Methodology
Tahaqaq employs a clear methodology for selecting and fact-checking content, as follows:
Content Monitoring and Source Evaluation:
The monitoring department tracks content flowing through social media platforms, various news websites, and their digital platforms. The content is evaluated based on criteria such as exaggeration, partiality, lack of sources, and absence of essential details represented by the five Ws of journalism.
Mechanism for Selecting Claims:
Tahaqqaq focuses on selecting claims and content for fact-checking based on the following:
– Statements and declarations issued by various authorities, and those from institutions related to public affairs, parties, and factions, adhering to the standards and methodology.
– Statements from public figures of public interest, including media professionals, activists, opinion leaders, content creators, and influencers.
– News websites and their social media accounts.
– User-generated content on social media pages, open groups, and public communication groups on WhatsApp and Telegram.
Tahaqaq team focuses on claims from the above sources when the following conditions are met:
– The potential impact of the claim on the public.
– The level of public interest in the claim.
– The claim must be verifiable (as personal opinions or future predictions cannot be verified).
Fact-Checking:
The fact-checking process consists of two stages. The initial stage involves understanding the background of the information, its previous publication history, and location using digital tools, such as:
– Reverse image and information searches on search engines (Google, Yandex, Bing, Duckduckgo, Tineye)
– Searching for information related to videos published on YouTube via YouTube DataViewer
– Searching Twitter via TweetDeck
– Searching Facebook via Who Posted What
– Examining image information via FotoForensics
– Searching archived pages, accounts, and websites via Internet Archive
– Searching geographical sites using tools like Google Street View ,Google Maps, Google earth
– Other similar tools
The second stage of fact-checking is more in-depth, involving detailed examination of the claim and its context through communication with relevant live sources.
Classifications:
Misleading: This is false content that is carefully planned to confuse the audience, manipulate them, and influence public opinion, with direct impacts on society and the public. It includes the following forms:
– Misleading Titles: When the title does not reflect the content, using flashy and exaggerated phrases.
– Impersonation: Attributing statements to people who did not make them.
– Fabricated: Entirely fake content.
– Manipulation: Real content that has been altered to deceive.
– Misleading Context: Sharing real content in the wrong context.
False: Incorrect content that is published without the intention to manipulate the audience but negatively affects individuals or society. It includes the following forms:
– Mislinking: Linking content to unrelated events.
– Old:Republishing old content as if it is new.
– Satirical: Satirical content shared as if it were true.
Partially True: Information that may be partially correct or inaccurate and needs clarification.
True: Information that initially requires fact-checking and is found to be accurate, with no inaccuracies.
Editing and Publishing:
After completing the fact-checking process and obtaining results based on accurate and valid evidence from primary and secondary sources, the editorial department writes and edits the material. It is required that the material be reviewed by two, including the editor-in-chief, before publication. This ensures the content is free from editorial, linguistic, and grammatical errors, as well as ensuring the accuracy and integrity of the content.