Organization: TV Today Network Limited
Applicant: KAMAL MAHAJAN
Assessor: Kanchan Kaur
Background
The applicant is a part of a larger media house, and makes this quite clear. The website has been set up for fact checking and is clearly focused on it. The applicant publishes fact checks quite frequently; it has published at least one a week over the past year. Most of these are in the public interest.
The applicant has stated that its funding comes only from its parent organisation, which is a publicly listed company. It has said that it has not received any funding from any political sources.
The applicant sets out its non-partisanship policy on its website quite clearly and has clearly stated that this applies to its staff, too. The applicant uses the same standards of evidence for equivalent claims and follows the same process for all fact checks, considering the reach and importance of the claim. It does not focus its fact-checking on anyone side. Further, it clearly states its sources, so that the reader knows if they have any interests that might influence the outcome of the fact checks. It is not a part of any political party, and does not advocate any policy positions.
The applicant identifies all sources of evidence it uses in a manner that readers can easily replicate the fact check. It mainly uses primary sources, but it has used secondary sources and has referenced a few fact-checking websites, too, now and then. However, it checks elements of claims against more than one source of evidence.
The applicant receives funding from the media house of which it is a unit. This, in turn is funded through advertising. The applicant has made a statement on ownership and its website sets out its organisational structure, explaining how and by whom editorial control is exercised. Professional biographies of its team are put out on its website. It encourages users to communicate with the editorial team through email, social media and WhatsApp.
The methodology the website uses to select, research, write and publish fact checks is clearly mentioned; the applicant selects claims to check based on the reach and importance of the claim. It sets out evidence that appears to both support the claim as well as undermine it, and uses the same standards to assess all equivalent claims, regardless of who made the claim.
The applicant encourages users to contact it through several means, at the end of each fact check, as well as through a Contact Us page. It explains what can be fact-checked and what may not be. Its corrections policy is easily accessible on its website, and sets out how major mistakes are handled and that some complaints may not be responded to. No mistakes that warranted a correction have been made so far, says the applicant.
Though this website of the India Today group is not an existing signatory, it does have a link on its website where it informs users that they can report any violations of the IFCN code to the IFCN. The parent media company, the India Today group has an open corrections policy.
Assessment Conclusion
The application may be accepted.
Kanchan Kaur assesses application as Compliant
A short summary in native publishing language
Will need a bit of time to have this translated. Could we please ask the applicant?
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
10-Dec-2020 (3 years ago) Updated: 3 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
02-Feb-2021 (3 years ago) Updated: 3 years ago
The applicant is a part of a larger media house, and mentions this on its website, in its About Us page.
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
10-Dec-2020 (3 years ago)
1. The Lallantop had started the fact-checking in mid-2018 on an occasional basis. But we initiated our organized fact check efforts in November 2019. It’s been more than 12 months now that we are publishing regular fact checks. The Lallantop is a new-age digital platform. So, most of our readers/viewers are youth and well connected with us through social media and app. We started fact-checking to mitigate fake news- on social media or by the public figures and put up the purely fact-based information to our audience. We have a total subscriber/follower base of nearly 20 million users on different social media platforms altogether. This gives us a unique position to bust misinformation at the mass level.
2. Currently, 4 members are working on this fact-checking project- a team lead and 3 fact-checkers.
3. The Lallantop is a pioneer in fact-checking video production. Since 2018, The Lallantop has produced more than 500 fact-check videos. We also carry out fact-checking workshops in poll-bound states to mitigate the huge flow of misinformation; especially during the election period. We share a basic understanding of fact-checking and media literacy in these workshops. At Lallantop, we always focus on providing quality fact-check in Hindi, in video and text formats.
4. We are looking forward to expanding our team which will enable us to cover more topics and in detail. The Lallantop is also particularly interested in working with research organizations to help and carve out AI-based products to assist fact-checkers in future. A weekly fact-check round-up and fact-check literacy programs are also in pipeline.
Kanchan Kaur Assessor
02-Feb-2021 (3 years ago) Updated: 3 years ago
The website has been set up for fact checking and clearly focused on it, with expansion plans.
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
10-Dec-2020 (3 years ago) Updated: 3 years ago
We have published more than 250 fact-check stories in the last 12 months. The same are available on this URL: https://www.thelallantop.com/factcheck/
For compliance purpose of having minimum one fact check a week, please refer this spreadsheet link or attached file. It has the links to week-wise data of around 80 stories https://bit.ly/3lEOp88
Kanchan Kaur Assessor
02-Feb-2021 (3 years ago) Updated: 3 years ago
The applicant publishes fact checks quite frequently. It has published at least one a week over 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
02-Feb-2021 (3 years ago) Updated: 3 years ago
Most of the claims published by the applicant are in the public interest and could impact individuals or the general public.
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
10-Dec-2020 (3 years ago) Updated: 3 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
02-Feb-2021 (3 years ago) Updated: 3 years ago
The applicant has stated that its funding comes only from its parent organisation, which is a publicly listed company.
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
10-Dec-2020 (3 years ago)
Not applicable - as we do not receive funding from any political source or foreign funding.
Kanchan Kaur Assessor
02-Feb-2021 (3 years ago) Updated: 3 years ago
The applicant has said that it has not received any funding from any 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
10-Dec-2020 (3 years ago)
At The Lallantop, We always believe in the factual, diverse, non-partisan and primary source-based fact-checking. These ten fact-check articles show how much we value the primary source or the origin of the information. For example, in article 3, 4, 5, 6, 8 and 9, we contacted the primary source of information; the person with whom the incident happened or the person present there at that moment. Like in- article 3. We contact the primary source- victim (JNU student from AISA org.) and representatives of accused's org. (ABVP). We followed the same procedure in rest of these articles and tried to contact the person; if not available then eyewitnesses, immediate family members, colleagues, friends etc.
In the case of internet-based information, e.g. in article 1, 2, 7 and 10, we write the fact-check after evaluating the primary and subsequently, the secondary information available on the internet. As per our methodology, we first give a clear picture of the claim stated and then put up the facts to counter each part of the claim. e.g. in the first article, we fact-check a TV anchor and editor-in-Chief of Sudarshan News, Suresh Chavhanke. We picked up the 6 major claims from his one-hour long show on 'UPSC Jihad' and then fact-checked the same with government notifications, results, documents, gazettes, institutions and information available on the internet.
Lallantop Fact check team follows a fixed pattern of writing fact-check story. We first write the claim (in original form), elaborate if needed; then comes the fact-checking part and finally the conclusion based on the facts and credible information we have. Our conclusion in the article is always based only on facts. We strongly discourage and don't allow any sort-of opinion, prejudice, loaded or sweeping remarks in fact check story. Instead, we let the evidences dictate our conclusion.
Kanchan Kaur Assessor
02-Feb-2021 (3 years ago) Updated: 3 years ago
The applicant uses the same standards of evidence for equivalent claims and follows the same process for all fact checks.
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
10-Dec-2020 (3 years ago)
Kanchan Kaur Assessor
02-Feb-2021 (3 years ago) Updated: 3 years ago
The applicant considers the reach and importance of the claim and does not concentrate its fact-checking on anyone side.
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
02-Feb-2021 (3 years ago) Updated: 3 years ago
The applicant clearly states its sources, so that the reader knows if they have any interests that might influence the outcome of the fact checks.
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
02-Feb-2021 (3 years ago) Updated: 3 years ago
The applicant is not a part of any political party, and does not advocate any 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
10-Dec-2020 (3 years ago) Updated: 3 years ago
Kanchan Kaur Assessor
02-Feb-2021 (3 years ago) Updated: 3 years ago
The applicant sets out its non-partisanship policy on its website quite clearly. It says that staff are not allowed to bring in their political or other advocacy biases in their work.
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.
Kanchan Kaur Assessor
02-Feb-2021 (3 years ago) Updated: 3 years ago
The applicant identifies all sources of evidence it uses in a manner that readers can easily 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
02-Feb-2021 (3 years ago) Updated: 3 years ago
The applicant mainly uses primary sources. It does use secondary sources now and then, and has referenced a few fact-checking websites, 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
02-Feb-2021 (3 years ago) Updated: 3 years ago
The applicant checks elements of claims 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
02-Feb-2021 (3 years ago) Updated: 3 years ago
The applicant states its sources clearly. Readers could understand the interests of the sources.
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
10-Dec-2020 (3 years ago) Updated: 3 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
02-Feb-2021 (3 years ago) Updated: 3 years ago
The applicant is a unit of a larger media house and receives funding from the media house, which, in turn is funded through 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
10-Dec-2020 (3 years ago)
The Fact Check is a segment within the Lallantop website which is managed independently from the editorial operations of the Lallantop.
Kanchan Kaur Assessor
02-Feb-2021 (3 years ago) Updated: 3 years ago
The applicant has made a statement on ownership on its About Us page.
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
10-Dec-2020 (3 years ago)
Kanchan Kaur Assessor
02-Feb-2021 (3 years ago) Updated: 3 years ago
The applicant website sets out its organisational structure, explaining 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
10-Dec-2020 (3 years ago)
Kanchan Kaur Assessor
02-Feb-2021 (3 years ago) Updated: 3 years ago
Professional biographies of its team are put out on its 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
10-Dec-2020 (3 years ago)
https://www.thelallantop.com/factcheck-contact-us/
Along with this, we also provide the links to contact us at the end of every fact check story.
Kanchan Kaur Assessor
02-Feb-2021 (3 years ago) Updated: 3 years ago
The website encourages users to communicate with the editorial team through email, social media and WhatsApp.
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
10-Dec-2020 (3 years ago)
Kanchan Kaur Assessor
02-Feb-2021 (3 years ago) Updated: 3 years ago
The applicant publishes on its website a statement that explains the methodology its uses to select, research, write and publish 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
02-Feb-2021 (3 years ago) Updated: 3 years ago
The applicant selects claims to check based on the reach and importance 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
02-Feb-2021 (3 years ago) Updated: 3 years ago
In its fact checks the applicant sets out evidence that appears to both support the claim as well as 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
02-Feb-2021 (3 years ago) Updated: 3 years ago
The applicant uses the same standards to assess all equivalent claims, regardless 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
02-Feb-2021 (3 years ago) Updated: 3 years ago
Where possible, the applicant seeks to contact the person who made the claim to seek supporting evidence, but in case it cannot, it goes ahead to check the original claim, nevertheless.
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
10-Dec-2020 (3 years ago) Updated: 3 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
02-Feb-2021 (3 years ago) Updated: 3 years ago
The applicant encourages users to contact it through several means, at the end of each fact check, as well as through a Contact Us page. It explains what can be fact-checked and what may not be.
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
10-Dec-2020 (3 years ago)
Kanchan Kaur Assessor
02-Feb-2021 (3 years ago) Updated: 3 years ago
The applicant has a corrections policy that is easily accessible on its website. The policy clearly sets out how major mistakes are handled and that some complaints may not be responded to.
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
02-Feb-2021 (3 years ago) Updated: 3 years ago
The applicant's corrections policy sets out what it does and does not correct and explains how major mistakes are handled. It adheres to this policy.
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
10-Dec-2020 (3 years ago)
No correction request received so far
Kanchan Kaur Assessor
02-Feb-2021 (3 years ago) Updated: 3 years ago
The applicant says that it has not made any mistakes so far that demanded a correction.
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
10-Dec-2020 (3 years ago) Updated: 3 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 "Complaints'' along with "About Us", "Correction policy" and "Contact Us". We clearly convey 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
02-Feb-2021 (3 years ago) Updated: 3 years ago
This particular website of the India Today group is not an existing signatory. However, it does have a link on its website where it informs users that they can report any violations of the IFCN code to the IFCN.
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
10-Dec-2020 (3 years ago) Updated: 3 years ago
We have 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 could be seen through the following links.
Kanchan Kaur Assessor
02-Feb-2021 (3 years ago) Updated: 3 years ago
The parent media company has an open corrections policy.