Tirto.id is an online media publisher registered with the Indonesian Press Council. The status of its verification can be seen directly through the official website of the Indonesian Press Council, as follows: https://dewanpers.or.id/data/perusahaanpers

Legally, Tirto.id is also registered as a legal entity in the Indonesian Ministry of Law and Human Rights (document attached).The 'Tentan Kami' and 'Kontak' sections provide information openly about the background of establishment, vision, office address; telephone number and email account. Meanwhile, the 'Redaksi' section provides editorial staff information.

https://tirto.id/insider/tentang-kami

https://tirto.id/insider/redaksi

https://tirto.id/insider/kontak-kami

Related to the fact-checking project, Tirto.id does it in two formats. First, Live Fact-Check, which is a direct test of claims by the source statement with official data. We carried out this project for the first time during the Jakarta gubernatorial election and continued to examine various sources' claims to this day, for example: https://tirto.id/cek-fakta-debat-pilgub-dki-jakarta-2017-putaran-1-chqf

Second, ‘Periksa Data’ format, which is an analysis of issues that develop in the community. From this issue, the research team will verify using official data and write it in the form of a short report (mild-report). Since January 2017, the results of the analysis have been published twice a week in the form of articles: https://tirto.id/q/periksa-data-gqo

Furthermore, since 2018, fact-checking projects have been carried out almost every day in the special column ‘Periksa Fakta’. And, at the moment of general election in Indonesia 2019, we placed the product on the homepage of the site in the category of ‘Hoaks atau Fakta Pemilu 2019’: https://tirto.id/berita-hoax-fakta-pemilu-2019-df9D

Tirto.id is an online media that is registered with the Indonesian Press Council. It has a dedicated section for fact-checking, whose work can be found here: https://tirto.id/q/periksa-data-gqo

It is also part of the collective Cek Fakta initiative: https://cekfakta.com/institusi/19

However, it isn't clear who is in the editorial staff and it doesn't give full transparency who is in the fact-checking team, and how big the team is. https://tirto.id/insider/redaksi

We already have a fact checking project archive section on the website. Our factcheck article in the following tagging archive:

https://tirto.id/q/periksa-data-gqo

https://tirto.id/q/periksa-fakta-gnQ

Some authors of certain sections are part of the research department. And, at the moment of general election in Indonesia 2019, we placed the product on the homepage of the site in the category of ‘Hoaks atau Fakta Pemilu 2019’: https://tirto.id/berita-hoax-fakta-pemilu-2019-df9D

The applicant has published fact-checks over the past three months, but it only started to post very frequently in the beginning of March. In the span of those two months, from March 1 to May 4, it published a total of 13 fact-checks. 

During the elections season in 2019, they did a series of fact-checking related to election campaigns and debates, which can be seen here: https://tirto.id/berita-hoax-fakta-pemilu-2019-df9D. 

It also did real-time fact-checking during the presidential and vice-presidential candidates' debates.

During the process of checking facts, we only refer to reliable sources. Our standards has three levels of resources. The first level is government data (public) and (private) companies. The second level is intergovernmental organizations (eg: UN), international institutions (eg world banks, IMF), reliable consultants and research institutions and top journals. The third level is the national news agency.

In cases related to the examination of facts related to issues, events or fact debates, we also make confirmation efforts in accordance with journalism principles. Some examples can be read from the results of our fact inspection by displaying the results of confirmation of key informants.

For example: https://tirto.id/zohri-memang-memakai-bendera-polandia-cPne from this article, we confirm claims to key informants, such as: Polski Związek Lekkiej Atletyki (Polish Athletics Association), IAAF (International Association of Athletics Federations) etc.

https://tirto.id/soal-prabowo-bilang-ada-rp11000-triliun-uang-wni-di-luar-negeri-didT

https://tirto.id/simsalabim-jalan-desa-ala-dahnil-anzar-fakta-atau-hoaks-dhoT

https://tirto.id/benarkah-klaim-prabowo-55-rakyat-indonesia-buta-huruf-fungsional-dali

https://tirto.id/benarkah-80-pasar-tradisional-tak-layak-seperti-klaim-sandiaga-dhX3

https://tirto.id/benarkah-tarif-tol-di-indonesia-termahal-di-asean-dgHK

https://tirto.id/membedah-data-produksi-beras-yang-simpang-siur-dfkQ

https://tirto.id/caleg-mantan-koruptor-banyak-dari-partai-hanura-demokrat-golkar-dhwh

https://tirto.id/benarkah-jokowi-bilang-pki-tidak-bersalah-apalagi-mengancam-ddaK

https://tirto.id/benarkah-7-ribu-triliun-uang-koruptor-di-swiss-bakal-disita-jokowi-dcet

https://twitter.com/TirtoID/status/1085861792297799681

The issues taken by Tirto.id cover a variety of topics depending on the context and news value. In welcoming the 2019 Election, Tirto.id examined each candidate's statement during direct debate. As we explained earlier, we only refer to reliable sources with three source levels. During this process, we have nonpartisanship policies, fairness and transparency of resources.

Tirto.id demonstrates its fact checks cover a variety of subjects or speakers and do not unduly concentrate on one side of the topic/context they fact-check.

The recent fact-checking controversies during the presidential election (see 6b) raise questions on potential bias.

As written in the "About Us" section: https://tirto.id/insider/tentang-kami 

Tirto.id berdiri di atas dan untuk semua golongan, serta non-partisan. Tirto.id tidak bekerja untuk kepentingan politik mana pun.

As we stated in the link above, we promise to stand above all groups equally, and non-partisan. tirto.id does not involve and work with any political interests. This can also be seen through the various articles that we have published. And, at the moment of general election in Indonesia 2019, Tirto.id examined every statement for all candidates during direct debate. We do not have partiality towards one group and certain political interests.

In "About Us" section, Tirto.id states that it "stands above and for all groups and is non-partisan. Tirto.id doesn't work for any political interests". Although it has a general policy, it doesn't specify if it has any clear rules preventing its staff from active involvement in advocacy.

During the 2019 elections, it fact-checked statements and claims made by presidential and vice presidential candidates during debates in real time.

However, it was widely criticized and was forced to apologize for its live tweets during the vice-presidential debate on March 17, 2019. In one meme, it quoted vice presidential candidate Sandiaga Uno's pledge: "We will abolish university entrance exams", known as UN in Indonesian -- followed by Tirto's own cheeky comment: "Huh...? Thought we'll abolish NU," referring to the Nahdlatul Ulama, Indonesia's biggest Muslim organization, which supports Sandiaga's opponent, Ma'ruf Amin.
https://nasional.tempo.co/read/1186413/kartun-tirto-id-dianggap-provokatif-pbnu-layangkan-protes/full&view=ok

It also issued an apology for creating another meme based on Ma'ruf's quote that is taken out of context. In the meme, Ma'ruf was (mis)quoted mid-sentence: "Non-marital can be legalised," followed by Tirto's own cheeky comment: "OK, guys, don't forget to prepare condoms and three-finger impressions, yes!" Three-finger impressions are used to legalise documents in Indonesia.
https://kabar24.bisnis.com/read/20190319/15/901688/gara-gara-meme-zina-bisa-dilegalisir-tkn-laporkan-tirto.id-ke-dewan-pers

Tirto issued an apology to Ma'ruf, his campaign team and NU the next day, on April 18, 2019.
https://tirto.id/kami-melakukan-kesalahan-dan-kami-meminta-maaf-djJT

However, the campaign of Ma'ruf and President Joko "Jokowi" Widodo still reported Tirto to the Press Council.
https://nasional.kompas.com/read/2019/03/19/16114881/tkn-jokowi-maruf-laporkan-tirtoid-ke-dewan-pers-terkait-meme-hoaks

We always try to help the reader to understand the problems we are operating in examining the facts. Generally, we write it in the form of a chronology of problems that makes it easier for them to trace back the question of what is being discussed. Information sources as much as possible are open and accessible sources for the readers. The internet link (if it is an internet URL) will always be embedded in each text section of the article.

(See for example in this example: https://tirto.id/zohri-memang-memakai-bendera-polandia-cPne )

Polski Związek Lekkiej Atletyki (PZLA) atau Asosiasi Atletik Polandia melalui akun Twitter resmi mencuit soal bendera negaranya yang dipakai Zohri. Pada 11 Juli 2018 pukul 11.04, kabar itu disampaikan melalui akun @PZLANews; intinya membenarkan tim mereka meminjamkan bendera putih-merah Polandia.

We use a variety of technology aids in open source models in testing certain facts, such as for photos / images, we usually use Google Reverse Image and the like. (See in the example: https://tirto.id/foto-viral-bencana-palu-ini-bukan-benar-benar-foto-dari-palu-c4ga) Thus, readers can easily imitate and find their own source.

Meanwhile, the sources we use in testing facts can be verified, in addition to referring to reliable sources with three sources of resources, we also ensure that we have confirmed certain sources or that we re-check them again. (See in the example: https://tirto.id/misinformasi-perdebatan-sri-mulyani-vs-zulkifli-hasan-soal-utang-cUvj )

Tirto.id links sources to the original claim and also the evidence it uses to fact-check. And if there are no links available, they identify the source of information in detail. 

As we have given at the beginning, legal founding documents in the Indonesian Ministry of Law and Human Rights exist and are official. To access it, people generally need to access it directly on the official website of the Indonesian Ministry of Law and Human Rights (Directorate General of General Legal Administration) (Go to this link: https://ahu.go.id/profil-pt/cari?tipe=perseroan&nama=Pt+tirta+adi+surya) Meanwhile, the "Tentang Kami" section, which is brief about the funding, is also written.

The applicant makes a statement on ownership on its website, that the Tirto.id was self-funded by its founders, namely Sapto Anggoro, the editor in chief; Teguh Budi Santoso, chief content officer (CCO); and Nur Samsi, chief technology officer (CTO). 

Additional documents from the Directorate General of General Legal Administration show that the three provided initial funding of 3.5 billion rupiah each, thus a total of 10.5 billion rupiah, in 2015. No further details are available.

The three founders also are also directors of a media consultancy firm called Binokular, whose clients include the corporate, NGO and government sectors. Sapto is the CEO, Teguh is the CCO and Nur Samsi is the CTO.
https://www.binokular.net/about

There is no information about their position in Binokular on the Tirto.id website.

By name, all Tirto.id editorial members are registered online, see: https://tirto.id/insider/redaksi

Specifically, in the “Riset Redaksi’ section are the names of staff responsible for fact checking work. The reader can also find information or a brief biography of the names referred to on the site.

Tirto.id lists its editorial staff on its website here: https://tirto.id/insider/redaksi

Although it tells IFCN that the Riset Redaksi (research editorial desk) is the team responsible for the fact-checking work, the website doesn't specify it clearly. 

Moreover, not all of its members of the research editorial desk have their biographies explained. 

We include an email description where people can send information, corrections or additional info about fact checking work in the ‘Metodologi Periksa Data dan Riset Mandiri’ section: https://tirto.id/insider/metodologiriset

If the reader has suggestions, ideas or responses to Check Mandiri Data and Research can be sent to factcheck@tirto.id Tirto.id also openly receives comments via social media platforms (eg Facebook messenger, twitter and Instagram).

Tirto.id invites readers to send comments, ideas and other reponses to the fact-check's team via email at factcheck@tirto.id, which can be found in its Methodology of Fact-Check and Independent Research page.

Although not specifically listed, Tirto.id also said readers can contact them via social media accounts: Facebook, Twitter and Instagram.

We declare the fact checking methodology: https://tirto.id/insider/metodologiriset

In this section, in addition to explaining the format of the fact checking we did; the sources we use in testing verifiable facts are explained. We rely on the data source process based on three levels of resources, we also ensure that certain sources have been confirmed or we re-check.

Meanwhile, in each case, fact checking involves various sources of issues/problems/chronology findings that we will explain in each published article. If you use various open source tools, we also include them in the description in the article how our process tests a claim.

In essence, various additional information, source links that can be included and other information, we will always submit openly in each article checking facts.

Tirto.id explains its fact-checking methodology in the page called Methodology of Fact-Checking and Independent Research.
https://tirto.id/insider/metodologiriset.

We include an email description where people can send information, corrections or additional info about fact checking work in the ‘Metodologi Periksa Data dan Riset Mandiri’ section: https://tirto.id/insider/metodologiriset

If the reader has suggestions, ideas or responses to Check Mandiri Data and Research can be sent to factcheck@tirto.id Tirto.id also openly receives comments via social media platforms (eg Facebook messenger, twitter and Instagram).

Tirto.id indicates in its Methodology of Fact-Checking and Research Methodology that readers can send comments, ideas and other reponses to the fact-check's team via email at factcheck@tirto.id

Although not specifically speicief, Tirto.id also told IFCN that readers can contact them via social media accounts: Facebook, Twitter and Instagram.

Tirto.id provides an opportunity for broad readers to participate in monitoring the results of checking facts. Correction policies can be sent openly by readers via email: factcheck@tirto.id

Tirto.id tells IFCN that the public can send request a correction via email: factcheck@tirto.id. However, the email address is displayed not in the Redaksi (Editorial Staff) page nor Kontak Kami (Contact Us) page, but in the Metodologi Riset (Research Methodology) page.

It has a handbook or guide for corrections, but it doesn't seem to be publicly accessible.

Regarding article checking facts, so far we have tried to maintain standards to only publish articles that have conclusive conclusions. Therefore, it is quite rare for fact-stressing articles to get information or data correction cases.

However, for the Live Fact-Check format, if we make a mistake, we will publish a correction article with information and still include the original (initial) link of the article. As in the following example: https://tirto.id/koreksi-data-agus-ingin-menambah-800-an-sekolah-inklusi-ciPV

 Tirto.id doesn't have a public page listing all corrections made and provides only one example of a correction made in the past year:
https://tirto.id/koreksi-data-agus-ingin-menambah-800-an-sekolah-inklusi-ciPV

However, I found a correction, and apology, it issued for two memes it tweeted during the vice-presidential candidates' debate on March 17, 2019. As mentioned earlier, in one meme, it quoted vice presidential candidate Sandiaga Uno's pledge: "We will abolish university entrance exams", known as UN in Indonesian -- followed by Tirto's own comment: "Huh...? Thought we'll abolish NU," referring to the Nahdlatul Ulama, Indonesia's biggest Muslim organization, which supports Sandiaga's opponent, Ma'ruf Amin.

In another meme, it also misquoted Ma'ruf and took it out of context. In the meme, Ma'ruf said: "Non-marital sex can be legalised," followed by Tirto's comment: "OK, guys, don't forget to prepare condoms and three-finger impressions, yes!" Three-finger impressions are used to legalise documents in Indonesia.

The quote was part of a longer sentence spoken by Ma'ruf: "We also invite all of us to resist and fight hoaxes because hoaxes destroy our national order. Resisting and fighting slander, for example if Jokowi is elected, the Religious Affairs Ministry will be disbanded, religious lessons be banned, calls to prayer be banned, non-marital sex be legalized. I swear to God, as long as I am alive, I will fight all attempts to do so."

https://mediaindonesia.com/read/detail/224269-sebar-hoaks-tirtoid-dilaporkan-ke-dewan-pers

Tirto.id issued an apology to Ma'ruf, his campaign team and NU the next day, on April 18, 2019.
https://tirto.id/kami-melakukan-kesalahan-dan-kami-meminta-maaf-djJT

It also said on Twitter that it had deleted the two problematic tweets and posted a new corrected meme. In the corrected meme, Ma'ruf is quoted as saying: "We invite all of us to resist and fight hoaxes, slander [...] for example, legalizing non-marital sex."

https://twitter.com/TirtoID/status/1107324145560248320

A side note, Tirto.id was embroiled in a controversy earlier this month, when its story on the prosecution of farmer activist Budi Pego, who opposed a gold mine operation in his district, suddenly vanished from the website. A number of journalists wrote a letter to the management demanding an explanation. The Budi Pego story returned online after the journalists' complaint.

Tirto.id said the story went offline on April 19, after they received a response from PT Bumi Suksesindo, the company that operated the gold mine, and it went back online on April 21 with corrections. It didn't specify what corrections it made in the story, however.

The journalists' letter of protest:

https://twitter.com/andreasharsono/status/1086619475015651329?lang=en

The Budi Pego story:

https://tirto.id/kejanggalan-kasus-palu-arit-terhadap-budi-pego-dbLM

Although the Budi Pego story isn't part of the fact-checking department, how the editors handled the story is still worth mentioning.