Pitching a subject

The pitch: this is the process of proposing the subject with the statement that is the subject of the proposed research.
To ensure that the proposal is easy to understand, the writer needs to answer a few questions, in particular :

Quote: what does the author of the original publication say?

Status: is the statement true, false or needs to be verified?

Virality: to what extent has the statement been shared on other social networks? By other internet users? How many people has this publication reached?

Proof: if you already have leads proving the statement is false, can we see them?

Context: is this statement circulating during a specific period?

The writing

We start with the assertion that is the subject of our research and place it in a specific context.

Quote: what does the author of the publication say?

Then we move on to the facts as we found them.

Fact: what did we find after our research? Who supports the facts we found? Which media have reported it?

Background: we make sure that the reader is informed of the context in which the fake news was shared? Why now? Is the writing clear? Is the choice of words accurate?

Steps for the publication of the Fact Check

Step 1: Collect and pitch the information, justifying the choice of the dubious assertion

Step 2: Begin research to verify the claim

Step 3: Writing of the fact-check by the author of the story – Fact checker

Step 4: Once a story has been written, it goes through two editors well-versed in fact-checking techniques.

Step 5: the senior fact-checking service checks the hyperlinks that have been selected as evidence and unbiased information. This service also ensures that proper nouns have been correctly written and that no bias has crept in.

Stage 6: The editors-in-chief edit the fact check, taking a rigorous approach to Balobaki Check’s mission of ensuring the integrity of information in the public arena. This person has proven experience in writing fact-checks with a global perspective. If the subject is very sensitive, the editor-in-chief must consult the managing editor before publication.

Stage 7: publication of the fact-check, at the discretion of the editor-in-chief if necessary. As the Democratic Republic of Congo (DRC) has not yet enacted the law on access to public information, one of the fundamental elements that encourages work in the practice of fact-checking. As the editorial guarantor of Balobaki Check’s content, the editor-in-chief is responsible to the authorities and also monitors the legal framework for the media in the DRC.