Youturn is a legally registered that is set up exclusively for the purpose of fact-checking. The same along with the registration certificate is available for the users to view on the about us page of our website. Please find the link where the registration certificate is displayed - https://youturn.in/wp-content/uploads/2019/12/YouTurn-Registration-2.pdf

The applicant is a legally registered organisation. An online verification of the registration is available through a link on its website. 

1. In 2015, Social media was booming and creating a huge impact all around. Exactly around that year in Tamil Nadu, Chennai floods happened and brought people together around via social media. But at the same time, several rumors that were going rounds majorly in social media impacted the society negatively. This made us fact-check the claims that are viral in social media which would have a severe impact on people if it goes without debunking. There were several claims during this critical time that were fake, myths, conspiracy stories were circulated as real news on social media. This paved a way for us to kick start fact-checking which was a need of the hour then. We got ourselves registered in 2017 officially. Our mission is to fact-check media content in a transparent, unbiased manner and to create awareness of fake news.

2. We are a team of 3 full-time employees, 2 volunteers and a team of advisors on their field of expertise (like Doctors, Polices officials, Lawyers, and IAS/IPS officers).

It is our Founder’s thought to form this organization and he plays a major role in creating a framework for fact-checking and guiding the team.

The editor takes care of the complete editorial part and manages the social media pages, Google News Initiative training, training students on fact-checking and other such events.

Our Multimedia Specialist works on creating memes (Images and Videos) for each fact-check in an easy way to reach social media (FB pages, Instagram and Twitter), followers. Sub-Editor is the one who creates and publishes all fact-checked articles.

Our volunteers are research analysts who assist in fact-checking the claims and gathering sources of information with the help of technology.

Expertise Advisors will be reached on a need basis to seek advice and clarity on sensitive topics (Eg: COVID-19 related fake news (on medicines and treatments) were debunked and reviewed with doctors before publishing sensitive information).

3. YouTurn’s main activity is fact-checking. Our activities revolve around fact-checking and publishing the claims that we receive, respond to those who submit a claim, suggestions or feedback, publish the same fact-checked articles in the form of Images (Memes) and videos for easy understanding, involve in Google News Initiative training, train students on fact-checking, attend fact-checking related interviews. We also create and publish general news articles apart from fact-checking and are categorized under “Articles” on website.

Other Activities:

Youturn also created and released the Rubimath app with the help of Tech volunteers (Android mobile app which has maths tutorial video by Maths teacher - Rubi Teresa) for students to learn maths in an easy way.

https://youturn.in/articles/rubi-teacher-easy-maths.html

YouTurn Editor (Iyan Karthikeyan) also conducts self-defense classes for women safety under “Kuyili Program” at Corporate level.

4. We are on track in publishing a minimum of 15 fact-checked articles per week in Tamil. We also have an idea of publishing all our articles in English so that it can reach a wider range of audiences. The major goal for us this year is to increase our team volume in order to fact-check and publish more articles and to translate all our articles in English. We also have plans on upgrading our website to multilingual or bilingual so that users can switch to any language they prefer. Also, we intend to create a mobile application (Both Android and iOS). We have planned to create tutorials in video format on debugging fake news and to conduct sessions in colleges and schools. So our goal for this year, in a nutshell, is to upgrade ourselves technically, conduct more awareness events and increase our team size.

The applicant has indicated when the organisation was started and listed people who work in the organisation, with their roles. The application also indicates that the organisation is involved in activities peripheral to fact-checking, including training people on fact-checking, publishing articles. The applicant is also involved in tech and education, having created an app for teaching math. It is looking toward taking its experience further in the coming year. 

We are constantly publishing no less than 15 fact-checked articles per week since our initiation in 2017. Here is the spreadsheet that has 26 randomly selected links on a weekly basis along with the details expected.

The applicant has published a wide range of fact-checks, nearly all in the public interest, in the last three months. This publication has been quite regular--more than one a week. 

On average, 80% to 85% of our fact-checks are focussing on the claims related to issues that have an impact on society. The rest of the fact-checks are focusing on the claims related to History and Literature in order to make people understand the truths and myths.

Most of the fact checks made by the applicant revolve around claims that are in the public interest. 

Youturn is an independent organization that is self-funded and relies completely on the advertising revenue, income from the articles that get published and membership subscriptions. We do not have any commercial, financial and/or institutional relationship to the state, politicians or political parties in India or all over the world. We also have not received and will not receive any financial support from foreign as well as local state or political actors.

The applicant has stated that it has not received any funding or support from politicians or political parties, or, for that matter, from foreign or local political actors. It would, however, help to explain the loan of Rs. 106,000. Where did the applicant take this from--a bank/financial institution, etc? Also, could the applicant please explain if any subscription amounted to more than Rs. 5,000 at one go. 

We are not receiving funding from a local or foreign state or political sources.

The organisation states that it receives no funding from foreign state or political sources. 

We fact-check claims no matter if it supports or against any party or person. We also fact-check all the claims and create articles providing the sources that support the fact-checks. The sources that we refer are authenticate, hence maintaining high standards. We follow the same essential process in fact-checking any claim say political or medical or whatever category it belongs to. Also please refer to the ‘Proof Links’ column that lists the sources referred at the end of each article. All our fact-checked articles maintain the same process and standard and the same can be checked in the Factcheck section of our webpage. Below is the list of 10 fact-checked articles published over the past year that demonstrates our non-partisanship. We have listed sample articles in which the claims were made by reputed news channel/person/authority, claims that supports and against state and national ruling political parties, religion, etc.,

1. https://youturn.in/factcheck/bjp-candidate-votes.html

2. https://youturn.in/factcheck/eritrea-multiple-wives.html

3. https://youturn.in/factcheck/rare-suraga-bird-video.html

4. https://youturn.in/factcheck/india-gate-muslims-soldiers.html

5. https://youturn.in/factcheck/wuhan400-noval-prediction.html

6. https://youturn.in/factcheck/indira-gandhi-muslims.html

7. https://youturn.in/factcheck/thirumavalavan-sit-on-the-floor.html

8. https://youturn.in/factcheck/minister-rajendirabalaji-marvadi.html

9. https://youturn.in/factcheck/manipur-bjp-mla.html

10. https://youturn.in/factcheck/vellore-ibrahim-viral-video.html

The ten fact checks provided over the last year show that the applicant uses the same standards of evidence for equivalent claims and follows, more or less, the same process for every fact check. 

Please refer Category – ‘Fact-Checking Methodology’ on this link - https://youturn.in/about-us

The applicant clearly explains its fact-checking methodology on the About Us page of its website. The explanation is clear and unambiguous. 

Pieces of evidence related to the article are clearly explained in the article. And the same is given as links under 'Proof Liks' at the end of all the articles. Archived links of the sources are also provided in the article for the readers to view in case the link is removed later.

The applicant has not declared any conflict of interest with sources that could influence the accuracy of the evidence provided. Nearly all sources that have been quoted by the applicant are independent. 

Youturn is an independent organization and is not affiliated or supports any party, any politician or political candidate. It also does not advocate for or against any policy positions on any political issues.

The applicant has shown that it is not affiliated nor supports any political party or politician. It has not advocated for or against any policy positions. 

Please refer Category ‘Policy on Political Involvement’ on this page - https://youturn.in/about-us

The applicant, on its website, has clearly stated a non-partisanship policy for staff and has attached a copy of a sample letter issued to staff outlining a non-partisanship policy. 

The users need not blindly follow what the article says but can verify the information themselves using the links provided in the 'Proof Links' section of the articles.

The applicant has identified all sources of evidence used in their fact checks. In nearly all fact checks, readers can replicate the fact checks. It would help for the applicant to explain how it found the links it uses as evidence--key word searches, reverse image searches and so on, especially in the case of videos. 

All our articles hold the sources of evidence including available primary and secondary sources with a clear explanation.

The applicant has used primary sources in most of its fact checks. It has also used secondary sources that are easily accessible, and that, in most cases, are quite reliable. 

We fact-check all the elements in the received claims including a minute data and explain in our article on which is true and which is not with enough sources of evidence.

The applicant has checked main elements of claims with more than one source of evidence. 

Sources of the evidence are carefully picked and are readily available for the readers to view at the end of each fact-checks under the section 'Proof Links'

Most sources that the applicant has used are either public, or publicly available. The reader can easily deduce if sources had interests that may influence the accuracy of the evidence provided. 

Youturn is a legally registered organization and does not depend on any other organization. Please refer to the attachment of the registration certificate. 

The applicant has been registered, legally as an independent organisation. 

Please refer to Category – 'Funding' on this page - https://youturn.in/about-us 

We have not received any subscriptions above Rs.5000 so far. We have also been receiving subscriptions via 'Paytm' and 'Instamojo' in 2019, where the funds received overall would get transferred to our bank account as a single transaction. In order to give a clear picture of our subscription details, we have attached the 'Paytm' and 'Instamojo' transaction statements for your perusal. We also didn't receive any funding from the state, a political party, or politician. 

Transactions that are described as 'Loan' are the amount received as debt from our Founder in order to settle salary and other basic expenses when we didn't have sufficient inflow. The amount mentioned as 'Loan' is to be repaid once we have proper inflow. Please find attached our bank statement for the year 2019, which gives the complete details of our transactions. Also please refer to the excel file that holds the credit and loan details for the year 2019. The attached file 'Youturn Bank Statement_2019' is the original file where the other files attached are the split-up of the transactions received through 'Paytm' and 'Instamojo'.

Please refer to Category – 'Funding' on this page - https://youturn.in/about-us 

We have not received any subscriptions above Rs.5000 so far. We have also been receiving subscriptions via 'Paytm' and 'Instamojo' in 2019, where the funds received overall would get transferred to our bank account as a single transaction. In order to give a clear picture of our subscription details, we have attached the 'Paytm' and 'Instamojo' transaction statements for your perusal. We also didn't receive any funding from the state, a political party, or politician. 

Transactions that are described as 'Loan' are the amount received as debt from our Founder in order to settle salary and other basic expenses when we didn't have sufficient inflow. The amount mentioned as 'Loan' is to be repaid once we have proper inflow. Please find attached our bank statement for the year 2019, which gives the complete details of our transactions. Also please refer to the excel file that holds the credit and loan details for the year 2019. The attached file 'Youturn Bank Statement_2019' is the original file where the other files attached are the split-up of the transactions received through 'Paytm' and 'Instamojo'.

The applicant clearly details funding, and has explained all slightly large credits to its account. It has also indicated that the organisation is legally registered as a services company. 

The applicant clearly details funding, and has explained all slightly large credits to its account. It has also indicated that the organisation is legally registered as a services company. 

Please refer to Category – ‘Team behind Youturn’ on this page - https://youturn.in/about-us . 

Organizational structure is displayed as an image under the 'Team behind Youturn' section. The team is categorized into two - 1. Management Team, 2. Editorial Team. The proprietor, Mr. Kalidasan is the one who owns the Organization and is funding the Company. He comes under the Management Part of the Company. It's the idea of our Founder, Mr. Vignesh to start the organization and he is the advisor of the Organization. The management team has given complete freedom of decision authority to the Editorial team in order to provide unbiased fact-checks. The editorial team is lead by Mr. Iyan Karthikeyan. He is our Co-Founder and Editor-in-Chief and is the sole responsible person for the editorial part, where the proprietor or Founder doesn't exercise editorial control in any way. Our Sub-Editor creates and published articles once it is verified by our Editor-in-Chief. Research Analysts research and fact check the claims. Multimedia Specialist takes care of the memes and video section. Sub-editor, Research Analysts, and Multimedia Specialist report to the Editor. (The same explanation is added on the website now)

Please refer to Category – ‘Team behind Youturn’ on this page - https://youturn.in/about-us . 

Organizational structure is displayed as an image under the 'Team behind Youturn' section. The team is categorized into two - 1. Management Team, 2. Editorial Team. The proprietor, Mr. Kalidasan is the one who owns the Organization and is funding the Company. He comes under the Management Part of the Company. It's the idea of our Founder, Mr. Vignesh to start the organization and he is the advisor of the Organization. The management team has given complete freedom of decision authority to the Editorial team in order to provide unbiased fact-checks. The editorial team is lead by Mr. Iyan Karthikeyan. He is our Co-Founder and Editor-in-Chief and is the sole responsible person for the editorial part, where the proprietor or Founder doesn't exercise editorial control in any way. Our Sub-Editor creates and published articles once it is verified by our Editor-in-Chief. Research Analysts research and fact check the claims. Multimedia Specialist takes care of the memes and video section. Sub-editor, Research Analysts, and Multimedia Specialist report to the Editor. (The same explanation is added on the website now)

The applicant has explained how the organisational hierarchy works. It has also done this on the website, explaining how and by whom editorial control is exercised. 

The applicant has explained how the organisational hierarchy works. It has also done this on the website, explaining how and by whom editorial control is exercised. 

Please refer Category – ‘Team behind Youturn’ on this page - https://youturn.in/about-us

The applicant's website clearly lists the people who work in the organisation, with their biographies. 

Users can communicate with any of our team members using the contact page for which the link is mentioned here - https://youturn.in/contact-us

The applicant's website has a contact us page that has a form for people to fill up and contact them, or send a claim to fact check. It has a link to the same page at the end of each fact-checked article. 

Please refer Category – 'Fact-Checking Methodology' on this link - https://youturn.in/about-us

The applicant's fact-checking methodology is clearly explained on its website. 

The claims are prioritized based on the importance and the articles are published after fact-checking. What would happen if the claim seems to spread further is explained in the articles whenever needed.

The applicant has checked claims that are reasonably important to its readership and have spread far within it. 

Relevant evidence to prove or to disprove any claim is provided in the articles.

The applicant provides relevant evidence both in support of the claim and that appears to undermine the claim. 

We fact-check claims the same way for all the claims regardless of who made the claim. Similarly, sources are provided in all the articles regardless of what the claim is or who made it.

The applicant applies the same standards to all equivalent claims, irrespective of who made the claims. 

We have tried to contact the person who have made the claim or whose information is in the claim whenever needed. We publish our articles with the evidence that we collect and also will attach the conversation with the person (hiding the identity sometimes) if needed. But we do not contact for all the claims since we initially look for evidence and the contact will be made only if we think is necessary. 

The applicant usually mentions that it has contacted the person who made the claim, but it goes ahead and continues with the fact checks, whether or not the person/organisation responds. It focuses on finding evidence to support or debunk the claim. 

Please refer to the section 'Submit a Claim' on this link - https://youturn.in/about-us

The applicant encourages readers to send claims to check. This is primarily through the Contact Us page, which it links to buttons in the About Us--Submit A Claim section, as well as at the end of each fact check. 

Please refer to the section 'Corrections Policy' on this link - https://youturn.in/about-us

The applicant's website clearly mentions a corrections policy, in its About Us page. At the end of each article/fact-check, it has a Report Article button that leads to the Corrections Policy page. 

We are open for corrections and the policy for the same can be viewed on our website.

The applicant adheres to its policy of making corrections. It clearly states how major mistakes are handled, including revision of conclusions of fact checks. 

Here is the list of articles that we have made corrections so far.

1. https://youturn.in/factcheck/century-palm-tree.html

Here, one of our users have provided an additional relevant information in one of our social media pages on the claim and the same is added in the update column of the article.

2. https://youturn.in/factcheck/thevar-golwalkar-madurai-visit.html

Here, one of the political people mentioned us in his Twitter posts claiming that the information provided in the article is untrue. Clarification on the same is explained in the Update column of this article.

3. https://youturn.in/factcheck/saravana-store-price-issue.html

The 'Update' column in this fact-checked article has additional details on the issue that we have gathered after publishing the article.

All corrections and updates have been made openly and transparently, clearly mentioning the need for them and evidences provided by readers or others that necessitate the correction. The corrections and revised versions are clearly and easily accessible. 

We are not an existing signatory.

The applicant is not an existing signatory, so it does not need the link just now. One would have to review the website later, if its application is accepted, to see if this criteria is met. 

We are an independent organization.

The applicant is an independent organisation and does not have a parent media company.