The Dispatch Fact Check is a distinct project of The Dispatch. Our fact check archive is available here: https://thedispatch.com/category/fact-check/

The content is promoted at https://thedispatch.com/ and in social media and email promotions for The Dispatch.

Dispatch Media, Inc. was founded as TSHGSH and submitted paperwork to the state of Delaware on October 2, 2019. I'm attaching three documents: The certificate of corporation for TSHGH from the state of Delaware from July 2019, the documentation approving the name change, and the IRS letter confirming that TSGSGH was assigned an Employer Identification number.

Based on the documentation provided, The Dispatch meets criteria 1.1.  The Dispatch makes clear that they are a legal registered entity.  

We launched our the Dispatch Fact Check operation on Nov. 22, 2019. The Dispatch itself launched in October 2019 and we launched factcheck.thedispatch.com as soon as we were able to devote resources to the project. We have several reasons for launching. First is that the stated mission of The Dispatch is to provide "fact-based reporting and commentary on politics, policy and culture." Our larger site does provide opinion and analysis, but we strive to publish such pieces by experts on a given topic or by writers who have researched and reported the topics they are analyzing.

The Dispatch Fact Check is a natural extension of that. We recognize that there is a significant amount of biased reporting, misinformation, and outright disinformation that is published. Politicians make false statements, and those statements are amplified by their supporters. Thanks to social media, entire "fake news" operations have sprung up and can promote their work to unassuming consumers of news. At The Dispatch, we are upfront and forthright about our work being "informed by conservative principles." Our hope is that because our audience is aware of our ideology, and our commitment to reporting, that we can influence those on the right to believe it when we point out that their favored politicians or news sources commit factual errors, and also vice versa: that the politicians and news sources with whom they tend to disagree are telling the truth if we say so. We will accomplish that goal by being non-ideological in our fact checking, seeking a balance in fact checking claims by figures of all backgrounds.

We have several people who work on fact checking in our organization. Declan Garvey is the executive editor of The Dispatch and he assigns and edits fact checks. Rachael Larimore is a managing editor of The Dispatch and assigns and edits fact checks. Alex Demas is a fact checker for The Dispatch. He writes fact checks for The Dispatch Fact Check. Steve Hayes (editor of The Dispatch), Michael Reneau (managing editor of The Dispatch) and Luis Paralles (assistant editor of The Dispatch) sometimes do secondary edits on fact checks.

We report out, write, and publish fact checks for our website. We will also report and write on wide-ranging trends in disinformation or cover events featuring known purveyors of disinformation. We submit some of our fact checks to Facebook as part of our participation in Facebook’s third-party fact checking program.

Our goals for the coming year are to monitor disinformation on any topic, but in particular, the war in Ukraine, the 2024 U.S. election, and the conflict between Hamas and Israel in the Middle East. We cover other topics, of course, but those will be our main focus. We will continue to fact check questionable statements by politicians and elected officials, and we will cover a range of topics that circulate on social media, depending on the stories of the moment. We will aim to do 5-10 fact checks a week, looking at claims that have national, international, and even local relevance. We will continue to do deeply reported pieces when the questions are difficult or multifaceted.

While an overt fact-checking department does not exist at The Dispatch, based on their organizational structure, history, and motives: it is evident that fact-checking is a core component of the work done at The Dispatch.

Here is our complete fact check archive: https://thedispatch.com/category/fact-check/

Based on the audit conducted, gaps of almost 2 weeks between published fact-checks were found in the last year.  However, overall, for most of last year, The Dispatch posted at-least one fact-check once a week.

Based on the fact-checks reviewed, the vast majority of The Dispatch's fact checks focus on claims related to issues that relate to or could have an impact on the welfare or well-being of individuals, the general public or society (particularly in the American context).

The Dispatch has no relationship with with any state, politician, or political party. We receive no funding or support from any local, state, or political actors. More information here: the-dispatch-fact-check-policies-and-procedures

As per the application answer and link, The Dispatch does not associate itself with any political parties or actors.  I would recommend the Dispatch make it more evident on their link/website that the The Dispatch overall does not receive any funding from any political actors/parties as well.

The Dispatch has no relationship with with any state, politician, or political party. We receive no funding or support from any local, state, or political actors. 

The Dispatch maintains that it:  has no relations with any state, politician, or political party. They receive no funding or support from any local, state, or political actors.

We are including 10 fact checks that might not be representative of our whole body of work -- we fact check disinformation that is not related to partisan politics or even politics at all -- but do show that we are are not partisan in how we assess claims. We have published fact checks analyzing claims by President Biden and labeled them false, we have published fact checks making damaging claims ABOUT Preident Biden and labeled those false. We have published plenty of fact checks debunking claims by former President Donald Trump, and we have even published at least one debunking a claim that falsely portrayed Trump in a negative light. We have debunked claims by Democratic politicians, and we have debunked claims by Republican politicians and candidates. We acknowledge that the work The Dispatch does outside of our fact checking can be ideological in nature, but we strive to be objective in our reported pieces. In terms of reporting fact checks: When we are assessing claims, we will do everything in our power to find official documentation and verifiable records as evidence. If a politician says they “always” or “never” supported a policy position, and we know otherwise, we will find video of them contradicting themselves, or reference relevant news articles from legitimate and well known publications that quoted them supporting a policy position they now disavow. If someone makes a false claim about accomplishments or votes or spending, we will cite official government records to show otherwise. If someone makes a claim that needs expert analysis, we will rely on our deep well of subject-matter experts in academia or who hold research positions to provide background and explanation. As for our process, we first identify a claim that we want to investigate. We start by looking online for records, statements, videos, etc., that can support or debunk the claim. If that information alone is enough to debunk or verify the claim, we’ll write and edit and publish our fact check. If it’s not, we’ll turn to our sources, who can explain why a claim is true or false, and often offer background or further explanation. We do not publish a fact check unless we’re confident that our information and/our sources are legitimate and qualified. And if we cannot verify or debunk a claim to our satisfaction, we will not publish a fact check on the matter. 

https://thedispatch.com/article/yes-the-house-voted-on-articles-of-impeachment-for-president-biden-but-not-in-a-way-that-really-matters/

https://thedispatch.com/article/no-biden-did-not-visit-ground-zero-on-september-12-2001/

https://thedispatch.com/article/fact-check-tv-ad-falsely-accuses-desantis-of-levying-a-new-tax/

https://thedispatch.com/article/fact-checking-vivek-ramaswamys-claims-about-january-6-defendants/

https://thedispatch.com/article/claims-that-ukraine-wants-to-extradite-refugees-are-russian-disinformation/

https://thedispatch.com/article/checking-the-record-on-trumps-statements-about-ron-desantis-and-covid-lockdowns/

https://thedispatch.com/article/no-trumps-interview-with-tucker-carlson-was-not-the-most-watched-video-in-the-history-of-the-world/

https://thedispatch.com/article/fact-check-did-alexandria-ocasio-cortez-recommend-shutting-down-news-agencies-to-oppose-fascism/

https://thedispatch.com/article/fact-check-did-silicon-valley-bank-donate-more-than-73-million-to-black-lives-matter/

https://thedispatch.com/article/fact-check-did-donald-trump-send-13-year-old-drinking-water-to-east-palestine/

https://thedispatch.com/article/does-the-world-economic-forum-want-to-legalize-pedophilia/

Based on a random sample: The Dispatch maintains its standards of journalism/fact-checking regardless of who or which party made the statement.

https://thedispatch.com/article/the-dispatch-fact-check-policies-and-procedures/

Based on a random sample: The Dispatch 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.

Based on a random sample:  The Dispatch in its fact checks provides 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.

Based on a random sample: The Dispatch 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.

https://thedispatch.com/article/the-dispatch-fact-check-policies-and-procedures/

The Dispatch provides a link on their website, where they set out their policy on non-partisanship.

Based on a random sample:  The Dispatch 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 Dispatch provides as much detail as compatible with the source’s safety.

Based on a random sample: The Dispatch uses the best available primary, not secondary, sources of evidence wherever suitable primary sources are available. Where suitable primary sources are not available, The Dispatch explains the use of a secondary source.

Based on a random sample:  The Dispatch 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.

The Dispatch 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.

The Dispatch Fact Check is the fact-checking section of The Dispatch. Our fact checks appear in their own section of the website. https://thedispatch.com/category/fact-check/ 

The Dispatch Fact-Check declares how it a sub-section of a parent organization.  Its primary sources of funding seem to be through subscription and the Meta Third Party Fact-Checking Program.  However, in future, more transparency here would be desired.  

https://thedispatch.com/article/the-dispatch-fact-check-policies-and-procedures/

The Dispatch Fact-Check declares how it is a sub-section of a parent organization. Its primary sources of funding seem to be through subscription and the Meta Third Party Fact-Checking Program. 

https://thedispatch.com/staff/

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.

https://thedispatch.com/staff/

The Dispatch on its website sets out the applicant’s organizational structure and makes clear how and by whom editorial control is exercised.

https://thedispatch.com/contact/  https://thedispatch.com/faqs/ https://thedispatch.com/article/the-dispatch-fact-check-policies-and-procedures/

We also include an invitation to email us at a dedicated address at the bottom of every fact check, here’s an example: https://thedispatch.com/article/unproven-claims-that-steve-scalise-has-ties-to-white-supremacists-resurface/

The Dispatch provides easy means on its website for users to communicate with the editorial team.

https://thedispatch.com/article/the-dispatch-fact-check-policies-and-procedures/

The Dispatch publishes on its website a statement about the methodology it uses to select, research, write and publish its fact checks.

The Dispatch 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.

The Dispatch sets out in its fact checks relevant evidence that appears to support the claim as well as relevant evidence that appears to undermine it.

The Dispatch 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.

The Dispatch seeks where possible to contact those who made the claim to seek supporting evidence

We invite readers to email us at the bottom of every fact check. As well as here. We get several emails to this address every day. https://thedispatch.com/article/the-dispatch-fact-check-policies-and-procedures/

The Dispatch 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.

We invite readers to submit corrections at the bottom of every fact check, and it is mentioned on our page describing our fact check operation. 

The Dispatch has a corrections or complaints policy that is easily visible and accessible on the organization’s website and on every fact-check they produce.

In their policies, The Dispatch, 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. (https://thedispatch.com/article/the-dispatch-fact-check-policies-and-procedures/)

We do our best to avoid corrections by giving each of our articles--fact checks and the rest of our content--two edits, and editors check facts on the way. Unfortunately, mistakes do happen but we correct them as quickly as we can. 

Here is one fact check I’ve discovered that had a correction. I’ve searched through our archives going back to March, and this is the only one I’ve found. We did have a spell where we did not publish any fact checks while we were waiting to fill an opening. https://thedispatch.com/article/fact-check-did-anheuser-buschs-ceo-resign-after-bud-light-campaign/

I am going to include a few links to non-fact checks to give you an example of things we have corrected across our site, so as to show that we do append corrections on matters large and small. 

https://thedispatch.com/newsletter/morning/congress-avoids-a-shutdown/ 

https://thedispatch.com/newsletter/morning/u-s-india-unite-over-common-adversary/

https://thedispatch.com/article/the-discrimination-lawsuit-against-fox-news-explained/

The Dispatch makes its correction openly and transparently, seeking as far as possible to ensure that users of the original see the correction and the corrected version.

https://thedispatch.com/article/the-dispatch-fact-check-policies-and-procedures/

The Dispatch, informs its users that if they believe the signatory is violating the IFCN Code, they may inform the IFCN, with a link to the IFCN site.

https://thedispatch.com/article/the-dispatch-fact-check-policies-and-procedures/

Based on their organization personnel/structure and the corrected non-fact check articles published by The Dispatch (https://thedispatch.com/newsletter/morning/u-s-india-unite-over-common-adversary/), it is safe to assume that their policy on corrections extends to their overall organization and not just the in-house fact-checking unit.