Code of Principles
HaqCheck is a non-partisan initiative committed to countering disinformation in Ethiopia and the Horn by fact-checking media content from social and mainstream media. To do this effectively, we follow the best practices in fact-checking, recognized by the world’s leading nonpartisan fact-checking organizations. We adhere to the International Fact-Checking Network’s code of principles of commitment to impartiality, transparency, and accuracy.
How We Fact Check
Every report we produce is different, but we ensure we fact-check all claims fairly and to the same standard. The process we follow is always the same. This ensures that our findings can be replicated and verified.
- Select the claim to check
Our fact checkers monitor the media contents and identify a claim based on who is the source of the information, when it is published, and what is the information about. After identifying it a decision is made whether to check it depending on its nature, impact, distribution and engagement, and other factors.
- Check for evidence
We look for the best publicly available data or evidence and then draw a conclusion based on the proof.
- Contact experts
Based on the nature of the claim we contact an expert in the field.
- Draft and review
While drafting the article, we explain the claim, give context about the issue, put down the evidence and give the verdict that is reached based on the available data.
- Publish and monitor feedbacks
We publish our fact checked articles on our website then share it on social media accounts of HaqCheck.
How We Rate Our Fact Checks
After the fact checkers are done with their research and get the best publicly available evidence, they will decide the rating the claim should have. The research editor then will cross check the rating. If they don’t all agree they will discuss it in a team and take a vote.
Below we explain the meaning of the ratings we use:
False: The claim is inaccurate according to the best publicly available evidence. This includes conspiracy theories, false context of an image or video, Fabricated content…
True: The claim is correct and accurate according to the best publicly available evidence.
Misleading: There might be elements that are accurate but presented in a misleading way. This includes False connections.
Satire: The claim is satirical and intended to be taken as a joke.
Altered: The content has been manipulated, faked, or transformed audio, video, or photos.
Partly False: The content has some factual inaccuracies. A mix of both True and False claims.
Scam: When the claim is a dishonest scheme, fraud, and uses a trick to deceive. They often have “too good to be true” offers and also impersonate a genuine source.
Non-partisan Policy
HaqCheck is a non-partisan initiative. Our fact-checkers and other staffs are not members of any political party or organized movement and do not get involved in advocacy or publicize their views on policy issues HaqCheck might debunk, verify or analyze in such a way as might lead a reasonable member of the public to see the organization’s work as biased.
Correction Policy
Sometimes mistakes might happen, and while some errors are a weakness, some are inevitable, and we are fully open to correcting them promptly in whatever material we publish on our platforms. Feedbacks are always welcomed and our audiences can comment on our social media channels, contact us on our website or send us an email info@haqcheck.org. We will be responsive to any them and have a further look into the content.
In promoting transparency an explanation will be offered on why a change is made, what the changes are and when it is made.
- If there is a factual error in the fact check we will label it as a Correction.
- If there is a new update or recent evidence we will label it as an Update.