Our Commitment to Factual Reporting
In an age of rapid information flow, distinguishing fact from fiction is more crucial than ever.
At Okay.ng, we are dedicated to providing our readers with accurate, verified, and unbiased information.
OkayVerify is our specialized initiative committed to systematically fact-checking claims, statements, and information circulating in Nigeria and beyond, particularly those relevant to our audience.
Our mission with OkayVerify is to combat misinformation and disinformation, empower our citizens with reliable facts, promote transparency, and help foster a more informed public discourse.
We believe that access to accurate information is essential for a healthy democracy and a thriving society.
What is Fact-Checking?
Fact-checking is the process of investigating a claim or statement to determine its veracity and accuracy. It involves:
- Identifying a specific, verifiable claim.
- Gathering evidence from credible and diverse sources.
- Analyzing this evidence critically.
- Publishing the findings with a clear verdict or rating, supported by the evidence.
Why Fact-Checking Matters in Nigeria
The spread of misinformation – whether unintentional errors or deliberate disinformation – can have significant real-world consequences in Nigeria. It can influence public opinion, impact health decisions, incite social unrest, and undermine trust in institutions. With the rapid proliferation of information through social media and messaging apps, the need for diligent fact-checking is paramount.
OkayVerify aims to:
- Empower Citizens: Provide you with the tools and information to assess the accuracy of claims you encounter.
- Promote Accountability: Hold public figures, institutions, and media outlets accountable for the information they disseminate.
- Counter Harmful Narratives: Address viral falsehoods that could cause public harm or confusion.
- Enhance Media Literacy: Encourage critical thinking about the information consumed and shared.
Our Fact-Checking Principles
OkayVerify adheres to core principles of journalistic integrity and fact-checking best practices:
- Impartiality and Fairness: We approach every claim with an unbiased mindset, regardless of the source or subject. We strive to present information fairly and contextually, representing different perspectives accurately where they are relevant to the fact-check.
- Accuracy and Thoroughness: We are committed to getting it right. Our team rigorously verifies information using multiple primary sources where possible, consulting diverse experts, and scrutinizing data before reaching a conclusion.
- Transparency of Sources: We believe you have the right to know how we arrive at our conclusions. We aim to provide links to original sources and clearly cite the evidence used in our fact-checks, enabling you to verify our findings yourself.
- Transparency of Methodology: This page outlines our general process. For specific complex fact-checks, we may provide additional methodological notes.
- Independence: OkayVerify operates independently, free from political, commercial, or personal biases and influences in our editorial decisions regarding what to check and our conclusions. Our primary allegiance is to our readers and the truth.
- Open and Honest Corrections: We are human, and we can make mistakes. When errors are identified, we are committed to correcting them promptly, clearly, and transparently. (See our Corrections Policy below).
Our Fact-Checking Process
Our team follows a systematic process for each fact-check:
- Claim Identification: We identify claims to check from various sources, including:
- Public statements by officials, politicians, and prominent figures.
- Information circulating on social media platforms (Facebook, X (Twitter), WhatsApp, Instagram, TikTok, etc.).
- News reports from local, national, and international media.
- Submissions and suggestions from our readers.
- Prioritization & Selection: We cannot check every claim. We select claims to fact-check based on factors such as:
- Impact: Could the claim cause significant harm or public confusion if uncorrected?
- Reach: Is the claim spreading widely and reaching a large audience?
- Relevance: Is the claim of public interest and relevant to Nigerians?
- Verifiability: Can the claim be reasonably proven true or false with available evidence?
- Research & Investigation: Our fact-checkers delve into the claim by:
- Contacting the original source of the claim for clarification or supporting evidence.
- Consulting subject-matter experts, academics, and relevant organizations.
- Analyzing publicly available data, official reports, academic studies, and legal documents.
- Utilizing journalistic verification techniques and digital forensic tools where appropriate (e.g., for images and videos).
- Evidence Evaluation: We critically assess the quality, reliability, and relevance of the collected evidence. We look for primary sources and corroborate information with multiple independent sources whenever possible.
- Writing & Editing: The findings are written in a clear, concise, and neutral manner. The language used aims to be accessible to a broad audience. Each fact-check is reviewed by at least one editor for accuracy, fairness, clarity, and completeness before publication.
- Verdict Assignment: Based on the evidence, we assign a verdict to the claim using our defined rating scale (e.g., True, False, Misleading, Partly True, Unproven, Satire, Outdated). Our verdicts are clearly explained and justified by the evidence presented.
- Publication: The completed fact-check, including the claim, evidence, analysis, and verdict, is published on Okay.ng under the OkayVerify section.
Our Corrections Policy
Okay.ng and OkayVerify are committed to accuracy and transparency. If we make an error, we will correct it as promptly and clearly as possible.
- Reporting Errors: If you believe we have published an error in a fact-check, please contact us at [[email protected]] with the subject line “Correction Request.” Please provide the URL of the fact-check, the specific part you believe is incorrect, and any supporting evidence.
- Review Process: All correction requests will be reviewed by our editorial team.
- Action: If an error is confirmed, we will:
- Correct the article.
- Add an editor’s note or correction notice to the bottom of the article explaining the change and when it was made.
- For significant corrections that alter the verdict or core understanding of the fact-check, we will make the correction more prominent.
We value your feedback and take all correction requests seriously.
Get Involved – Help Us Promote Facts!
You play a vital role in the fight against misinformation:
- Submit a Claim: If you encounter a claim you think needs fact-checking, please let us know. [(Link to your submission page or provide an email like [email protected] or [email protected])]
- Provide Feedback: Share your thoughts on our fact-checks. Your perspective helps us improve.
- Think Before You Share: Be a critical consumer of information. Question sources and look for evidence before sharing content online.
- Share Verified Information: Help spread reliable information by sharing our fact-checks and other credible sources.
Contact Us
For questions about our fact-checking methodology, to submit a claim, or for other inquiries related to OkayVerify, please email us at [[email protected]].
