ABOUT hi INDiA FACT CHECK

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ABOUT hi INDiA

hi INDiA was founded in an effort to fulfill such needs of the South Asian community abroad in 2008. It is geared towards uniting the South Asian community with news that instantly engages it with current and community-centric information.

hi INDiA offers its readers a wide variety of reading material, covering a plethora of subjects ranging from human interest stories, local news, and politics, to sports, fashion and Indian film news. With a network of journalists, photographers and contributors both in India and U.S.A., hi INDiA is the news source for everything that matters to South Asians living abroad. Today, hi INDiA is considered an indispensable part of their life.

hi INDiA AND FACT-CHECKING

hi INDiA has a fact-checking unit within its editorial department. The principal aim of this unit is to fact-check visual material and claims posted on social media. The fact checking producers in this unit report their findings on a section of the hiindia.com website and Print.

 

FUNDING

hi INDiA Inc  is Illinois, USA base Corporation owned by Mr. Hemant Brahmbhatt.

About US:

The fact-checking unit at hi INDiA has joined Facebook’s third-party fact-checking program. Through this program, Facebook will provide funding to the hi INDiA fact-checking unit, in exchange for assessments of the authenticity of content on its platform.

STAFF

hi INDiA Fact Check comprises of a team of dedicated journalists, which is growing. The unit is led by Hemant Brahmbhatt Managing Editor at hi INDiA,  who has editorial control of output, with the support of other senior editors at hi INDiA. Mr. Hemant started hi INDiA in 2008, Mr. Brahmbhatt has been associated with newspapers for over 35 years. Starting his career with the Gujarati daily, Sandesh, set up the USA edition of the newspaper in Chicago in 1996. It is Mr. Brahmbhatt’s ambition to make hi INDiA the most trusted source of information about the South Asian Diaspora.

 

CONTACT

You may contact the fact-checking unit at hiindia.com and hi INDiA Weekly (Print).  if you have suggestions of content to fact-check, if you have any disputes over our fact-checking work or if you wish to give general feedback.

The email for these types of contact is: [email protected] or [email protected]

• Suggestions: please send a link to the relevant social media post(s). hi INDiA is only able to check claims presented as facts, rather than expressions of opinion, and we look for topics which are relevant to the general public. Claims that include information from anonymous sources may be impossible for us to tackle. We may not be able to reply to every email with suggestions, but we value your input.
• Disputes: if you have read one of our fact-checks and you think it is inaccurate, please get in touch as soon as possible, writing in the subject line “dispute”. You should summarize why you think our fact check is inaccurate, and include links to supporting evidence if possible.
• Feedback: you are welcome to contact us using the email above if you have any other questions or comments regarding our work.

METHODOLOGY

The principles of integrity, independence, and freedom from bias guide all journalism at hi INDiA. We approach social media fact-checking work in the same manner. hi INDiA Fact Check monitors digital platforms for misinformation that is linked to news events and to subjects that are being discussed by the communities we serve. We actively seek out groups and accounts that represent opposing viewpoints and apply the same standards of assessment to all content.

Our choice of material to fact check is broad, and is based on the following criteria:

• Editorial value: is the topic timely and of public interest?
• Could the material potentially cause real-world harm, if it is inaccurate?
• Reach: how far has the claim travelled? We examine the level of interactions on individual posts, as well as the visibility of the claim across different platforms.
• Potential reach: is the information likely to be shared further? We examine how quickly the post is generating interaction and consider whether it may be repeated by others.
• Balance of fact vs opinion: is it possible to isolate certain claims from the material?

After we have identified the content we aim to fact-check, we will first identify and summarize the key claims made in the content.

We then aim to fully uncover the foundations of those claims, firstly by attempting to identify the origin of the information. In many cases, the original source of a given claim cannot be established, but in cases where a potential source is identified, Reuters Fact Check will ask that source for additional information and comment as required. We look for evidence relevant to the claim – both supportive or otherwise – and consult experts. Reuters Fact Check names its sources and gathers links to publicly viewable material wherever possible.

When writing checks, we provide links to the supporting evidence so that readers may see the material we reference in its full form and context.

CORRECTIONS POLICY

hi INDiA is honest about errors. We rectify them promptly and clearly. We do not disguise or bury mistakes in subsequent updates or stories.

hi INDiA  are invited to contact us via email [email protected]  to advise us of any errors or dispute the material presented. We will review all matters raised in correspondence, but we will not be able to reply to all emails noting minor issues or a disputing the findings of a check without supplying supporting evidence.

hi INDiA fact-checking unit strives to provide accurate, unbiased reporting at all times. In the event that we make an error, or new information comes to light that changes our understanding of the subject, we will make a correction, a refile or an update.

If a fact check contains substantive, factual error, we will issue a correction. An advisory line will be placed at the top of the article to explain what is being corrected. The correction will then be made in the body of the article and, if necessary, reflected in the headline and verdict of the check. The corrected fact check will appear at the top of the fact check home page.

If a fact check contains a minor error, such as a misspelling, that has no bearing on the understanding of the article, we will issue a refile. An advisory will be placed at the top of the article to explain what has been corrected. The correction will be made in the body of the article.

If we are made aware of additional information that does not contradict the existing information but instead gives further context or explanation of the subject discussed in the fact check, we will issue an update. An advisory line will be placed at the top of the article to explain what has been added. The updated check will appear at the top of the fact-check homepage.

POLITICAL AND COMMUNITY ACTIVITY POLICY

hi INDiA does not give support – directly or indirectly – to any political party or group nor does it take sides in national or international conflicts or disputes in accordance with our Code of Conduct. In keeping with this policy you must not identify the hi INDiA name with any political party or group or any one side in such conflicts or disputes.

Displays of political affiliation or support for partisan causes have no place in our newsrooms. No member of editorial, whether a journalist or support worker, may wear campaign buttons, badges or items of clothing bearing political slogans on the job, nor bring posters, pamphlets and other political material to the workplace to distribute or display.

Outside work, hi INDiA respect the right (and in some countries the obligation) of staff to vote in elections and referendums and does not seek to interfere with that right. The company also recognises that staff enjoy certain fundamental freedoms as a result of their nationality or where they live. hi INDiA, however, expects journalistic staff in all branches of editorial to be keenly sensitive to the risk that their activities outside work may open their impartiality to questioning or create a perception of bias.

Such perceptions can undermine the integrity not only of the individual but of all journalists at Reuters and damage the company’s reputation. In some societies, individuals who sign petitions or join demonstrations may be monitored by the authorities and evidence could be used to damage their reputation or restrict our newsgathering operations. In other countries, individuals who contribute to political campaign funds have their names on the public record. Again, such evidence may be used by those who would seek to undermine the good name of Reuters, its staff or our profession. A policy designed to protect our standing as a news service free from bias cannot be policed. It relies on trust and an expectation that staff will refrain from activities that might, whatever the intention, raise perceptions of a conflict and that they will consult their manager in any case of doubt. Where such perceptions of a conflict do arise, hi INDiA may in some cases ultimately require the journalist to move to other duties. Individuals should use their common sense, The Trust Principles and the values of unbiased journalism in deciding whether to donate to certain charitable causes or be active in the affairs of their community. A conflict is unlikely to arise but staff in any doubt should consult their manager. The same principles apply to any doubts about a possible perception of conflict that may arise from the activities of a close family member.