METHODOLOGY

Selecting a story for fact-checking

We select posts/stories/viral social media claims for fact-checking in an unbiased manner, political or otherwise. Requests from our readers are the first step in choosing a claim to begin the fact-checking process. We continuously monitor the mainstream media and social media for questionable information, propaganda, viral posts and misinformation. Such claims reach us through tweets, controversial speeches by politicians, hashtags designed to provoke, viral videos and memes, Facebook posts and pages, and messages widely forwarded in apps like WhatsApp and Telegram. The benchmark for fact-checking is to see how viral a topic is. We use internet tools to monitor what is being widely shared online at any given time. Speculations and controversies on internet platforms aimed at creating conflicts or strife in the community will be subjected to fact-checking.

Research & investigation

Once a claim for fact check is decided, it is discussed within the team. We do not comment on or attempt to analyse posts in the form of comments for fact-checking purposes. Once we understand exactly what the claim is, we contact the person making the claim directly and seek evidence to back it up. Our focus is on the credibility of the person posting or the source of the post. We rely on Government websites, reputed journals, websites of well-known organisations, magazines, dailies, or company publications for sources of claims and data to fact check. In addition to traditional methods of reaching out to possible sources, we also use various internet tools to verify the source of viral photographs or videos before reaching a conclusion. A panel of experts from various fields has been arranged in the Manorama Online Fact Check section to clear doubts. The services of these experts are also used to fact-check the authenticity of sources.

Cross-verification

We also use the service of our reporters across the country and contributors abroad to get more authentic and unbiased information. Wherever possible, our stories will include hyperlinks and images for further evidence so readers can go to the source of the information and evidence used to reach a conclusion.

Overview

We try to present the verified facts in a simple, accurate and transparent manner with an in-depth and relevant perspective. Manorama Online Fact Check will pay close attention to the language in posts to ensure impartiality. We edit the report for clarity before publication and provide enough detail in each fact-checked story to clearly understand how the conclusions were reached.

Publishing and Feedback

We closely monitor the comments and suggestions received through social media after publishing the fact-check report. If an error is noticed, it will be checked thoroughly and updates or corrections will be made if necessary.