wing.

Details and certificate of legal status can be found on our about us page. Also, the certificate of legal status is enclosed.

https://www.telugupost.com/about-us 

Telugupost has a fact-check unit is an independent unit of Telugu Post's news wing.It is a legally registered organisation under Truth serum media private limited.

 1. When and why was your fact-checking operation started?

Fact-checking unit in Telugupost completed one year of operations on 20 November 2022. We first started fact-checking in the Telugu language(the fourth most widely spoken language in India after Hindi, Bengali and Marathi) on 20 November 2021.  Later we started fact-checking in the English language on 14 May 2022 to debunk the disinformation and misinformation and to reach growing English-speaking readers across India and elsewhere in the world. At present, in Telugu states in India, Telangana and Andhra Pradesh, only two media organizations are debunking disinformation/misinformation, but the spread of dis/misinformation in different forms is growing exponentially, particularly during and post-COVID-19. As verification before publication is our core news value, we created a fact check unit more than a year ago. We debunk the claims and publish fact checks in categories mostly politics, health, science, viral, climate change and social issues.

2. How many people work or volunteer in the organization, and what are their roles?

Five staffers are working in the fact-checking team in English and Telugu languages. An experienced fact-checker leads the team, Satya Priya BN, who earlier worked with NewsMeter.in. She not only debunks the claims and writes fact checks but also supervises other fact checkers such as Misha Rajini, Sabya Singh, and Sachin Sabarish, who does fact checking work. The team also consists of fact-check contributors as well as a fact check-editor who edits the fact check copies. Additionally, a video editor, and a graphic designer are also part of the team.

3. What different activities does your organization carry out?

Telugupost(Truth Serum Media Private Limited) is a digital-only news media platform providing the latest news in both Telugu states. We provide conventional news stories as well as in-depth stories highlighting the public issues of States of Telangana and Andhra Pradesh in India.

4. What are the goals of your fact-checking operation over the coming year?

We aspire to increase the team size in order to fact-check and publish more claims in both English and Telugu languages. We are working on stepping up our fact check work with specific focus areas like Health, Science and Climate Change. We also plan to form fact-check clubs involving various media students in journalism colleges to train them in basic fact checking skills. There is a likelihood of a surge of disinformation and misinformation in India ahead of the 2023 Telangana elections and the 2024 General Elections in India. We are planning to do more fact checks to debunk online Disinformation and Misinformation in the coming two years.

1.The Fact-checking unit of Telugupost was started in November 2022 catering to the Telugu speaking states of Telangana and Andhra Pradesh. They have started the English version more recently.

They started Telugupost fact check to counter the spread of dis/misinformation about COVID. The fact check unit publishes fact checks in categories mostly politics, health, science, viral, climate change and social issues.

2. Five staffers are working in the fact-checking team in English and Telugu languages. They have a fact check lead, a sub editor and 3 others in the fact checking team. Their biographies are clearly listed out on the website. 3.Here they list out the activities of the parent organization not of the fact checking unit. 4. They plan to increase the team in order to fact-check and publish more claims in both English and Telugu languages. We are working on stepping up our fact check work with specific focus areas like Health, Science and Climate Change.

They are preparing for a surge of disinformation and misinformation in India ahead of the 2023 Telangana elections and the 2024 General Elections in India. They are also planning to do more fact checks to debunk online Disinformation and Misinformation.

Telugupost started fact-checking in the Telugu language on 20 November 2021, which is more than a year now and has published 185 factchecks till December 23, 2022. On average, we published 3 fact checks in Telugu per week in the past year.

We started fact-checking in the English language in May 2022 and published more than 144 fact-checks till 23 December 2022. On average, we have published 4 fact checks in English per week since then.

https://www.telugupost.com/factcheck

https://www.telugupost.com/english-factcheck 

The applicant has published more than the required number of fact checks.

https://www.telugupost.com/factcheck

https://www.telugupost.com/english-factcheck

The applicant complies with this requirement. The stories they choose to debunk are important and have an impact on the well being of society

Telugupost (Truth Serum Media Private Limited) has no commercial, financial, or institutional relationship with the state, politicians or political parties in India or Telugu States or elsewhere in the world. We haven't received any funding or support from foreign or local state or political actors in the previous financial year or at any point in time.

Telugupost(TurthSerum Media Private Limited) is Promoted and funded by Srinivas Ravi Batchali and Malla Reddy Buthukuri. About 90 per cent of funding for Telugupost operations comes as investments by the promoters and 10 per cent in the form of ad revenue from news aggregators and private advertisers. None of these aggregators or advertisers has a role in either editorial policy or fact-checking of Telgupost. We have an independent fact-check team. Editorial and fact check are two separate units. 

There does not seem to be any evidence of political influence on the stories selected or the way in which they are written. Stories from all sides of the spectrum are covered.

We haven't received any funding from State or government or political sources and there is no relationship with these actors

They are funded by their founders and the information is clearly stated on the website. About 90 per cent of funding for Telugupost operations comes as investments by the promoters and 10 per cent in the form of ad revenue from news aggregators and private advertisers.

Telugupost is committed to a ‘no influencers policy’ and does not allow any external or internal biases to influence the editorial or fact-check output. All our stories follow the same pattern and follow journalistic ethics. We prioritize in fact checking the viral claims that, if spread might cause considerable damage to society.

We try and explain the research process, using which we found the results, in layman’s words so that readers can reciprocate them and get the same results themselves.

Here are some fact-check links:

English Fact Check links:

https://www.telugupost.com/english-factcheck/bjps-tweet-on-raga-not-visiting-any-hindu-temple-in-kerala-is-misleading-1452362

https://www.telugupost.com/english-factcheck/video-claiming-dmk-govt-targeting-hindu-temples-in-tamil-nadu-is-misleading-1448640

https://www.telugupost.com/english-factcheck/nadda-did-not-write-any-letter-to-rajgopal-reddy-about-meeting-kcr-1446568

https://www.telugupost.com/english-factcheck/karne-prabhakar-not-joining-bjp-did-not-meet-etala-1446652

https://www.telugupost.com/english-factcheck/viral-image-of-gold-coin-distribution-by-bjp-candidate-in-munugode-is-false-1446464

https://www.telugupost.com/english-factcheck/police-personnel-not-working-at-kcrs-farmhouse-1445342

https://www.telugupost.com/english-factcheck/viral-video-of-modis-public-meeting-in-modhera-makes-false-claims-1443142

https://www.telugupost.com/english-factcheck/rahul-gandhi-says-that-he-spoke-to-mahatma-gandhi-1434489

https://www.telugupost.com/english-factcheck/narendra-modi-helped-his-siblings-and-relatives-get-their-own-businesses-and-government-jobs-1435213

https://www.telugupost.com/english-factcheck/murmu-and-former-president-kovind-perform-puja-in-baidyanath-temple-1381100

https://www.telugupost.com/english-factcheck/viral-image-show-bjp-leaders-partying-in-goa-1380069

https://www.telugupost.com/english-factcheck/viral-photo-of-pawan-kalyan-and-tdp-leader-together-1371973

Telugu Fact check links:

https://www.telugupost.com/factcheck/video-of-poor-eating-on-carton-straps-is-from-a-trs-party-meet-not-bjp-1449730

https://www.telugupost.com/factcheck/nadda-did-not-write-any-letter-to-rajgopal-reddy-about-meeting-kcr-1446945

https://www.telugupost.com/factcheck/karne-prabhakar-not-joining-bjp-did-not-meet-etala-1446914

https://www.telugupost.com/factcheck/viral-image-of-gold-coin-distribution-by-bjp-candidate-in-munugode-is-false-1446661

https://www.telugupost.com/factcheck/modis-viral-image-at-a-washbasin-not-taken-in-a-toilet-1445209

https://www.telugupost.com/factcheck/rahul-gandhi-says-that-he-spoke-to-mahatma-gandhi-1434491

https://www.telugupost.com/factcheck/pm-modi-insult-former-president-ram-nath-kovind-1381256

https://www.telugupost.com/factcheck/amit-shah-silenced-by-a-reporter-in-telangana-1378291

https://www.telugupost.com/factcheck/indian-pm-modi-was-gifted-with-a-necklace-by-an-arab-king-1378289

https://www.telugupost.com/factcheck/resignation-letter-of-ys-vijayamma-from-ysrcp-1376773

https://www.telugupost.com/factcheck/ap-government-removed-dr-ysr-from-navaratnalu-logo-1375755

https://www.telugupost.com/factcheck/video-shows-naga-sadhus-coming-out-in-support-of-nupur-sharma-1374596

https://www.telugupost.com/factcheck/government-of-ap-to-cancel-amma-vodi-and-vahana-mitra-for-2022-1372039

The fact checks cover a variety of subjects. The fact checks cover a range of topics the fact checks are not limited to one side of the political spectrum. They follow the same process for all claims they fact check. There is no evidence of partisanship.

Telugupost receives claims via social media platforms like Facebook, Twitter, Sharechat, Instagram, etc, and also email and WhatsApp tipline. Most viral and potentially harmful claims are chosen to be debunked. Utmost care is taken to ensure there is no bias of any kind while selecting the claim.

The claims may be from the areas of Politics, Health, science, climate, government schemes, etc. We monitor people and social media handles on different social media platforms to get the latest information shared and also potential false news. We also examine memes and viral images. We also update ourselves by browsing through everyday news stories, speeches of political leaders, press releases, and various social media accounts. Upon selecting the claim, it is verified using an established systematic way using authentic sources and tools. Tools like Google reverse image search, Yandex reverse image search for images, and also tools like invid break a video into frames and search using the reverse image search.

First-hand information is attained from officials, experts, and witnesses to corroborate the story and furnish the users with factual information. Once the claim is established, research undertaken, and evaluated, fact-check articles are published with all the details. We use simple language while writing about the claim, the process followed to assess the claim, and also quote the sources while explaining the process to the readers. Relevant data/information is presented in the form of tables, charts, etc. to validate the fact check. If the information is inadequate, we refrain from publishing our own conclusions. Every fact check published is edited by a sub-editor to avoid any errors.

Rating: Based on the above research, a conclusion is arrived at. The broad ratings we follow are – TRUE – PARTLY TRUE – FALSE – MISLEADING – UNVERIFIED.

In case of any errors, we acknowledge the mistakes and the articles are updated, the corrections made are updated on the website for the readers. Readers are encouraged to write to us with any corrections through the ‘Contact Us’. All such communication is taken very seriously and relevant corrections are made if they are found to be valid within 48 hours of the receipt of a correction email or message. Readers are also encouraged to submit claims through e-mail. 

https://www.telugupost.com/fact-check-methodology

They clearly explain how claims are selected. Stories to debunk are selected based in the impact in areas of Politics, Health, science, climate, government schemes, etc. The process is explained. they verify claims they receive and the ones on social media platforms and also email and Whatsapp tipline. Most viral and potentially harmful claims are chosen to be debunked. They also monitor social media handles.

https://www.telugupost.com/factcheck

https://www.telugupost.com/english-factcheck

The applicant mentions the sources used in the fact checking process.They mostly use digital tools, there are instances where they contact the source. There is no evidence that sources that could influence their findings.

There is no evidence of the organisation’s affiliation to any political party.

As a part of the company’s policy, the employees of Truth Serum Media Private Limited are made to sign an undertaking that clearly states that the employees are not directly or indirectly involved in any political activity.

Our Fact Checks do not contain opinions of any sort, but simply state facts. We also ensure that anyone being recruited into the fact-checking team does not have any affiliation with political parties and advocacy organizations.

On a case-to-case basis, people’s support for causes is reviewed so that it is in conformity with our policies. The employees are mandated to abide by the company’s code of conduct and policies. They need to avoid public demonstrations of any political views. 

They should not engage in any online or offline campaign or be members of any organization/ network. The employees are prohibited from contesting or accepting any appointment or association of whatsoever nature with any public office.

A supervisor must be informed when a spouse or other members of an employee's household have any ongoing involvement in political causes, either professionally or personally.

https://www.telugupost.com/non-partisanship-policy

Telugupost has a clearly stated non partisan policy listed on the website. As well as a code of conduct for its employees.

The applicant provides links to the relevant sources.

They primarily use digital sources in some cases they also use primary sources in the process of fact checking. Sources are linked and referenced. The fact checks are replicable.

They provide links to the relevant sources. In most cases they debunk using digital tools where possible they have contacted primary sources.

The applicant’s fact checks are compliant with this requirement. They have verified using multiple sources. The sources are linked .

The sources are clearly identified so the reader can conclude if there is any influence of a source on the story.

Telugupost Fact check is a separate independent unit of Telugupost published by Truth Serum Media Private limited. Fact check team incorporation letter is attached

Telugupost, the parent company is owned by Truth Serum Media Private Limited and Telugupost factcheck is a separate unit of the parent organistion

Telugupost(Truth Serum Media Private Limited) is an independent organisation. Within Telugupost fact check wing is a separate entity. About 90 per cent of Funds come as investments by the promoters and 10 per cent from the ad revenue news aggregators None of these aggregators have a role in either editorial policy or fact-checking. The about us link on the website shows funding and the independence of the fact-checking unit. Also attached are the audited results of the financial year.

https://www.telugupost.com/about-us

They are compliant with this requirement. The website gives details of the founders and ownership.

As a news organization, the Telugupost team has separate editorial and fact-check teams. The team members have clearly defined roles. The structure of the fact-checking team can be seen in this link:

https://www.telugupost.com/fact-check-team

The role of the editorial team, which is distinctly different from the Fact check unit, is described at:

https://www.telugupost.com/editorial-staff

The oraganisational structure is clearly mentioned on the website.

The biographies of the fact check team : https://www.telugupost.com/fact-check-team

The biographies of the fact checking team is available on the website.

The email Id and also WhatsApp number is furnished to the users to send in any queries and

For the claims that need to be fact-checked. Email ID is telugupostfactcheck@gmail.com, and WhatsApp number is 91 6304273469. Readers can also submit their claims and other queries on the ‘Contact Us' page on the website.

We also have a grievance redressal form on the website where anyone can complain about any of the stories published on Telugupost. https://www.telugupost.com/grievance-redressal

Fact check complaints can be filed on the website: https://www.telugupost.com/Fact-Check-Complaints

Fact check methodology followed by the Telugupost fact check team is available at

https://www.telugupost.com/fact-check-methodology

The methodology the applicant uses is clearly explained on the website.

They say a  claim is selected based on how viral it is, the source and the potential harm it can create. They try to ensure there is no bias while selecting a claim to verify.

The applicant explains the claims and the sources for the claim. The fact checks provide explanations for the evidence they use to counter the claim.

They have a process where claims are fact checked and all evidence is considered and is of the same standard.

Where possible they have contacted people who have made the claim unless the claims are on line.

We encourage our readers to send us claims not only through the email id and WhatsApp number provided on the website but also via any of our social media handles. The email ID is telugupostfactcheck@gmail.com and whatsapp number is 91 6304273469. Readers can also submit their claims and other queries on the ‘Contact Us’ page on the website.

Some of our social media accounts handles  here claims can be submitted

Telugupost factcheck page: https://www.facebook.com/telugupostfactcheck/

Twitter: https://twitter.com/Telugu_Post

Insta: https://www.instagram.com/telugupostnews/

Koo: https://www.kooapp.com/profile/telugupost

The website gives details for readers to send in claims to check. They have an email, a whatsapp number as well as social media handles for this.

At Telugu post, we put all efforts into providing accurate news and fact checks. But, when we falter, we are not afraid to accept that. We have clear editorial policies on accepting our mistakes. We apologise for the same and publish the corrections.

More details can be found on our Correction policy page:

https://www.telugupost.com/corrections-policy

The corrections policy is clearly listed on the website.

The policy is clearly stated on their website along with the process.

We have no correction requests over the previous year either in our fact checks or our editorial articles. 

They have not yet needed to correct any of the published fact checks.

We are not an IFCN signatory yet.

The applicant not an existing signatory.

Telugupost correction policy can be seen here: 

https://www.telugupost.com/corrections-policy

Telugupost is committed to the accuracy and trustworthiness of news articles, headlines, and captions. We make sure that our articles provide all the relevant information and that the facts are verified.

 The editorial policy of Telugupost  can be seen here: 

https://www.telugupost.com/news-correction-policy

The corrections policy is clearly listed on the website.