WebQoof is The Quint's fact-checking vertical. The Quint is a legally registered organisation, owned by Quint Digital Media Limited (earlier known as Gaurav Mercantiles Limited), a company listed on the Bombay Stock Exchange (BSE) Limited. Mr. Raghav Bahl and Ms. Ritu Kapur are the Promoters of Quint Digital Media Limited. Please refer to the corporate website of the Company at www.quintdigitalmedia.com

Details of its legal registration are presented under the header ‘How Are We Funded?’ in the 'About Us' section here: https://www.thequint.com/about-us

Quint Digital Media Limited is a legally registered entity listed on the Bombay Stock Exchange. WebQoof is the fact-checking vertical of Quint. Details are easily available on the Website.

1. WebQoof, The Quint’s fact-checking operation was started in May 2017. It was in response to the spread of mis/disinformation campaigns around the 2016 US presidential elections and comparable trends in India, particularly hateful campaigns with communal overtone.

2. There are approx 175 employees at The Quint. Seven of them work with the fact-checking operation full time, while others (for eg. journalists across the country and specialists) act as editorial input support network.

3. The Quint is an award winning digital-only news organisation which specialises in investigative and in-depth reporting. It also focuses on analysis of issues related to public and national importance. The Quint also provides a platform for citizen journalism under the 'My Report' brand and fact-checking operation under the 'WebQoof' brand.

4. Over the years, WebQoof has built a dedicated audience for itself which not only reads our stories but also send us queries for fact-checking. While we have been working on political fact-checking, health fact-checking, debunking narratives on social media, deep-dives and analytical pieces related to mis/disinformation trends on social media, we expanded our work in the space of media literacy in the year 2022. This year, we want to focus on developing games to involve readers in the fact-checking process. We want to focus on a model where the reader would be an active participant and not a passive listener. 

1. The Quint started its fact-checking operation in May 2017 to counter the mis/disinformation hate campaigns in India following the US elections.

2. Six to Seven fact-checkers work in Webqoof, the fact-checking unit of the Qunit.

3. The Quint, the parent organisation, focuses on investigative and in-depth digital-only news reporting as well as citizen journalism. 

4. Quint's Webqoof focuses on political fact-checking, health fact-checking, and debunking false narratives on social media platforms.

The Quint's WebQoof section publishes an average of 15-20 fact-check stories a week, depending on the news flow. In the last one year, we have published well over 900 fact-checks. 

All the fact-check reports and videos can be accessed here: https://www.thequint.com/news/webqoof

The Qunit has met the requirement by publishing more than the stipulated number of fact checks a week over the past 12 months. 

Fact checks published over the previous three months can be accessed here: https://www.thequint.com/news/webqoof

Most fact-checks published by the applicant for the past three months are impactful and of larger public interest. The applicant has met the criteria.

The Quint has no commercial, financial and/or institutional relationship to the state, politicians or political parties in the country or countries it covers.

There was no funding or support received from foreign as well as local state or political actors over the previous financial year.

The Quint declares that it has no financial or institutional relationship with the State or Political actors. There is no State or political influence on the fact checks done by the Qunit. 

WebQoof is The Quint's fact-checking vertical. The Quint is a legally registered organisation, owned by Quint Digital Media Limited, a company listed on the BSE Limited. Mr. Raghav Bahl and Ms. Ritu Kapur are the Promoters of Quint Digital Media Limited. Please refer to the corporate website of the Company at www.quintdigitalmedia.com

Details of its legal registration are presented under the header ‘How Are We Funded?’ under the 'About Us' section here:

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

Qunit's fact-checking unit, Webqoof is funded by the parent organisation. Quint is a public and listed company. The financial reports are easily available online.

We follow the highest standards of verification and ensure that we let facts speak for themselves. We don't draw conclusions in the absence of facts. We also ensure that we are non-partisan while fact-checking. We have fact-checked politicians cutting across party lines over the years.                             

1. PM Narendra Modi Says All Villages Are Open Defecation Free, but Data Differs: https://www.thequint.com/news/webqoof/prime-minister-narendra-modi-claim-indian-villages-open-defecation-free-fact-check

2. BJP MP Nishikant Dubey's Claim on 'No Farmer Suicides' Isn't Backed by NCRB Data: https://www.thequint.com/news/webqoof/nishikant-dubey-no-farmer-suicides-in-8-years-fact-check

3. Congress Shares Edited Photo of PM Modi Reading ‘101 Ways To Save Adani': https://www.thequint.com/news/webqoof/pm-modi-101-ways-to-save-adani-edited-photo-fact-check

4. Congress Accounts Share Photo to Falsely Claim That BJP Gave Owaisi an Award: https://www.thequint.com/news/webqoof/bjp-gave-award-to-asaduddin-owaisi-congress-claims-fact-check

5. Arvind Kejriwal Shares Altered News Clip to Claim AAP Will Win Gujarat Polls: https://www.thequint.com/news/webqoof/arvind-kejriwal-altered-video-claim-aaps-win-gujarat-fact-check

6. Did Asle Toje Say PM Modi Is Chief Contender for Nobel Peace Prize?: https://www.thequint.com/news/webqoof/asle-toje-pm-narendra-modi-nobel-peace-prize-fact-check

7. Image in NYT Article on Delhi Schools Is From Sarvodaya, Not Mother Mary's: https://www.thequint.com/news/webqoof/new-york-times-photo-private-school-instead-of-govt-school-fact-check

8. Media Organisations Incorrectly Claim Pakistan Flag Hoisted in Bihar's Purnea: https://www.thequint.com/news/webqoof/media-misreports-pakistan-flag-hoisted-in-purnea-bihar-fact-check

9. Edited Clip Shared to Claim Arijit Singh Sang 'Gerua' to Send Political Message: https://www.thequint.com/news/webqoof/mamata-banerjee-arijit-singh-gerua-kolkata-international-film-festival-fact-check

10. Fact-Check: Did Rahul Gandhi Say 'Yatra Will Stop If It Doesn't Work? : https://www.thequint.com/news/webqoof/rahul-gandhi-made-remark-about-his-tshit-and-not-bharat-jodo-yatra-fact-check

The ten fact checks published over the year reveal that the applicant has no partisanship. Claims made by different political parties are selected and verified. The fact checkers of the Quint use the same standards and process for every fact check.

We have a strict policy of non-partisanship. While selecting a story for fact-checking:

1. We assess the impact a misleading post can have - is it likely to instigate violence? Can it harm anyone? What will be the implications if it goes viral?

2. We assess the kind of damage it can do. In certain cases, posts can incite violence or can make an already sensitive situation worse, we prioritise based on the repercussions it can have.

3. We check the vitality. in some cases, the most innocuous posts which are viral can mislead/misinform people.

4. Misinformation is parallel to the news cycle, we also focus on breaking news events and news cycle to ensure that we fact-check and debunk narratives and falsehoods around that.

You can find all the additional details here: https://www.thequint.com/about-us/webqoof

The applicant has selected and verified claims from all sides. Quint Webqoof explained how it selects claims under the subhead 'Selection of Claims' in the link on the Website.

All the fact-check reports and videos can be accessed here: https://www.thequint.com/news/webqoof

The applicant discloses the sources it quotes in fact-checks clearly, and provides evidence on how the fact-checkers debunked the claims. Readers can conclude the sources' interests and the evidence's accuracy with the detailed explanation in the fact checks given by The Quint.

All the fact-check reports and videos can be accessed here: https://www.thequint.com/news/webqoof

Going by the fact checks published and other content on the Quint website, the applicant has no political affiliation. It is politically unbiased. 

As a part of the company policy, employees are made to sign an undertaking which clearly states that the employees are not directly or indirectly involved with any political party or candidate.

Team members must not be involved directly or indirectly in any kind of political activity like advocating or campaigning for any political party or candidate, public expressions of their personal political preference (like sticking banners in their houses, displaying political stickers or slogans on their vehicles etc).

Team members are prohibited from contesting or accepting any appointment or association of whatsoever nature with any public office.

More details of the work, methodology and the team involved can be accessed here: https://www.thequint.com/about-us/webqoof

The applicant has taken an undertaking from employees on the Editorial code of conduct. The same has been uploaded to the application. The fact checks of the applicant are unbiased and follow non-partisanship. The applicant has given a  short statement on the 'Non-Partisanship policy" on their website.

Sources are essential when it comes to fact-checking and linking our readers back to the source from where we extract information is our responsibility.

We cite sources and link it to the original document within our report. At times, when there is fear that a particular page/tweet will be taken down, we archive those and use the archived source for the benefit of our viewers or take screenshots of the page/tweet. In most instances, we get in touch with stakeholders or authorities to verify the facts.

More details of the work, methodology and the team involved can be accessed here: https://www.thequint.com/about-us/webqoof

Additionally, we'd like to mention that in its early days, WebQoof was republishing stories, under a mutual agreement, from other fact-checking websites. So reader might find stories from other organisations on our website prior to 2017-2018.

All the fact check reports and videos can be accessed here: https://www.thequint.com/news/webqoof

A randomised analysis of sources used in fact-checks found that the Applicant complies with the requirement. Links to the sources were provided in the fact checks so that users could verify on their own.

All the fact check reports and videos can be accessed here: https://www.thequint.com/news/webqoof

Quint fact checkers have used primary sources as evidence wherever possible by directly contacting the sources, and in some cases, ground verification was done. Hence the applicant has complied with the criteria.

All the fact check reports and videos can be accessed here: https://www.thequint.com/news/webqoof

The applicant checks all key elements of the claims and quotes more than one source to debunk the claims. Hence complied.

All the fact check reports and videos can be accessed here: https://www.thequint.com/news/webqoof

The applicant has met this requirement. Sources in the fact-checks are clearly identified by the applicant so that readers can draw conclusions on the interests of the sources quoted.

WebQoof, is the fact-checking arm of an award winning news organisation – The Quint – which specialises in investigative, deep dive reporting and analysis on issues of public and national importance.

You can find more details about our organisational structure here: https://www.thequint.com/about-us

Webqoof is the fact-checking unit of the Quint. On the about us page of Quint, under the 'How are We funded' subheading the financial reports and other details were given as a link to https://quintdigitalmedia.com/. The applicant has complied with the criteria.

The Quint is owned by Quint Digital Media Limited, a company listed on the BSE Limited. Mr Raghav Bahl and Ms Ritu Kapur are the Promoters of Quint Digital Media Limited (formerly known as Gaurav Mercantiles Limited). Please refer to the corporate website of the company at www.quintdigitalmedia.com

You can find more details about our organisational structure and funding here: https://www.thequint.com/about-us

The statement of ownership was clearly stated on the Website of Quint. The shareholding pattern is updated regularly on the link(www.quintdigitalmedia.com) given on the about us page of the Quint. Hence complied.

You can find the organisational structure of The Quint here: https://www.thequint.com/about-us/webqoof

The applicant has met this criterion. The organisational structure and editorial control were explained clearly in the link given.

You can find the professional biographies of the editorial team here: https://www.thequint.com/about-us/webqoof

Brief professional biographies of six staffers of the fact-checking unit were given. Other editorial team members' biographies were also published. The applicant complied with the requirement.

You can see the details here: https://www.thequint.com/contact-us

We also share our contact points (email and WhatsApp tip-line) on social media frequently. We also attach a message at the end of every story asking people to send us their queries, if any. 

Apart from giving email IDs and Whatsapp numbers on the contact us page Quint has given the details for readers to communicate with them on the Webqoof page and individual fact check page. The applicant met the criterion.

The process of fact-checking ranges from ground reporting, assessing government and publicly available data, being in touch with the stakeholders and authorities to verify facts. We also rely on online tools like InVid, Twitter Advance Search, Google Advance Search, Google Maps etc while analysing various parts of a message for a detailed response.

We have sent our reporters on the ground many times to verify news stories and thus preventing misinformation from spreading. One of the recent examples would be this - A video of a woman was massively circulated online claiming she was a "child kidnapper". Such rumours have led to mob violence and even lynchings in the past. We acted instantly on the video and visited the ground to find out the details of the story. We spoke to the woman's relatives, visited her house, spoke to her neighbours and even the police to ascertain the facts. Our story can be read here: https://www.thequint.com/news/webqoof/woman-kidnapped-child-in-bawana-delhi-false-claim-read-more

Our methodology can be found here: https://www.thequint.com/about-us/webqoof

The methodology of research, writing and publishing fact checks is well explained. Digital tools used for debunking are also clearly stated. A short statement of the selection of claims was also stated on their website.

All the fact check reports and videos can be accessed here: https://www.thequint.com/news/webqoof

A randomised analysis of fact-checks revealed that the applicant selects the claims based on vitality(importance) and virality (reach). The applicant met the requirement.

All the fact check reports and videos can be accessed here: https://www.thequint.com/news/webqoof

The applicant, in its factchecks, publishes evidence that counters the claim as well as proof that supports it, depending on the claim. Hence it has complied with the criterion.

All the fact check reports and videos can be accessed here: https://www.thequint.com/news/webqoof

The Qunit assesses the merits of the evidence using the same standards for equivalent claims regardless of who made a claim.

All the fact check reports and videos can be accessed here: https://www.thequint.com/news/webqoof

The Quint fact-checkers contacted the persons who made a claim wherever possible.

We encourage our users to send us claims that they'd like us to verify almost on all our social media platforms and even on our website. To begin with, right on top of our section page we have a communication inviting users to send us their queries. (Link here: https://www.thequint.com/news/webqoof)

Next, at the end of all our videos, we urge our readers to send us their queries on our WhatsApp helpline number or on our email address. (Link here: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ZOa2zVeX64Q&list=PLkwj3jpG3Xo0yI1A2xpbzLi2cIz6mFagy)

We also put out creatives o our social media platforms where we ask engage with our users and encourage them to send us their queries.

(Twitter: https://twitter.com/QuintFactCheck/status/1484019685750632451?s=20

(Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/p/CY-pDeBJUlA/?utm_source=ig_web_copy_link)

(Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/QuintFactCheck/posts/3137184706601979)

The applicant encourages readers to send claims to be fact-checked. They have given the numbers of the helpline, email and WhatsApp contact on the website, at the end of each fact-check and on social media handles.

To err is after all human! Own up to any error quickly and completely. Be transparent when correcting a factual error. Therefore, as a professional organisation, while our endeavour is to work with utmost flawlessness and accuracy, we are also mindful of the fact that mistakes need to be corrected promptly.

You can find more on this here: https://www.thequint.com/about-us/webqoof

The Quint fact-checking unit Webqoof has published the correction policy on its about us page. Hence it has complied with the requirement.

The Qunit 's correction policy is clear and the process is explained on how mistakes are rectified.                                                                                      

1. In February 2023, a video of Maharashtra Chief Minister Eknath Shinde performing a prayer at a place of worship was circulated online with a claim that the chief minister offered a saffron-coloured 'chadar' at a mosque. We fact-checked the claim and stated that the place was not a mosque but a temple. However, we later found out that it was a disputed site and that people from both the communities - Hindus and Muslims - have been visiting the site for decades.While Muslims refer to the structure as Haji Maland Dargah, Hindus call it Machhindranath Temple.

We immediately corrected out story and issued a correction to clarify the place was visited by people from both the communities.          

2. In March 2022, a photo of Former Miss Ukraine Anastasiia Lenna went viral with a claim that she was training to fight against Russia in the war. We had initially put out a story based on the social media posts, but later it was clarified that the photo was only meant to "inspire" people. We corrected the error and added a note at the end. Link here: https://www.thequint.com/neon/former-miss-ukraine-anastasiia-lenna-takes-up-arms-against-russian-invasion#read-more

    

The Qunit fact-checking unit follows the Correction policy transparently so that users can identify and understand the original and corrected versions.

We have updated WebQoof's About Us section to to inform readers to how to contact IFCN if we are found violating the IFCN Code: https://www.thequint.com/about-us/webqoof

The Webqoof section mentions that readers can complain to IFCN in case of a code violation. The link is active.

You can view The Quint's correction policy here: https://www.thequint.com/about-us

The parent company's correction policy is provided in the about us of the Qunit.