Organization: TV Today Network Limited
Applicant: KAMAL MAHAJAN
Assessor: Kanchan Kaur
Background
The applicant is a fact-checking unit of the Hindi wing of the India Today Group, which is a legally registered organization. The unit runs a fact-checking section called Padtaal, which is a signatory of the IFCN and is now seeking that assessment to be renewed. The applicant publishes fact checks regularly, and most fact checks are related to issues in the public interest. It is funded by the India Today Group, which is a publicly-listed company. The applicant has declared that it does not receive any funding from local or foreign state or political sources.
The applicant uses the same standards to check evidence for equivalent claims, regardless of who made the claim. It makes a statement on its website, explaining how it chooses claims to check. It does not concentrate unduly on one side of the claim. Sources are clearly mentioned in the fact checks. The applicant is not affiliated with any political party and does not advocate for policy positions. It has a non-partisanship policy on its website.
All sources of evidence are identified, with links provided so that readers can replicate the fact check. The applicant uses it position as a unit of the larger publishing house to find primary sources of evidence. It has used secondary sources, too. Most elements of claims are checked against more than one source of evidence.
The applicant receives funding from its parent organization; most of this comes from advertising. It makes a statement about ownership on its website. A page on the website explains its organizational structure and explains how and by whom editorial control is exercised. Professional biographies of important staff members are available on the website and they can be contacted through the Contact page.
The applicant has a methodology page that explains how it selects, researches and publishes fact checks. Most claims are checked based on the importance and spread of the claim. In its fact checks the applicant sets out evidence, both to support the claim, as well as to undermine it. It assesses the merits of the evidence using the same standards on equivalent claims, irrespective of who made the claim. Where possible, the applicant has contacted those who made the claim and used primary sources. The applicant encourages readers to send in claims to check at the end of each fact check, apart from the Contact Us page.
The applicant’s corrections policy is accessible on its website. The policy explains how major mistakes are handled and in how much time. The applicant has stated that it has not received any requests for corrections in the recent past. In its correction policy statement, the applicant has provided a link to the IFCN complaints page and has informed readers that they can get in touch with the IFCN if they believe that the website is violating the code of conduct. However, it would help if the link was a lot more prominent. It’s parent company also has a correction policy.
Assessment Conclusion
The application may be accepted.
Kanchan Kaur assesses application as Compliant
A short summary in native publishing language
The applicant may be asked to translate to Hindi.
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.
TV Today Network Limited
11-Mar-2022 (2 years ago)
The Lallantop website is a part of the India Today Group. We publish fact-check stories in Hindi language.
We are fully funded by our parent company, TV Today Network Ltd., which is listed on the National Stock Exchange (NSE) and Bombay Stock Exchange (BSE).
https://www.bseindia.com/stock-share-price/tv-today-network-ltd/tvtoday/532515/
The Lallantop Fact Check strictly adheres to the non-partisanship policy of India Today Group. These details and the Non Partisanship Policy of the Group are clearly mentioned on the website. The URLs can be seen below.
https://www.thelallantop.com/factcheck-about-us/
https://www.indiatoday.in/about-us-fact-check#non-partisanship-policy
Kanchan Kaur Assessor
24-Mar-2022 (2 years ago) Updated: 2 years ago
The applicant is a unit of the India Today Group, which is a legally registered organization. The applicant is a fact-checking wing of that unit.
done_all 1.1 marked as Compliant by Kanchan Kaur.
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?
TV Today Network Limited
11-Mar-2022 (2 years ago) Updated: 2 years ago
Earlier, Lallantop's team members would often identify viral misinformation and hoaxes on social media that had no
basis in fact, but it was not always possible for us to bust every viral claim by producing fact check articles. To address this
issue, The Lallantop began occasional fact-checking efforts in mid-2018. During our course of work as fact-checkers, we
realised that the misinformation industry on social media is vast and would require a dedicated fact-checking team. Thus began
our organised fact-checking efforts in November 2019. We have put more than two years of our dedicated attempts into
publishing quality and unbiased fact-check reports. We started fact-checking to mitigate fake news on social media platforms,
bust misinformation spread by public figures, and put out pure fact-based information to our readers and viewers.
The Lallantop is a new-age digital platform, well-connected with our viewers through social media and a mobile application. We
have a total subscriber/follower base of nearly 27 million users on different social media platforms altogether and that puts us in
a unique position to tackle misinformation and disinformation at the mass level.
2.) Currently, our team consists of 4 members - a team lead and 3 fact-checkers.
3.) At Lallantop, our focus is on providing quality fact-checks stories in the Hindi language - both in video and text
format. The Lallantop is a pioneer in fact-checking video production. Since 2018, we have produced more than 700 fact-check
videos. After being a part of IFCN in March 2021, we have produced more than 125 videos, busting visual and text
misinformation. At Lallantop, we believe that the knowledge of fact-checking should not remain confined to media organizations.
Thus, we have conducted fact-checking workshops, collaborated with major social networking platforms like Facebook to
spread media literacy among the common people. Moreover, the structure of Lallantop’s each fact check story is such that the
readers can easily retrace the fact check steps and analyse the claim on their own. We want to empower our audience to do the
fact check, even with the minor resources they have.
4.) The Lallantop’s fact checking arm i.e. Padtaal is looking forward to increasing its reach on social media platforms. At
present Padtaal has a collective follower base of approximately 24 thousand followers/subscribers on social media. This
includes more than 13 thousand followers on YouTube, more than 6 thousand on Facebook, and more than 3 thousand on
Twitter and connected followers on other messaging apps. Our goal is to increase the collective follower count to 1 million and
boost our views to 20 million annually. We are also planning to expand the scope of our coverage by including stories on
international affairs, environmental misinformation, climate change, ecological issues.
Kanchan Kaur Assessor
24-Mar-2022 (2 years ago) Updated: 2 years ago
The applicant was initially set up as a Hindi wing of the India Today Group. It started fact checking randomly, but soon started a section on fact-checking called Padtaal, which is a signatory of the IFCN and is now seeking that assessment to be renewed.
done_all 1.2 marked as Compliant by Kanchan Kaur.
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.
TV Today Network Limited
11-Mar-2022 (2 years ago)
We have published more than 52 fact-check stories in the last 12 months. The same is available on this URL:
https://www.thelallantop.com/factcheck/
For the compliance purpose of having a minimum of one fact check a week, please refer to this spreadsheet link or attached file. It has
the links to week-wise data of 52 stories - bit.ly/3hgIjdO
Kanchan Kaur Assessor
24-Mar-2022 (2 years ago) Updated: 2 years ago
The applicant publishes fact checks regularly, meeting the requirement of at least one fact check a week for the past year.
done_all 1.3 marked as Compliant by Kanchan Kaur.
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.
Kanchan Kaur Assessor
24-Mar-2022 (2 years ago) Updated: 2 years ago
Most fact checks are related to issues in the public interest.
done_all 1.4 marked as Compliant by Kanchan Kaur.
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.
TV Today Network Limited
11-Mar-2022 (2 years ago) Updated: 2 years ago
The Lallantop is fully funded by the parent company TV Today Network Ltd. The parent company TV Today Network Ltd. is listed on the
National Stock Exchange and Bombay Stock Exchange. It does not have any affiliation to either the government or any political party or leader. Being
a listed company, all financial details of the company are already public and can be seen on the stock exchange websites. The latest shareholding
pattern of TV Today Network Ltd. can be seen on the Bombay Stock Exchange through the following link.
https://www.bseindia.com/stock-share-price/tv-today-network-ltd/tvtoday/532515/shareholding-pattern/
Kanchan Kaur Assessor
24-Mar-2022 (2 years ago) Updated: 2 years ago
The applicant is funded by the India Today Group, which is a publicly-listed company. The listing shows that of the 24789519 equity shares, 150 of them are held by the Government of India. This might be a technicality.
done_all 1.5 marked as Compliant by Kanchan Kaur.
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.
TV Today Network Limited
11-Mar-2022 (2 years ago)
Not applicable - as we do not receive funding from any local or foreign state or political sources.
Kanchan Kaur Assessor
24-Mar-2022 (2 years ago) Updated: 2 years ago
The applicant has declared that it does not receive any funding from local or foreign state or political sources.
done_all 1.6 marked as Compliant by Kanchan Kaur.
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.
TV Today Network Limited
11-Mar-2022 (2 years ago)
At The Lallantop, we practice factual, diverse, non-partisan, and primary source-based fact-checking. These
articles are exceptional examples of the value we put in busting fake information by identifying/reaching the primary source
or origin of the information. In articles 1, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7 we traced the original source of the information to verify the claim. This
included primary source/victims, eye-witnesses, or other mediums that provide first-hand information about the incident. In
articles- 2, 3, 9 and 10 we either spoke with the source or the significant stakeholders. Then, we subsequently move to the
secondary sources. For example, in articles 4, 5, 7 we traced the original piece of media from which the fake information
started.
We believe that the spirit of journalism lies in verification. Thus, we use multiple sources to verify the truth behind a piece of
information and conduct a step-by-step analysis for multiple claims made in a single social media post. For example, In
articles, 8, 9, 10 we conducted a systematic review of multiple claims made in a single post. In article 10, we did a step-by-
step analysis of a number of hoax claims regarding the COVID vaccine, by making use of the guidelines issued by the
Indian Health Ministry. In article 8, we verified the information using Govt. of India websites and also provided a way to the
consumers to verify the claims made on their own.
Lallantop’s Fact check team follows a systematic pattern of writing fact-check stories. We keep the same format for every story
to make it consistent. We first write the claim (in original form) with Hindi translation (if required). We also elaborate on the
context in which the claim is being made to provide more clarity to the readers. Then comes the systematic fact-check process
along with necessary sources. The final step is providing a conclusion based on the facts. We strongly discourage opinionated,
prejudiced, loaded, or sweeping remarks in fact-check stories. Instead, we let the evidence dictate our conclusion.
violence/
women/
afghanistan/
afghanistan/
exact-tax-figures/
but-not-to-pakistani-hindu-refugees/
illness-named-tarun-kothari-biswaroop-roy-chaudhary-and-leo-rebello-is-misleading/
Kanchan Kaur Assessor
24-Mar-2022 (2 years ago) Updated: 2 years ago
The applicant uses the same standards to check evidence for equivalent claims, regardless of who made the claim.
done_all 2.1 marked as Compliant by Kanchan Kaur.
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.
TV Today Network Limited
11-Mar-2022 (2 years ago)
Kanchan Kaur Assessor
24-Mar-2022 (2 years ago) Updated: 2 years ago
In a statement on its website, the applicant has explained how it chooses claims to check and how it does not concentrate unduly on one side of the claim.
done_all 2.2 marked as Compliant by Kanchan Kaur.
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.
Kanchan Kaur Assessor
24-Mar-2022 (2 years ago) Updated: 2 years ago
Sources are clearly mentioned in its fact checks. The reader can discern the inclinations of the source.
done_all 2.3 marked as Compliant by Kanchan Kaur.
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.
Kanchan Kaur Assessor
24-Mar-2022 (2 years ago) Updated: 2 years ago
The applicant is not affiliated with any political party and does not advocate for policy positions.
done_all 2.4 marked as Compliant by Kanchan Kaur.
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.
TV Today Network Limited
11-Mar-2022 (2 years ago) Updated: 2 years ago
Kanchan Kaur Assessor
24-Mar-2022 (2 years ago) Updated: 2 years ago
The applicant has put out a non-partisanship policy on its website.
done_all 2.5 marked as Compliant by Kanchan Kaur.
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.
TV Today Network Limited
11-Mar-2022 (2 years ago)
Kanchan Kaur Assessor
24-Mar-2022 (2 years ago) Updated: 2 years ago
All sources of evidence are identified, with links provided so that readers can replicate the fact check.
done_all 3.1 marked as Compliant by Kanchan Kaur.
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.
Kanchan Kaur Assessor
24-Mar-2022 (2 years ago) Updated: 2 years ago
The applicant uses it position as a unit of the larger publishing house to find primary sources of evidence. It has used secondary sources, too.
done_all 3.2 marked as Compliant by Kanchan Kaur.
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.
Kanchan Kaur Assessor
24-Mar-2022 (2 years ago) Updated: 2 years ago
Most elements of claims are checked against more than one source of evidence.
done_all 3.3 marked as Compliant by Kanchan Kaur.
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.
Kanchan Kaur Assessor
24-Mar-2022 (2 years ago) Updated: 2 years ago
All sources are clearly mentioned so that readers can understand if the source has any interest that might influence the outcome of the fact check.
done_all 3.4 marked as Compliant by Kanchan Kaur.
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.
TV Today Network Limited
11-Mar-2022 (2 years ago) Updated: 2 years ago
The Lallantop is a part of the India Today Group.
The Fact Check (Padtaal) is a segment within the lallantop website (https://www.thelallantop.com/factcheck), which is managed independently from the editorial operations of The Lallantop.
This team is independent of other editorial operations of the company and is engaged in fact-checking and busting misinformation in mainstream and social media.
The team reports directly to the Vice-Chairperson & Managing Director of the company.
The main source of revenue for the company is advertising. Less than one per cent of the revenue goes towards the Fact Check Team.
Kanchan Kaur Assessor
24-Mar-2022 (2 years ago) Updated: 2 years ago
The applicant receives its funding from its parent organization; most of this comes from advertising.
done_all 4.1 marked as Compliant by Kanchan Kaur.
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.
TV Today Network Limited
11-Mar-2022 (2 years ago)
The Fact Check is a segment within the Lallantop website which is managed independently from the editorial
operations of the Lallantop - https://www.thelallantop.com/factcheck-about-us/
Kanchan Kaur Assessor
24-Mar-2022 (2 years ago) Updated: 2 years ago
It makes a statement about ownership on its website.
done_all 4.2 marked as Compliant by Kanchan Kaur.
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.
TV Today Network Limited
11-Mar-2022 (2 years ago)
Kanchan Kaur Assessor
24-Mar-2022 (2 years ago) Updated: 2 years ago
A page on the applicant’s website explains its organizational structure and explains how and by whom editorial control is exercised.
done_all 4.3 marked as Compliant by Kanchan Kaur.
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.
TV Today Network Limited
11-Mar-2022 (2 years ago)
Kanchan Kaur Assessor
24-Mar-2022 (2 years ago) Updated: 2 years ago
Professional biographies of important staff members are available on the website.
done_all 4.4 marked as Compliant by Kanchan Kaur.
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.
TV Today Network Limited
11-Mar-2022 (2 years ago)
https://www.thelallantop.com/factcheck-contact-us/
Along with this, we also provide the links to our different platforms so that users can connect with us more conveniently.
Kanchan Kaur Assessor
24-Mar-2022 (2 years ago) Updated: 2 years ago
The applicant has a Contact page on the website.
done_all 4.5 marked as Compliant by Kanchan Kaur.
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.
TV Today Network Limited
11-Mar-2022 (2 years ago) Updated: 2 years ago
Kanchan Kaur Assessor
24-Mar-2022 (2 years ago) Updated: 2 years ago
The applicant has a methodology page that explains how it selects, researches and publishes fact checks.
done_all 5.1 marked as Compliant by Kanchan Kaur.
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.
Kanchan Kaur Assessor
24-Mar-2022 (2 years ago) Updated: 2 years ago
The applicant selects claims to check based on the importance and spread of the claim.
done_all 5.2 marked as Compliant by Kanchan Kaur.
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.
Kanchan Kaur Assessor
24-Mar-2022 (2 years ago) Updated: 2 years ago
In its fact checks the applicant sets out evidence, both to support the claim, as well as to undermine it.
done_all 5.3 marked as Compliant by Kanchan Kaur.
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.
Kanchan Kaur Assessor
24-Mar-2022 (2 years ago) Updated: 2 years ago
It assesses the merits of the evidence using the same standards on equivalent claims, irrespective of who made the claim.
done_all 5.4 marked as Compliant by Kanchan Kaur.
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.
Kanchan Kaur Assessor
24-Mar-2022 (2 years ago) Updated: 2 years ago
Where possible, the applicant has contacted those who made the claim and used primary sources.
done_all 5.5 marked as Compliant by Kanchan Kaur.
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.
TV Today Network Limited
11-Mar-2022 (2 years ago) Updated: 2 years ago
Along with the Contact us page, we write an appeal to our readers at the end of each fact-check story to share the viral claims/information with us. https://www.thelallantop.com/factcheck-contact-us/
In the Methodology section, we clearly stated the way and types of claims we select for the fact check.
Kanchan Kaur Assessor
24-Mar-2022 (2 years ago) Updated: 2 years ago
The public can get in touch with the applicant through the Contact Us page. Additionally, at the end of each fact check, it encourages readers to send in claims to check.
done_all 5.6 marked as Compliant by Kanchan Kaur.
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.
TV Today Network Limited
11-Mar-2022 (2 years ago) Updated: 2 years ago
Kanchan Kaur Assessor
24-Mar-2022 (2 years ago) Updated: 2 years ago
The applicant has a corrections policy that is accessible on its website.
done_all 6.1 marked as Compliant by Kanchan Kaur.
Criteria 6.2
Proof you meet criteria
The assessor will review the corrections policy to verify it meets critera. No additional information needed.
Kanchan Kaur Assessor
24-Mar-2022 (2 years ago) Updated: 2 years ago
The policy explains how major mistakes are handled and in how much time.
done_all 6.2 marked as Compliant by Kanchan Kaur.
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.
TV Today Network Limited
11-Mar-2022 (2 years ago) Updated: 2 years ago
No correction request received so far
Kanchan Kaur Assessor
24-Mar-2022 (2 years ago) Updated: 2 years ago
The applicant has stated that it has not received any requests for corrections in the recent past.
done_all 6.3 marked as Compliant by Kanchan Kaur.
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.
TV Today Network Limited
11-Mar-2022 (2 years ago) Updated: 2 years ago
We provide the information and the direct link to send a complaint to IFCN upfront on the main home page of the Fact
Check at the top. This is placed under the header "Correction Policy'' along with "About Us", "Methodology" and "Contact Us". We
clearly convey to the readers that they can either reach out to us or directly approach the IFCN if they think we are violating the
IFCN's Code of Principles.
Kanchan Kaur Assessor
24-Mar-2022 (2 years ago) Updated: 2 years ago
In its correction policy statement, the applicant has provided a link to the IFCN complaints page and has informed readers that they can get in touch with the IFCN if they believe that the website is violating the code of conduct. However, it would help if the link was a lot more prominent.
done_all 6.4 marked as Compliant by Kanchan Kaur.
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.
TV Today Network Limited
11-Mar-2022 (2 years ago) Updated: 2 years ago
The Lallantop’s fact check arm has a correction policy and here is the link: https://www.thelallantop.com/factcheck-
correction-policy/
Apart from our own Correction Policy, our parent media correction policy is listed on the home page of both India Today and Aaj
Tak websites, which can be seen through the following links.
Kanchan Kaur Assessor
24-Mar-2022 (2 years ago) Updated: 2 years ago
The parent company also has a correction policy.