Organization: Teyit
Applicant: Teyit Medya A.S.- Mehmet Atakan Foca
Assessor: Sarphan Uzunoğlu
Background
It was an uncomplicated application. Answers, documents, and links were prepared correctly. There was no problem with the methodology. There was no problem in practice either. Sufficient transparency was ensured in terms of financial and organizational structure.
Assessment Conclusion
Teyit.org is one of the actors that are most successful in adopting IFCN's principles and universal fact-checking methodology standards. The analyzes revealed are consistent with the methodology. They have a clear interface and social networking strategies that do not displease the reader. Their effective use of different media does not cause them to deviate from the methodology. Because every story is definitely dealt with in the conventional way as they promised to the IFCN. Their correction policy is also well applied as they submitted in their application files. Considering the polarized environment they work in, the work they offer is valuable to the information flow and the democracy in the country.
Sarphan Uzunoğlu assesses application as Compliant
A short summary in native publishing language
Teyit.org, IFCN'in ilkelerini ve evrensel doğruluk kontrol metodoloji standartlarını en iyi benimseyen aktörlerden biri. Ortaya çıkan analizler metodoloji ile uyumlu. Okuyucuyu rahatsız etmeyen açık bir arayüz ve sosyal ağ stratejileri var. Farklı medyaları etkili bir şekilde kullanmaları, metodolojiden sapmalarına neden olmuyor. Çünkü her hikaye, IFCN'e söz verdiği gibi kesinlikle metodolojiye uyumlu bir şekilde ele alınmaktadır. Düzeltme politikaları da başvuru dosyalarında sunulduğu gibi uygulanmaktadır. Çalıştıkları kutuplaşmış ortam düşünüldüğünde sundukları çalışmalar ülkedeki bilgi akışı ve demokrasi için değerlidir.
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.
Teyit
29-Sep-2020 (4 years ago)
Teyit is a not-for-profit social enterprise that focuses on social impact. Because of institutional infrastructure for social enterprises are underway in Turkey Teyit operates under multiple institutional structures.
Research on media and social media is conducted by Teyit Media Research Association on behalf of teyit.org. Technology and training development studies are conducted by Dubium Bilişim Danışmanlık ve Ticaret Ltd. Şti. The only activity of the company is teyit.org.
The company, Dubium, has promised to not distribute its revenue to shareholders or head of the board.
The trademark of teyit.org is registered by Dubium. The details mentioned above are available on the website’s “Nedir?” (About) page: https://teyit.org/nedir
Sarphan Uzunoğlu Assessor
14-Oct-2020 (3 years ago) Updated: 3 years ago
The organization has a dual structure. This structure is based on both an association and a business. Both pillars have been established for fact-checking purposes. The company of which it is a sub-brand has no other activity than fact-checking.
done_all 1.1 marked as Compliant by Sarphan Uzunoğlu.
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?
Teyit
29-Sep-2020 (4 years ago) Updated: 4 years ago
1. In times of crisis, suspicious information spread more and faster than any time. Teyit’s fact-checking operation started on 26th October 2016, in a climate of crises, in Turkey. Frequent elections, bomb attacks, politicization and bias of media organizations have encouraged Teyit to become an actor in the struggle against misinformation. Since 2002, Turkey has gone to the poll eight times. Since mainstream media has lost their independence day by day due to the antidemocratic political practices like censorship and favoritism, people needed fact-checked information not only for their rights to know but also for their mental health and life safety in such conditions. These conditions triggered Teyit to be born to deal with misinformation, independently.
2. Including freelancers, Teyit is a team of thirty three people in departments of content, creative, programs and projects, and every department has a team leader to facilitate the action and decision-making process. The team members and their roles can be seen on page https://teyit.org/ekip
3. Firstly, Fact-checking of the claims on social media, and publishing the related analysis through creative textual and visual content, on its website and platforms like Facebook, Twitter, Instagram is Teyit’s main activity to ensure true information flows. Teyit transparently shares the tools used in the fact-checking process, the sources and insights gained in its website to ensure the transference of know-how between shareholders.
Another activity Teyit remains is engaging with its community through various newsletters: Pürmerak Kulübü, TeyitUpdate, Teyitlendin are the regular newsletters. The audience and content of these newsletters is arranged according to their relationship with the Teyit community. While Teyitlendin is a weekly summary of which fake news has been fact-checked on the previous week sent to all subscribers; Pürmerak Club and TeyitUpdate are sent once a month, which summarizes events Teyit team had participated that month, what events and programs Teyit will attend in the coming times, what suggestions the team have. They are being sent to a closer community: The people who cooperate with Teyit, and Teyit’s supporters. At the end of the day, Teyit has a goal of a close relationship with its community. Particularly since February 2020, Teyit speeded up the fact-checking work related to public health issues. It delivered a Covid-19 Post to its subscribers twice a week between March 2020 and July 2020. This specific newsletter has reached more than 12K subscribers and it's on the shelf to bring in a possible second wave.
Another work about public health was “Salgın Var! Yanlış bilgiye karşı aşı olun”: This was a crowdfunding campaign where the aim was increasing the visibility on anti-vaccination myths and debunking these myths through a specific example, journalist Soner Yalçın’s bestseller book called Black Box. As a result of the campaign, detailed analyses on the myths in the book have been published on the microsite. This campaign was supported by 234 people and Teyit became the first winner of IFCN Crowdfunding Match Program.
On its website, Teyit also publishes long-form articles focused on solution journalism under the categories of “Büyüteç” or “Dosya.” Büyüteç category is for the "controversial" claims. When the subject has more than one dimension, each dimension needs to be addressed in depth. Proposals or propositions, beyond being "uncertain", contain different facts, whose correctness or falsehood is clear in different dimensions. This makes a wholesale markup impossible. Dosya category is for the in-depth informative content in controversial issues such as Climate Change, İstanbul Convention, Food Health.
Short video series, called Teyit Yolu aims to show the methods and tools Teyit uses in analyzes. Most people may know how to reverse image search on Google, but they can also use content-rich search engines like TinEye, Yandex and Bing, or can locate by navigating the maps app. In this way, there may be many tools for fact-checking to combat suspicious information in the sea of the internet that people personally experience.
Teyit have a distinct column titled #teyitpedia, where Teyit regularly shares the latest news on misinformation, false news and fact-checking. Teyit writes its own reports, translates articles and shares tips to tackle misinformation online. Teyit aims to reach the Turkish-speaking community, including not only the regular internet users but also the academics and scholars working in the field, and provide them with most up-to-date works in the area. Thus Teyit has been translating handbooks, news articles and scholarly works to Turkish. As Teyit follows the recent developments closely and as gained familiarity with the terminology, its are also coining new vocabulary items about fact-checking in Turkish and compiling them under #teyitsözlük (teyit-dictionary).
Teyit publishes reports on the current important issues related to misinformation. The topics are mainly focused on the issues of false information, news consumption, confirmation behavior, misinformation and elections, misinformation and Covid-19. The reports can be reached on the website: https://teyit.org/ne-yapiyoruz/yayinlar.
Teyit runs fact-checking training programs when requested by media institutions, corporates and NGOs. Experienced fact-checkers gives the training service as well as a way to disseminate the knowledge, and as an income model. Also, Teyit always welcomes the interns to raise them as fact-checkers. This way, it remains to pump blood to struggle against misinformation.
Since January 2020, Teyit has been producing a podcast series, “t cetveli,” which has reached twenty episodes by the end of May 2020. Through this podcast, Teyit discusses various topics related to fact-checking issues: The theoretical framework of misinformation; motivations, mediums and reasons which facilitate the dissemination of misinformation, our experiences and learnings, coronavirus and misinformation. Podcasts can be reached on Spreaker, Spotify and Apple Podcasts.
Teyit runs an incubation program, Factory, for arising actors to offer interdisciplinary solutions to misinformation problems. Through its incubation program, Teyit shares its experiences, knowledge and office space within the newly arising groups who are about to join the struggle with misinformation.
Community building is one of the most important activities of Teyit. It is one of Teyit’s main objectives that every user it comes into contact with assumes a mission for this problem. To achieve this, it is necessary to create a community around this problem and to be in constant contact with that community. With a well-structured community strategy with the lead of Community Associate and Engagement Editor, Teyit organizes regular events such as Zoom meetings on media ethics and critical thinking for people in the close circle of our community, receives regular feedback from the community to improve its efforts and to direct and progress the process with them, sends monthly newsletter to inform the close community about the work done, sends weekly newsletter on fact-checks of the week to community to communicate regularly via email and social media with its more than 1 million followers to increase engagement to develop a new interface for the website and a new module for increasing the participation of the community to verification processes to build a new tool in the website which its community may easily warn the misinformation offenders.
In addition to the activities mentioned above, we have a team concluded by six highly creative colleagues, which is constantly seeking ways to improve our ways of communicating with our community and beneficiaries to climb over the “Echo Chambers” that formed through social media algorithms, since the echo chambers cause us to hear only the people similar to us. Among their activities, video content on basic tools of fact-checking, series about urban myths, social media content, and WhatsApp stickers to encourage the reader to fact-check the news before the share, are the most highlighted ones.
4. Since Teyit’s initial goal is to contribute to changing the system which creates the misinformation problem, Teyit enhances its activities in accordance with this ultimate goal, through system changing attribution, day by day.
Teyit aims to integrate a community-based tool to our website, which is called “Open Office”. With the help of tools and insights offered by team members, the community will be able to raise themselves as fact-checkers and become Teyit’s allies for the solution. In meantime, Teyit will aim to carry out the community activities which are mentioned in the 1.2 / 4.
While Teyit continues its routine publications, it also aims to provide people accurate and data-based information on more complex topics through in-depth research. Focusing on the climate, health and economical consequences of coronavirus and how people affect because of false information, or urban memory investigations related to the topic of false information will be our priority. Freelance journalists who are unemployed and unable to work due to the conditions of the media ecosystem will be able to produce content in this category.
Improving visibility and access by developing more visual-based content formats through the creative team, including the short videos for fact-checking tips and tools, social videos and infographics on fact-checks, podcast episodes for the understanding context of misinformation, digital marketing products (such as WhatsApp sticker pack) which the community of Teyit can interact and spread the word in a humorous way.
In August 2020, Teyit hired an Education Associate. Teyit is currently working on training in the field of media literacy, searching for ways to cooperate with teachers and parents to realize the training in a short period of time.
Systematic impact measurement is highly emphasized this year. With the support of Heinrich Böll Stiftung Foundation and KONDA, “Measuring the Impact of Teyit” survey study has taken place. The report of the study is in progress.
Teyits experiences on Covid-19 Post and Salgın Var campaign, have encouraged it to do more, so Teyit is planning to develop in-depth daily content. Teyit is planning to conduct in-depth research in the field of health.
Sarphan Uzunoğlu Assessor
14-Oct-2020 (3 years ago) Updated: 3 years ago
1. Teyit’s fact-checking operation started on 26th October 2016.
2. Teyit is a team of thirty three people in departments of content, creative, programs and projects - including freelancers.
3. Other activities of Teyit are in accordance with their fact-checking mission and objectives.
4. They have future plans in various fields including training/education program and several complementary activities.
done_all 1.2 marked as Compliant by Sarphan Uzunoğlu.
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.
Teyit
29-Sep-2020 (4 years ago)
We have attached a file containing articles for the last six months. Most of our fact-checks have an impact for society. We’re trying to debunk claims about polarization and public health. We’ve debunked more than 200 claims about coronavirus.
Sarphan Uzunoğlu Assessor
14-Oct-2020 (3 years ago) Updated: 3 years ago
They publish fact-checking reports on a regular basis. They publish more than one report every day.
done_all 1.3 marked as Compliant by Sarphan Uzunoğlu.
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.
Sarphan Uzunoğlu Assessor
14-Oct-2020 (3 years ago) Updated: 3 years ago
Their analyses focus on topics such as science, social conflicts, daily politics, and technology. For instance, some of their latest reports are focused on contents that got viral on social media including a photo on Azerbaijan - Armenia conflict and some parody photos that are thought to be real-life photos by social media users.
Screen Shot 2020-10-... (1 MB)
done_all 1.4 marked as Compliant by Sarphan Uzunoğlu.
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.
Teyit
29-Sep-2020 (4 years ago)
Teyit has no commercial/institutional relationship with state, politicians or political parties. Teyit explains its funding relationships on page https://teyit.org/finansal-kaynaklar transparently
Sarphan Uzunoğlu Assessor
14-Oct-2020 (3 years ago) Updated: 3 years ago
They are a totally independent organization which has a good financial and administrative transparency policy not only for IFCN assessment, but also for their regular user audience. They have no commercial/institutional relationship with state, politicians or political parties.
done_all 1.5 marked as Compliant by Sarphan Uzunoğlu.
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.
Teyit
29-Sep-2020 (4 years ago)
Editorial decisions are taken jointly by the editorial team. The board of directors, partners, investors, funders or the administrative team of the company and the association are not decision-makers in editorial processes.” https://teyit.org/yayin-ilkeleri
Sarphan Uzunoğlu Assessor
14-Oct-2020 (3 years ago) Updated: 3 years ago
Their principles are in accordance with their publication policy and they are accessible from their website. Their content is mostly not politics-oriented and it is hard to affiliate their activities with political links.
done_all 1.6 marked as Compliant by Sarphan Uzunoğlu.
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.
Teyit
29-Sep-2020 (4 years ago) Updated: 4 years ago
Investigating a case, we research all different sources from different political orientations and take them into account regardless of the perspective of the source. In controversial cases, we absolutely take the opinions of both sides. We watch the balance between the parties that we are investigating the cases about. All the analyses published in Teyit are reviewed two times before publishing by two different editors also in accordance with our impartiality principle. Here are some examples:
https://teyit.org/turkiyenin-ispanyaya-giden-solunum-cihazlarina-el-koydugu-iddiasi
https://teyit.org/fotografin-bilim-kurulundaki-diyanet-temsilcisini-gosterdigi-iddiasi
https://teyit.org/a-haber-ekraninda-yarim-dolar-352-lira-yazdigi-iddiasi
https://teyit.org/fotografin-chpli-milletvekilinin-taktigi-orme-maskeyi-gosterdigi-iddiasi
https://teyit.org/oval-ofise-erdoganin-ziyareti-nedeniyle-ii-abdulhamit-tablosu-asildigi-iddiasi/
https://teyit.org/anadolu-ajansinin-mizahi-bir-fransiz-dergisinin-haberini-gercek-sandigi-iddiasi/
https://teyit.org/le-monde-erdogani-emperyalizme-karsi-savastigi-icin-oven-cumleler-yayinlamadi
https://teyit.org/yunanistan-ayasofya-icin-ulusal-yas-ilan-etmedi/
https://teyit.org/diyanetin-uvey-torunun-dedeye-haram-olmadigi-fetvasini-verdigi-iddiasi/
Sarphan Uzunoğlu Assessor
14-Oct-2020 (3 years ago) Updated: 3 years ago
As can be observed in the examples of respiratory devices and Kemal Kılıçdaroğlu, Teyit.org applies different sources and makes verification within the scope of its methodology.
Both negative claims for the state as well as Turkey's main opposition leader, were investigated in the same manner and by reference to different sources.
done_all 2.1 marked as Compliant by Sarphan Uzunoğlu.
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.
Teyit
29-Sep-2020 (4 years ago)
https://teyit.org/yayin-ilkeleri is a page about our editorial rules, methodology and selection criteria. When our visitors click the “Editöryal Kurallar” tab on this screen they could reach our rules about selecting criteria for claims.
A prioritization of three criteria is applied to manage time effectively for choosing the collected claims.
First, we check whether the claim is verifiable based on data and concrete evidence. We do not investigate topics that are allegedly spoken by two people or a group and which cannot be determined whether it is correct or not unless one is present during the conversation, even if they are accessible. Predictions and claims about the future and the assumptions about the events that are expected to occur are not also investigable.
Interpersonal conversations, interpretations, assertions that contain assumptions or predictions for the future, and events that have happened so much back in the past that it cannot be traced are eliminated at this stage. If the claim is not verifiable, it is removed and not considered again in the future.
We choose among the verifiable claims according to the importance and virality in normal times, and also urgency criteria in times of crisis. Criteria do not mean that we will not create content which is not viral; it means that what is viral among multiple works will be prioritized.
○ Virality: A content which is on the agenda of Internet users, and has a certain number of shares. Virality criteria may differ according to the social media platform on which the suspicious news is spread.
○ Importance: A content that can have an impact on individuals, communities, groups, systems, rights, or democracy.
○ Urgency: A content which occurs during moments of crisis where emotional breaks are experienced and which is exacerbated by social anger and fear, and which has the quality that needs to be verified even if it is not viral. (Moment of crisis: periods of emotional elevations, traumatic events, increased polarization in society, increased hate speech related to events, election periods, systemic changes, natural and human-related disasters)
If the claim meets these criteria, the investigation begins after determining who will review it. Those outside the prioritization criteria are archived and can be reviewed again when they meet the publication criteria over time.
Sarphan Uzunoğlu Assessor
14-Oct-2020 (3 years ago) Updated: 3 years ago
They have certain criteria to follow while selecting stories to be fact-checked: Virality, importance, and urgency. They state these three criteria in their publication principles that are available to their audience. These three criteria are applicable globally and parallel to IFCN's code of principles.
done_all 2.2 marked as Compliant by Sarphan Uzunoğlu.
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.
Teyit
29-Sep-2020 (4 years ago) Updated: 4 years ago
.
Sarphan Uzunoğlu Assessor
14-Oct-2020 (3 years ago) Updated: 3 years ago
Their sources are well identified. For instance if someone is affiliated with a party or a governmental institutions it is openly stated within the report. Scientific and bureaucratic titles and areas of expertise or assigned roles within the organizations are always expressed.
done_all 2.3 marked as Compliant by Sarphan Uzunoğlu.
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.
Teyit
29-Sep-2020 (4 years ago) Updated: 4 years ago
.
Sarphan Uzunoğlu Assessor
14-Oct-2020 (3 years ago) Updated: 3 years ago
Teyit.org is well known to be an organization that has no ties to a political movement or a political party and they are very strict on their staff's social media use and involvement with political actors.
done_all 2.4 marked as Compliant by Sarphan Uzunoğlu.
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.
Teyit
29-Sep-2020 (4 years ago) Updated: 4 years ago
Currently, in the page https://teyit.org/yayin-ilkeleri it is stated that the editorial principles must comply with the principles of the International Fact-Checking Check Network, as well as the mission of the institution and the principles of independent journalism.
Teyit will also ensure the editorial independence of its work through Conflict of Interest documents (attached). It is one of the documents that should be signed by team members.
Sarphan Uzunoğlu Assessor
14-Oct-2020 (3 years ago) Updated: 3 years ago
They have a policy paper on conflict of interests, and their publication principles openly define the policies regarding staff's political involvement.
done_all 2.5 marked as Compliant by Sarphan Uzunoğlu.
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.
Sarphan Uzunoğlu Assessor
14-Oct-2020 (3 years ago) Updated: 3 years ago
They provide links and references for all their sources. Hyperlinks are highlighted and this also triggers clicking behavior, which is a very good sign for their audience engagement and credibility.
Screen Shot 2020-10-... (572 KB)
done_all 3.1 marked as Compliant by Sarphan Uzunoğlu.
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.
Sarphan Uzunoğlu Assessor
14-Oct-2020 (3 years ago) Updated: 3 years ago
They use classical western journalism principles and ask for the statements of primary sources when available.
done_all 3.2 marked as Compliant by Sarphan Uzunoğlu.
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.
Sarphan Uzunoğlu Assessor
14-Oct-2020 (3 years ago) Updated: 3 years ago
They don't rely only on a single source in terms of claims and their methodology is well applied in that sense.
done_all 3.3 marked as Compliant by Sarphan Uzunoğlu.
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.
Sarphan Uzunoğlu Assessor
14-Oct-2020 (3 years ago) Updated: 3 years ago
Through using titles and adjectives regarding sources' orientations, roles and relevance to the focused issue, they give relevant background information to the audience.
done_all 3.4 marked as Compliant by Sarphan Uzunoğlu.
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.
Teyit
29-Sep-2020 (4 years ago) Updated: 4 years ago
Teyit is an independent, impact-oriented fact-checking organization that works on scanning, selecting, verifying and publishing information on suspicious content particularly during crisis situations. We aim to prevent the problem of false information by developing critical thinking and media literacy in the long-run.
Teyit is a social impact-oriented, a non-profit social enterprise that does not distribute its income. Research on media and social media is conducted by the Teyit Media Research Association on behalf of Teyit. Technology and education development studies are carried out by Dubium Bilişim Danışmanlık ve Ticaret Ltd. Şti. Information on organizational status can be found in website: https://teyit.org/nedir
Teyit is also a member of Açık Açık Social Enterprise Platform, it declares that it is a social enterprise with its purpose, values, financial structure, operation and social and / or ecological impact focus. Teyit accepts the transparency principles of the Açık Açık Social Enterprise Platform.
Sarphan Uzunoğlu Assessor
14-Oct-2020 (3 years ago) Updated: 3 years ago
Their financial revenue sources are openly stated on their web site: https://teyit.org/finansal-kaynaklar
Their legal form is also openly identified on their web site.
done_all 4.1 marked as Compliant by Sarphan Uzunoğlu.
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.
Teyit
29-Sep-2020 (4 years ago)
Sarphan Uzunoğlu Assessor
14-Oct-2020 (3 years ago) Updated: 3 years ago
done_all 4.2 marked as Compliant by Sarphan Uzunoğlu.
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.
Teyit
29-Sep-2020 (4 years ago) Updated: 4 years ago
Teyit shares the process of editorial control on page https://teyit.org/yayin-ilkeleri. On this link, the chart on the Editorial process can be seen on "Yazı İşleri Nasıl Çalışıyor?" tab. Content Circle which is concluded by an Editor in Chief, two Editors, and two Writers, is responsible for the editorial decision-making processes. Team members can be seen on page https://teyit.org/ekip.
Sarphan Uzunoğlu Assessor
14-Oct-2020 (3 years ago) Updated: 3 years ago
They have a tab regarding their editorial desk work flow on their web site and their content processing processes are well-identified.
On their team page, it is possible to get satisfactory information about their staff.
done_all 4.3 marked as Compliant by Sarphan Uzunoğlu.
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.
Teyit
29-Sep-2020 (4 years ago)
Sarphan Uzunoğlu Assessor
14-Oct-2020 (3 years ago) Updated: 3 years ago
Their team page includes information about their staff in accordance with IFCN's code of principles.
done_all 4.4 marked as Compliant by Sarphan Uzunoğlu.
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.
Teyit
29-Sep-2020 (4 years ago)
In our website, all the Teyit employees are available via e-mail on the related page. https://teyit.org/ekip
Our comment feature is temporarily out of use due to the new website migration process, but we're working on a new module which is called Open Office. With this feature, our users will join a fact-checking process (sending pieces of evidence from news, social media claims and comments about analyses). We’re aiming to improve collectivity in the fact-checking process with our users.
On the other hand, we're trying to encourage our users to send a claim with our WhatsApp number and our e-mail address. For this reason, we've added a banner to our site. Users can also contact us via our contact page. https://teyit.org/bize-ulasin
In addition, all staff personally attend events, are visible to the public as individuals.
Our two newsletters which have more than 20,000 subscribers in total are sent on behalf of our employees with their names and photos. They can also use their own social media accounts to get in touch with our audience.
In principle, we answer all the e-mails and comments in 24 hours if contain a question or request; negatively or positively.
Sarphan Uzunoğlu Assessor
14-Oct-2020 (3 years ago) Updated: 3 years ago
They have several communicational channels available for the feedback and claims of their audience.
done_all 4.5 marked as Compliant by Sarphan Uzunoğlu.
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.
Teyit
29-Sep-2020 (4 years ago) Updated: 4 years ago
Please see our “Yayın İlkeleri” page: https://teyit.org/yayin-ilkeleri
Especially “Editöryal Kurallar” tab
Sarphan Uzunoğlu Assessor
14-Oct-2020 (3 years ago) Updated: 3 years ago
Teyit has a section on its website including the methodology it uses to select, research, write and publish its fact checks.
done_all 5.1 marked as Compliant by Sarphan Uzunoğlu.
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.
Sarphan Uzunoğlu Assessor
14-Oct-2020 (3 years ago) Updated: 3 years ago
Criteria regarding the reach and the importance of the claims are well-identified in their methodology. Their choices of contents are in accordance.
done_all 5.2 marked as Compliant by Sarphan Uzunoğlu.
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.
Sarphan Uzunoğlu Assessor
14-Oct-2020 (3 years ago) Updated: 3 years ago
They are very critical about the issues they focus on and compile both supporting and countering ideas, proofs and references in their analyses.
done_all 5.3 marked as Compliant by Sarphan Uzunoğlu.
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.
Sarphan Uzunoğlu Assessor
14-Oct-2020 (3 years ago) Updated: 3 years ago
Their criteria regarding choices of the claims are very strict and clear and it is based on high standards. Moreover, these standards are not based on personality or political view of the person or institution behind the claim but its impact on the country's information sphere that is well explained with technical terms and conditions.
done_all 5.4 marked as Compliant by Sarphan Uzunoğlu.
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.
Sarphan Uzunoğlu Assessor
14-Oct-2020 (3 years ago) Updated: 3 years ago
They always seek for primary sources for evidence and they make phone calls or request information from relevant authorities or subjects when the nature of the issue lets them to do so.
done_all 5.5 marked as Compliant by Sarphan Uzunoğlu.
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.
Teyit
29-Sep-2020 (4 years ago) Updated: 4 years ago
Teyit followers can send the contents that they are suspicious about via e-mail (info@teyit.org), Twitter mentioning, our contact page (https://teyit.org/bize-ulasin) or our WhatsApp report line +90 (546) 474 54 40. We collect all the reports in the digital pool that we initiate called Dubito.
What is checkable or uncheckable is clearly stated on our website, under the “editorial rules” section.
We are not able to answer all the reports we receive and let them know about the reasons why due to the intensive flow of reports. But from time to time, we explain how we prioritize the cases or make editorial decisions by the article we publish on our website. https://teyit.org/isimize-geleni-mi-teyitliyoruz
In the times of crises, when the editorial team is overwhelmed, we try to explain to readers that suspicious content they reported is documented, but may not be resolved immediately due to our prioritization criteria. On our former website, the section Editor Panel used to offer users to access the reason why some cases marked as “unfinalized” could not be finalized. This feature will be more apparent and strong on our new website will be completed soon, under a new name of “Open Office”. For now, our users could reach our working status from the Open Office part about analyses from the right side of our main page.
When a claim cannot be examined and concluded, the findings will be published and the reader will be able to see the point where the analysis is blocked. When a claim cannot be examined and concluded, the findings will be published and the reader will be able to see the point where the analysis is blocked.
Sarphan Uzunoğlu Assessor
14-Oct-2020 (3 years ago) Updated: 3 years ago
They have various channels that enable their users to send claims to be checked.
done_all 5.6 marked as Compliant by Sarphan Uzunoğlu.
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.
Teyit
29-Sep-2020 (4 years ago) Updated: 4 years ago
There is a tab on our “Yayın ilkeleri” page https://teyit.org/yayin-ilkeleri
The most important thing for Teyit is to pursue the facts and develop critical reflexes to make it a habit for all users who receive the news from the Internet while preventing the spread of false information, news, or visuals. In these processes, the analysis may be updated in the light of new evidence or the data Teyit has may have caused errors. When any changes to the analysis is required, anyone who accesses the analysis written by Teyit will be able to see them. This heading does not include the correction of material and simple errors.
If new data has emerged on the published analysis and if the analysis needs updating based on these new concrete data, the update is announced. Updates are indicated at the bottom of the analysis by explaining the date and time of the update and what was changed in the analysis. Updates are not announced via social media.
If there is a suspicion that there is an error concerning the written analysis, the review process is restarted. If the request for a review comes from the readers, the resource is requested. During the review process, the principle of accessibility of resources is followed. If an error is detected, correction the date and time is indicated at the bottom of the analysis.
If the error is of a nature that could change the result of the analysis or affect an individual & institution, an apology is made via social media. The concerning editor determines the quality of the apology.
Analysis on which there are corrections that require changing the result continues to be disseminated until it reaches the number of people the initial version of the analysis has reached.
If an update or correction is required again, the same steps are repeated.
When an analysis of Teyit is refuted by legal means, the correction policy is followed. If an error is detected, the refutation will be published and the content is removed with a statement.
Sarphan Uzunoğlu Assessor
14-Oct-2020 (3 years ago) Updated: 3 years ago
They have a well-established corrections policy that details the reasons of corrections and chronology of the correction process.
done_all 6.1 marked as Compliant by Sarphan Uzunoğlu.
Criteria 6.2
Proof you meet criteria
The assessor will review the corrections policy to verify it meets critera. No additional information needed.
Sarphan Uzunoğlu Assessor
14-Oct-2020 (3 years ago) Updated: 3 years ago
Correction policy identifies how major and minor mistakes are corrected and how it is re-edited.
done_all 6.2 marked as Compliant by Sarphan Uzunoğlu.
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.
Teyit
29-Sep-2020 (4 years ago) Updated: 4 years ago
As Teyit, we do make corrections to our content, although not very often, in case of;
- A new development on the subject covered
- A mistake made
- Additional evidence obtained etc.
As can be seen, our Editorial Guideline, which can be accessed on our website, the correction process works as follows:
When any changes to the analysis is required, anyone who accesses the analysis written by Teyit will be able to see them. This heading does not include the correction of material and simple errors.
If new data has emerged on the published analysis and if the analysis needs updating based on these new concrete data, the update is announced. Updates are indicated at the bottom of the analysis by explaining the date and time of the update and what was changed in the analysis. Updates are not announced via social media.
If there is a suspicion that there is an error concerning the written analysis, the review process is restarted. If the request for a review comes from the readers, the resource is requested. During the review process, the principle of accessibility of resources is followed. If an error is detected, correction the date and time is indicated at the bottom of the analysis.
If the error is of a nature that could change the result of the analysis or affect an individual & institution, an apology is made via social media. The concerning editor determines the quality of the apology.
Analysis on which there are corrections that require changing the result continues to be disseminated until it reaches the number of people the initial version of the analysis has reached.
If an update or correction is required again, the same steps are repeated.
When an analysis of Teyit is refuted by legal means, the correction policy is followed. If an error is detected, the refutation will be published and the content is removed with a statement.
In addition to this information, our followers and readers also have a tremendous contribution for the corrections. When we get reports for an error or deficiency, we immediately reflect it in the text and, if necessary, announce on social media.
As a recent example, we corrected a content about a seagull in Britain which was mistakenly written “a duck”. We made an update after the users noticed and announced it on social media.
https://teyit.org/agzinda-cerrahi-maske-tasiyan-marti-fotografinin-vandan-oldugu-iddiasi
https://twitter.com/teyitorg/status/1298185274904715264
On the other hand, Teyit has just initiated a special correction module for the analyses on the new website in order to announce the updates more transparently. All changes made can be monitored as a timeline through this module.
IFCNcorrectionSS.png (26 KB)
Sarphan Uzunoğlu Assessor
14-Oct-2020 (3 years ago) Updated: 3 years ago
Cases provided show how the applicant corrects their mistakes and what are the corrections or explanatory additions made afterwards.
done_all 6.3 marked as Compliant by Sarphan Uzunoğlu.
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.
Teyit
29-Sep-2020 (4 years ago) Updated: 4 years ago
Sarphan Uzunoğlu Assessor
14-Oct-2020 (3 years ago) Updated: 3 years ago
Teyit declares itself an IFCN signatory and it informs users that if they believe the signatory is violating the IFCN Code, they may inform the IFCN, with a link to the IFCN site.
done_all 6.4 marked as Compliant by Sarphan Uzunoğlu.
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.
Sarphan Uzunoğlu Assessor
14-Oct-2020 (3 years ago) Updated: 3 years ago
They are an independent, fact-checking focused institution.