The IFCN welcomes new applications to its Code of Principles beginning Jan. 16, 2024. Our website is currently under renovation, so new signatories should begin the application process by emailing their interest to info@ifcn.org with "New Signatory" in the subject line.

Doğrula

Organization: Doğrula
Applicant: Yunus Çağlar
Assessor: Sarphan Uzunoğlu

Background

I contacted the institution regularly during the application processes and conveyed my requests. It was a difficult application for me. Because there were some problems related to the institution's history, financial resources and methodological functioning. I requested explanations and documents regarding the relevant criteria. They forwarded these documents to me quickly and constructively.

Under normal circumstances, care should be taken when such an application comes from a country like Turkey that is in a polarization spiral. I also did a careful study. Because I think it is an important development that a truth-controlled actor enters the field with the approval of IFCN before the upcoming general elections.

Of course, it is very positive that fact-checkers from different political and social backgrounds enter the field, as in countries such as the USA. But I think this actor should be watched closely. Because the former owner of the domain they used was also a fact-checking platform and they were producing propagandist content. There is now a new corporate identity that completely rejects this past. In this context, we are faced with an actor that requires high-maintenance. Independent media actors and other fact-checking organizations in Turkey will react to this decision. But this does not mean that the institution does not meet the criteria.

Assessment Conclusion

The institution went through a long application process. They provided lots of documentation and information in response to our requests in the process. They tried to adapt to the criteria by making the necessary changes. Seeing these as positive expressions of intent, I continued the process.

Of course, the fact that other fact-checking organizations from Turkey are also IFCN signatories, has caused me to keep the evaluation standards high. The information provided by the institution on critical issues such as its identity, history and financial structure has reached a satisfactory level after several re-evaluation processes.

The institution needs to improve itself on issues such as its complaint policy and requests for change. Their activities should also be closely scrutinized. But these needs are not at a level to cause a rejection decision. Rather, I present them to them as development suggestions.

I think that the institution deserves appreciation for their goodwill and cooperation efforts. I recommend that their applications be accepted because they share institutional information with transparency, show that they are open to methodological development, and most importantly, they must finally create an application that meets the criteria.

on 13-Apr-2022 (1 year ago)

Sarphan Uzunoğlu assesses application as Compliant

A short summary in native publishing language

Türkiye'nin kutuplaşmış medya ortamında yeni doğrulama aktörlerinin doğumu hem kaçınılmaz hem de kritik bir durum. Ülkedeki neredeyse bütün enformasyon aktörlerinin bilgi ekosisteminin krizine olumlu ya da olumsuz müdahale girişimlerinin olduğu düşünüldüğünde alandaki doğruluk kontrolü aktörlerinin sayıca artışının kontrol ve prensipler eşliğinde gerçekleşmesi bana göre önemli.

Kurum, uzun bir başvuru sürecinden geçmiştir. Bu süreçte taleplerimize cevaben birçok belge ve bilgi sağladılar. Gerekli değişiklikleri yaparak kriterlere uyum sağlamaya çalıştılar. Bunları olumlu niyet ifadeleri olarak görerek sürece devam ettim.

Elbette Türkiye'den diğer doğruluk kontrolü kuruluşlarının da IFCN imzacısı olması değerlendirme standartlarını yüksek tutmama neden oldu. Kurumun kimliği, tarihçesi, mali yapısı gibi kritik konularda verdiği bilgiler, çeşitli yeniden değerlendirme süreçlerinden sonra tatmin edici düzeye ulaşmıştır.

Kurumun şikayet politikası, değişiklik talepleri gibi konularda kendini geliştirmesi gerekmektedir. Faaliyetleri de yakından incelenmelidir. Ancak bu ihtiyaçlar reddedilme kararına neden olacak düzeyde değildir. Daha ziyade onlara bu başlıkları geliştirme önerileri olarak sunmayı uygun buluyorum.

Kurumun iyi niyet ve işbirliği çabalarından dolayı takdiri hak ettiğini düşünüyorum. Kurumsal bilgileri şeffaflıkla paylaştıkları, metodolojik gelişime açık olduklarını gösterdikleri ve en önemlisi kriterleri karşılayan bir başvuru oluşturmaları gerektiği için başvurularının kabul edilmesini öneriyorum. Normal şartlar altında, tamamıyla yeni ve devralınmamış bir marka böyle bir başvuru yapsa sürecin çok daha hızlı gerçekleşmesi mümkündü. Ama aynı domain'de daha önce yayın yapan kuruluşun yarattığı güvensizlik süreci uzattı. Bunun kurum için önümüzdeki süreçte zorluk yaratacağını öngörmek zor değil. Ben de faaliyetlerini yakından izleyeceğim. Özetle genel bağlamda kriterlere uyum sağladıkları için başvurunun uygun olduğu kanısındayım.

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.

Doğrula
13-Sep-2021 (2 years ago) Updated: 2 years ago

Doğrula is the fact checking organization which is a Project of Dijital Toplum Araştırmaları Association (Digital Society Research Association). This association is an officially registered NGO in Turkey. Trademark and intellectual property of Doğrula are belong to Dijiital Toplum Araştırmaları Association.

https://www.dogrula.org/biz-kimiz/

https://dijitaltoplumarastirmalari.org/projeler/


Files Attached
picture_as_pdf Dernek Faaliyet rapo... (1 MB) İçişleri Bakanlığı D... (21 KB)
Sarphan Uzunoğlu Assessor
28-Sep-2021 (2 years ago) Updated: 2 years ago

Necessary information about legal status is provided on the website of the association that runs the project and on the project's own website. They also provided NGO activity form that shows that this is a legal entity. 


done_all 1.1 marked as Compliant by Sarphan Uzunoğlu.

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?

Doğrula
13-Sep-2021 (2 years ago) Updated: 2 years ago

1. Our fact checking operation started in the beginning of February 2021. Dijital Toplum Araştırmaları Association took over dogrula.org in the beginning of 2021. With Covid-19 epidemic and political polarization, in Turkey, the number of fake news and disinformation gradually increase in 2020 and 2021. Also, in Turkey, pressure on the media increased, too. Therefore, the need for fact checking organization also increase. To prevent disinformation and spread of fake news, our fact checking organization was established. 

In addition to that, in Turkey, people question to reliability of mainstream media. Radical ideas, hate speech, gender inequality, social media organizations of political parties and immigration crisis make contribution to disinformation. Also, we expect to increase in fake news before the 2023 elections.

2. In our operation, eight people work and one of them is volunteer. Six of them work as Editors. One of them work as Art Director. One of them work as Chief Editor.

https://www.dogrula.org/ekibimiz/

3.Our organization mostly checks claims which are, currently, popular and spread. These claims are mostly about public benefit. In addition to that, sometimes, we prepare informative contents which are related to interests of public. 

Also, we have the Youtube project whose name is Gezenformasyon. With this project, we will investigate the claims which didn't spread in the social media, yet, but we can encounter in daily life.

4.  First of all, in the conformity of IFCN principles, the project of Doğrula aims to strengthen the fact-checking ecosystem which is established by Doğruluk Payı and Teyit. In this sense, in Turkey, there is more need to the fact checking about fake news. Purpose of Doğrula is fullfilling true content demands. Also, we want to prepare informative contents which ease to digital learning. With that, we aim to trigger doubt mechanism of people against false contents. Moreover, Doğrula will join cooperation with other organizations which is in favour of public benefit.  In addition to that, for the next  year, we plan to publish Kurdish and Arabic versions of our analyses. 



Sarphan Uzunoğlu Assessor
28-Sep-2021 (2 years ago) Updated: 2 years ago

1. At the first stage, I said the following about the institution: "I need further information about what is the motivation behind the take over of dogrula.org by Dijital Toplum Araştırmaları Derneği. Was it due to a need for legal identity or change in the publishing policies? As dogrula.org existed before 2021, I need further information about the nature of the organization before take over. Only that way, I can understand true motivation behind the existence of the organization." I reviewed my assessment in the light of the information provided by the institution. The institution has gone through a transformation process that they take seriously. They have explained their transformation in a meaningful way and I think that their institutionalization has eliminated this problem.

2. Their team page Is explanatory enough.

3. Their statement regarding other activities is satisfactory.

4. It is very nice to know that Dogrula.org will publish pieces in Kurdish and Arabic too. Since the public benefit is a broad term, I need better information about future partners of the organization. 


done_all 1.2 marked as Compliant by Sarphan Uzunoğlu.

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.

Doğrula
13-Sep-2021 (2 years ago)

Our organization checked almost 200 claims since February 2021.

https://www.dogrula.org/

Sarphan Uzunoğlu Assessor
28-Sep-2021 (2 years ago)

They publish frequently enough.


done_all 1.3 marked as Compliant by Sarphan Uzunoğlu.

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.

Sarphan Uzunoğlu Assessor
28-Sep-2021 (2 years ago) Updated: 2 years ago

Correcting misinformation about fields such as science, health and conspiracy theories seems to be the focus of this institution. However, it is unclear how important this information is for the public in Turkey and what its prevalence is. For instance, it is hard to understand how fact-checks below are related to welfare or well-being of individuals, the general public or society:

https://www.dogrula.org/isvecli-karikaturist-lars-vilksin-gecirdigi-kazayi-gosteren-farkli-goruntuler/

https://www.dogrula.org/kizlara-uyari-basligiyla-paylasilan-sozler-aziz-sancara-ait-degil/ 

The rate of 75% is because there is a problem of misinformation about the pandemic in question. However, it remains unclear what the institution offers in terms of social benefit, unlike the existing verification bodies in Turkey.


done_all 1.4 marked as Compliant by Sarphan Uzunoğlu.

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.

Doğrula
13-Sep-2021 (2 years ago) Updated: 2 years ago

Our fack-checking organization and Dijital Toplum Araştırmaları Association don’t have any relation (economically or institutionally) with any states, political parties or politicians. 

https://www.dogrula.org/finansal-kaynaklar/


Sarphan Uzunoğlu Assessor
28-Sep-2021 (2 years ago) Updated: 2 years ago

To date, the institution has received income from a number of respectable sources. They shared with us satisfactory information about income sources and usage patterns.

It can be said that the new politically non-partisan, well-established identity and operation of the organization is methodologically and organizationally different from its past identity and has an autonomous existence. They answered the questions about the criteria with reference to financial and institutional terms with meaningful explanations.


done_all 1.5 marked as Compliant by Sarphan Uzunoğlu.

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.

Doğrula
13-Sep-2021 (2 years ago) Updated: 2 years ago

Our fact-checking organization and Dijital Toplum Araştırmaları Association don’t have any relation (economically or institutionally) with any states, political parties or politicians.

https://www.dogrula.org/finansal-kaynaklar/

https://www.dogrula.org/organizasyon/


Doğrula
29-Oct-2021 (2 years ago) Updated: 2 years ago

Our fact-checking organization and Dijital Toplum Araştırmaları Association don’t have any relation (economically or institutionally) with any states, political parties or politicians.

https://www.dogrula.org/finansal-kaynaklar/

https://www.dogrula.org/organizasyon/

Our update

We updated our financial statement. We received our funds only from Turkcell and Turk Telekom, for now. In the previous statement, we submitted our income between February and August. We spent this income for founding of Doğrula. We rented our office, bought office supplies, paid the salaries of our staff, etc. In addition to the previous one, we also submitted our funds for September and October. We have been spending these funds for our new projects (Gezenformasyon, efsaNedir?, Dijitali İyi Oku, Pandemi’de Doğrulama and Prospektüs) as we mentioned in this current statement. We bought camera and studio supplies and we hired new personnel for camera shooting.

----------------------------------------------------------

Our update 2 – (03 – 09 – 2022)

We updated our financial statement in our website. We received our funds only from Turkcell and Turk Telekom, for now. In our current financial statement, we showed our income in 2021. You can see detailed version of this financial statement in this link.

https://www.dogrula.org/finansal-kaynaklar/

In 2021, we spent this income for founding of Doğrula and our projects, which are Doğrulab, Gezenformasyon, Efsanedir and Profasor. You can see these projects in “Atölye” section of our website. Also, you can watch in our channels, (in Youtube and Instagram).

https://www.dogrula.org/atolye/

https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCArobzHThWG3aLyaD3ZyGZg

In addition to these projects, we are going to renovate our website’s design. We wanted to show you drafts of design of our new website. We attached that as PDF.


This is English version of our income.

FINANCIAL INCOME PRINCIPLES

Dogrula, does not request donations, project sponsorship, and project support from political parties and institutions, NGOs and individuals that are directly related to a political party. Even if the request comes from the other side, rejects. Dogrula handles its analysis without considering the interests and harms of donor and supporting organizations. Dogrula never allows any sponsor to interfere with his analysis, even to make demands. If such a situation is encountered, Dogrula cuts off institutional cooperation with the sponsor.


SUPPORTS IN 2021

TURKCELL – FEBRUARY

We received 250,000 TL equity support within the scope of social responsibility with the project application titled "Dogrula.org, independent verification organization", a project of the Digital Society Researches Association. With this income, the mark name expenses and Istanbul office establishment costs of Doğrula were covered.

TURK TELEKOM – MARCH

We received 250,000 TL second equity support within the scope of social responsibility with the application titled “Dogrula.org, independent verification organization” under the Digital Society Research Association project. With this support, digital subscriptions and personnel salary expenses were covered, which will facilitate the analysis production process in the Dogrula organization.

TURKCELL – SEPTEMBER

We received 500,000 TL support within the scope of the ‘Read Digital Media Correctly’ project, which we are working on to make digital learning better and easier. With this support, necessary production equipment and creative services, and editorial expenses are covered for the creation of content sets (Gezenformation, efsaNedir?, Prospectus) that will spread the awareness of confirmation.

TURK TELEKOM - OCTOBER

We received 500,000 TL support with our application titled "Strengthening the verification network in Turkey under pandemic conditions". With this support, we covered the expenses of our new web interface, in the project, the creation of printed resources that can be used in the verification stages for the public, and the provision of the requirements for publication in Kurdish and Arabic.

Files Attached
picture_as_pdf Yeni_web_tasarım.pdf (2 MB) picture_as_pdf finansal-tablo-2021.... (1 MB)
Sarphan Uzunoğlu Assessor
28-Sep-2021 (2 years ago) Updated: 2 years ago

There is no problem about this criteria. However, that would be more acceptable if the institution described under which terms or project these financial resources were provided to them.


cancel 1.6 marked as Request change by Sarphan Uzunoğlu.
Sarphan Uzunoğlu Assessor
29-Nov-2021 (2 years ago) Updated: 1 year ago

There is no problem about this criteria. However, that would be more acceptable if the institution described under which terms or project these financial resources were provided to them in the future for full transparency.


done_all 1.6 marked as Compliant by Sarphan Uzunoğlu.

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.

Doğrula
13-Sep-2021 (2 years ago) Updated: 2 years ago

While we choose claims regardless of any party or any opinion, we look whether claim can be checked with open sources or not and whether public knowledge about the claim is correct or wrong. Based on this, we are not interested in which political group the claim is related to or who the claim belongs to. While examining the claim, we benefit from the opinions of all editors. We try to look at our analyses from as many different perspectives as possible.

https://www.dogrula.org/iddia-kontrol-sureci/

https://www.dogrula.org/organizasyon/


Recep Tayyip Erdoğan's Claim  (False)

https://www.dogrula.org/abd-ve-ingilterede-covid-19-asisi-ucretli-iddiasi/

Disinformation against Ekrem İmamoğlu's(CHP) administration (False)

https://www.dogrula.org/ibb-hamidiye-cesmesinde-bulunan-2-abdulhamit-hanin-tugrasini-mi-sildirdi/

Claim of the government supporter journalist (False)

https://www.dogrula.org/avusturalya-yangininda-da-yardim-kampanyasi-duzenlenmisti/

Claim against AK Parti's administration (True)

https://www.dogrula.org/akkuyu-nukleerin-elektrigi-3-kat-pahaliya-gelecek-iddiasi/

Claim against Memleket Partisi (False)

https://www.dogrula.org/memleket-partisi-cumhur-ittifaki-anayasa-calismalarini-destekliyor-iddiasi/

Claims against AK Parti's administration (Half True)

https://www.dogrula.org/meral-aksenerin-enerji-iddialarinin-yarisi-yanlis/

Disinformation against AK Parti's administration (False)

https://www.dogrula.org/katarli-gencler-turkiyede-sinavsiz-tip-egitimi-alabilecek-iddiasi/

Disinformation against Recep Tayyip Erdoğan (False)

https://www.dogrula.org/videodaki-yatin-cumhurbaskani-erdogana-ait-oldugu-iddiasi/

Disinformation against AK Parti's administration (False)

https://www.dogrula.org/ben-wallace-turkiyede-afganlar-icin-multeci-merkezi-kuracagini-soylemedi/

Claim of the government supporter media

https://www.dogrula.org/darp-susu-degil-kriah/



Sarphan Uzunoğlu Assessor
28-Sep-2021 (2 years ago) Updated: 2 years ago

Disinformative content about political actors from different sides has been fact-checked.


done_all 2.1 marked as Compliant by Sarphan Uzunoğlu.

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.

Doğrula
13-Sep-2021 (2 years ago) Updated: 2 years ago

Regardless of any party or any ideology, we look claims which are popular in mainstream media and social media. Because, in social media and mainstream media, the claims belong to the opposition parties and the party in the power and these claims are against to the rival party, we don’t unduly concentrate on one side.

https://www.dogrula.org/iddia-kontrol-sureci/


Sarphan Uzunoğlu Assessor
28-Sep-2021 (2 years ago) Updated: 2 years ago

When it comes to the misinformation crisis, one of the problems we observe with many IFCN applicants is the problem of prioritization. The concepts of virality or being on the agenda in social or traditional media are used as "selection criteria" in the methodology.

There is an article that I find problematic: "Broadcasts that will affect the judicial and investigation process are avoided in events, actions and developments that are still in the judicial process." This article makes one think that there can be no verification on almost any sensitive issue (for example, murders in the public sphere) in Turkey, especially since almost all developments related to the political agenda are rapidly subject to judicial process. Although this is an attitude open to criticism, it does not constitute a contradiction with the criteria. It still means that the criterion also needs to be strengthened and extended to provide more social and democratic value. 

Other fact-checking actors in Turkey will verify cases that are not confirmed due to this principle. I wish this actor would change his approach.


done_all 2.2 marked as Compliant by Sarphan Uzunoğlu.

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.

Sarphan Uzunoğlu Assessor
28-Sep-2021 (2 years ago) Updated: 2 years ago

They do not publish verifications that could lead to such sharp conflicts of interest. Therefore, it meets the criteria.


done_all 2.3 marked as Compliant by Sarphan Uzunoğlu.

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.

Sarphan Uzunoğlu Assessor
28-Sep-2021 (2 years ago) Updated: 2 years ago

When only the contents within the last year are examined, it is seen that this criterion is met. However, content published before 2020 and subsequently deleted should be reviewed separately by the IFCN.


done_all 2.4 marked as Compliant by Sarphan Uzunoğlu.

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.

Doğrula
13-Sep-2021 (2 years ago) Updated: 2 years ago

Doğrula and editors of Doğrula investigate and choose claims, objectively. They don’t choose any side. Employees of Doğrula don’t have any relation with any political movement.  

https://www.dogrula.org/organizasyon/

Sarphan Uzunoğlu Assessor
28-Sep-2021 (2 years ago) Updated: 2 years ago

Employees under the Our Team page do not have any public political bias or party affiliation.


done_all 2.5 marked as Compliant by Sarphan Uzunoğlu.

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.

Sarphan Uzunoğlu Assessor
28-Sep-2021 (2 years ago) Updated: 2 years ago

Fact check rules are followed. Necessary links are provided. The methodology is applied.


done_all 3.1 marked as Compliant by Sarphan Uzunoğlu.

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.

Sarphan Uzunoğlu Assessor
28-Sep-2021 (2 years ago) Updated: 2 years ago

In stories like the one below, first-hand documentation is accessed and analyzed. In many cases, analyzes of international verification actors have also been used. Details such as the source of the story chosen for verification and the country where the event took place are the determining factors of the variability here. But mostly, they use common fact-checking tools and methods.

https://www.dogrula.org/fetvalar-kitabinda-baldiziyla-zina-eden-kisini-hanimi-bos-olur-mu-sorusu-yanitlandi/


done_all 3.2 marked as Compliant by Sarphan Uzunoğlu.

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.

Sarphan Uzunoğlu Assessor
28-Sep-2021 (2 years ago) Updated: 2 years ago

There is no visible problem regarding this criterion.


done_all 3.3 marked as Compliant by Sarphan Uzunoğlu.

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.

Sarphan Uzunoğlu Assessor
28-Sep-2021 (2 years ago) Updated: 2 years ago

No problem about this criterion either. Most of the time they refer to globally recognized institutions.


done_all 3.4 marked as Compliant by Sarphan Uzunoğlu.

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.

Doğrula
13-Sep-2021 (2 years ago) Updated: 2 years ago

Doğrula which belong to Dijital Toplum Araştırmaları Association is fact-checking organization. Dijital Toplum Araştırmaları Association is officially established association in Turkey. Trademark and intellectual property of Doğrula belong to this association. This association is completely independent organization.

https://www.dogrula.org/biz-kimiz/

https://dijitaltoplumarastirmalari.org/hakkimizda/


Files Attached
picture_as_pdf Dernek Faaliyet rapo... (1 MB)
Doğrula
29-Oct-2021 (2 years ago) Updated: 2 years ago

Doğrula which belong to Dijital Toplum Araştırmaları Association is fact-checking organization. Dijital Toplum Araştırmaları Association is officially established association in Turkey. Trademark and intellectual property of Doğrula belong to this association. This association is completely independent organization.

https://www.dogrula.org/biz-kimiz/

https://dijitaltoplumarastirmalari.org/hakkimizda/

Our update----

In your response, we updated our financial statement. Old statement was about between February and August. New statement is showing a period between February and October. We give detailed information to our expenditures and also, we explained our financial revenues in detail.

--------------------------------------

Our update 2 -- 03.09-2022

We updated our financial statement in our website. In our current financial statement, we showed our total income in 2021. You can see detailed version of this financial statement in this link. We detailed our expenditures. We attached our statement as PDF, and you can, also, look same statement in our website.

https://www.dogrula.org/finansal-kaynaklar/




Files Attached
picture_as_pdf finansal-tablo-2021.... (1 MB)
Sarphan Uzunoğlu Assessor
28-Sep-2021 (2 years ago) Updated: 2 years ago

The criterion of transparency of 5% of the budget is not met.



cancel 4.1 marked as Request change by Sarphan Uzunoğlu.
Sarphan Uzunoğlu Assessor
29-Nov-2021 (2 years ago) Updated: 1 year ago

Related information is provided after our demand. 


done_all 4.1 marked as Compliant by Sarphan Uzunoğlu.

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.

Sarphan Uzunoğlu Assessor
28-Sep-2021 (2 years ago) Updated: 2 years ago

They are operating under Dijital Toplum Araştırmaları Derneği's legal roof and the association only runs this project according to their website.


done_all 4.2 marked as Compliant by Sarphan Uzunoğlu.

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.

Doğrula
13-Sep-2021 (2 years ago) Updated: 2 years ago

Doğrula’s contents are constituted with cooperation of one chief editor, six editor and one art director. Responsibilities of editors are research, finding suspicious claims, checking claims, analysing results and creating texts. All editors have same responsibility. Doğrula organization respect every political opinion and give equal rights to all editors.

To prevent political biases to affect results of analyses, all fact checks are constructed with consensus of all editors

When an editor finds a suspicious claim, in such steps choosing claims and determining results, all editors have the right to give suggestions to do consensus on the created fact-check text.

Also, editors of Doğrula try to maintain their objectivity principle on their analyses.

https://www.dogrula.org/organizasyon/

https://www.dogrula.org/ekibimiz/


Sarphan Uzunoğlu Assessor
28-Sep-2021 (2 years ago) Updated: 2 years ago

There is a page about organizational structure. Titles on the page reflect the hierarchy and workflow within the newsroom.


done_all 4.3 marked as Compliant by Sarphan Uzunoğlu.

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.

Doğrula
13-Sep-2021 (2 years ago) Updated: 2 years ago
Sarphan Uzunoğlu Assessor
28-Sep-2021 (2 years ago) Updated: 2 years ago

Professional biographies of the editors and contributors are shared.


done_all 4.4 marked as Compliant by Sarphan Uzunoğlu.

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.

Sarphan Uzunoğlu Assessor
28-Sep-2021 (2 years ago) Updated: 2 years ago

They enable their visitors and followers to engage with them via multiple channels.


done_all 4.5 marked as Compliant by Sarphan Uzunoğlu.

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.

Doğrula
13-Sep-2021 (2 years ago) Updated: 2 years ago
Sarphan Uzunoğlu Assessor
28-Sep-2021 (2 years ago) Updated: 2 years ago

The methodology is publicly available on their website.


done_all 5.1 marked as Compliant by Sarphan Uzunoğlu.

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.

Sarphan Uzunoğlu Assessor
28-Sep-2021 (2 years ago) Updated: 2 years ago

I do not think that the importance of the claims and content studied is conveyed well. Of course, a general social benefit can be mentioned in COVID-19 focused analyzes. It is not possible to see information about the prevalence level of information in most examples. However, it is possible to understand why the story has been focused on.


done_all 5.2 marked as Compliant by Sarphan Uzunoğlu.

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.

Sarphan Uzunoğlu Assessor
28-Sep-2021 (2 years ago) Updated: 2 years ago

There is no problem with this criterion.


done_all 5.3 marked as Compliant by Sarphan Uzunoğlu.

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.

Sarphan Uzunoğlu Assessor
28-Sep-2021 (2 years ago) Updated: 2 years ago

There is no problem regarding this criterion.


done_all 5.4 marked as Compliant by Sarphan Uzunoğlu.

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.

Sarphan Uzunoğlu Assessor
28-Sep-2021 (2 years ago) Updated: 2 years ago

They mostly use online fact-checking tools and open source investigation tools. So it is difficult for me to investigate all methods on their articles. However, articles I've read are satisfactory.


done_all 5.5 marked as Compliant by Sarphan Uzunoğlu.

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.

Doğrula
13-Sep-2021 (2 years ago) Updated: 2 years ago

Users can send us the claims with the social media account, e-mail, our website and Whatsapp. We encourage our users to send us to the claims to check with the social media contents. 

https://www.instagram.com/p/CRzPLRDK_gW/?utm_medium=copy_link


https://www.dogrula.org/bize-ulasin/

https://www.facebook.com/dogrulaorg/

https://www.instagram.com/dogrulaorg/

https://t.me/dogrula

https://twitter.com/dogrulaorg/

We inform our users to the claims we check with these links.

https://www.dogrula.org/iddia-kontrol-sureci/

https://www.dogrula.org/politikalarimiz/





Files Attached
WhatsApp Image 2021-... (75 KB) WhatsApp Image 2021-... (77 KB)
Sarphan Uzunoğlu Assessor
28-Sep-2021 (2 years ago) Updated: 2 years ago

Users can send them claims through several channels. 


done_all 5.6 marked as Compliant by Sarphan Uzunoğlu.

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.

Doğrula
13-Sep-2021 (2 years ago) Updated: 2 years ago

There are "Demand Correction Form" the under every analyses. Correction demands can be send with this form, with social media accounts, e-mail or WhatsApp. There is a link which shows our correction and feedback policy.

https://www.dogrula.org/politikalarimiz/

Also for denunciation and feedback, social media accounts, WhatsApp or email can be used.

https://www.dogrula.org/bize-ulasin/


Sarphan Uzunoğlu Assessor
28-Sep-2021 (2 years ago) Updated: 2 years ago
They have a functional mechanism for people to ask for corrections. This seems to be very visible and accessible in terms of design and usability.

done_all 6.1 marked as Compliant by Sarphan Uzunoğlu.

Criteria 6.2
Proof you meet criteria
The assessor will review the corrections policy to verify it meets critera. No additional information needed.

Doğrula
29-Oct-2021 (2 years ago) Updated: 2 years ago
Sarphan Uzunoğlu Assessor
28-Sep-2021 (2 years ago) Updated: 2 years ago

The page below has brief narration of how story selection and gate keeping processes for corrections and demanded analyses work within the organization. This part is transparent and satisfactory:

https://www.dogrula.org/politikalarimiz/ 

More information is needed regarding the selection of the content to be reviewed. It is difficult to say that the selection criteria on the following page are decisive enough.

https://www.dogrula.org/iddia-kontrol-sureci/ 


cancel 6.2 marked as Request change by Sarphan Uzunoğlu.
Sarphan Uzunoğlu Assessor
29-Nov-2021 (2 years ago) Updated: 1 year ago

The page below has brief narration of how story selection and gate keeping processes for corrections and demanded analyses work within the organization. This part is transparent and satisfactory:

https://www.dogrula.org/politikalarimiz/ 

More information is needed regarding the selection of the content to be reviewed. It is difficult to say that the selection criteria on the following page are decisive enough, this can be fixed later.

https://www.dogrula.org/iddia-kontrol-sureci/ 


done_all 6.2 marked as Compliant by Sarphan Uzunoğlu.

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.

Doğrula
13-Sep-2021 (2 years ago) Updated: 2 years ago


Claim analysis can be corrected, if new evidence emerges (a large amount of evidence that could influence the conclusion), the editor skips a piece of evidence, a wrong conclusion for a reason, and significant happens, after the analysis is published . After the publishment, the analysis can be updated, if new evidence is found to strengthen the conclusion or there is a problem in accessing the evidence in the review.

Correction

https://www.dogrula.org/musilaja-bir-yuk-gemisinin-sebep-oldugu-iddiasi/

Update

https://www.dogrula.org/roportaji-veren-kisi-suriyeli-degil/

Sarphan Uzunoğlu Assessor
28-Sep-2021 (2 years ago) Updated: 2 years ago

The example given about how correction requests work is satisfactory.


done_all 6.3 marked as Compliant by Sarphan Uzunoğlu.

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.

Doğrula
13-Sep-2021 (2 years ago) Updated: 2 years ago

Doğrula is not a signatory yet

Sarphan Uzunoğlu Assessor
28-Sep-2021 (2 years ago) Updated: 2 years ago

Not a signatory yet.


done_all 6.4 marked as Compliant by Sarphan Uzunoğlu.

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.

Doğrula
13-Sep-2021 (2 years ago) Updated: 2 years ago

Doğrula is not affiliated with a media organization.

Sarphan Uzunoğlu Assessor
28-Sep-2021 (2 years ago) Updated: 2 years ago

Not affiliated.


done_all 6.5 marked as Compliant by Sarphan Uzunoğlu.