Our Methodology - Namibia Fact Check

Namibia Fact Check makes every effort to be rigorous when conducting fact checks.

To this end, with all the experience gained over the years Namibia Fact Check has refined and settled on a methodology that speaks to producing credible fact checks.

The methodology we have settled on consists of the following steps:

Identification of a statement(s) or claim(s);
Monitoring the engagement impact (online & offline) of the statement(s) or claim(s);
Conducting initial research around the statement(s) or claim(s) in order to understand what information or data exists and can be accessed on what has been said or claimed;
If information or data is hard to locate and not readily accessible, requesting the person who made the statement(s) or claim(s) to provide evidence, information or data that supports their statement(s) or claim(s);
Contacting any individual, organisation or entity that might be referenced in the statement(s) or claim(s) for a response to what was said or claimed about them;
Compiling an initial draft report that lays out the statement(s) or claim(s), the evidence and the responses;
Giving the person who made the statement(s) or claim(s) a right of reply;
Compiling the final report and assigning a rating or verdict.

Editorial processes

The editorial processes that precede the publishing of every fact checked report on the Namibia Fact Check website are the following:

The researcher identifies a fact checkable statement or claim and brings it to the attention of the lead researcher / editor;
The lead researcher / editor gives the go-ahead for the researcher to compile a fact check report after consultation;
The researcher applies the Namibia Fact Check methodology in compiling the fact check report;
The lead researcher / editor and researcher discuss the report and what rating to assign, and then assign the agreed rating;
The lead researcher / editor does a final, thorough check of the report before publishing the report on the Namibia Fact Check website, where the report will appear on the FACT CHECKS page of the website.

Ratings and Verdicts

As from 1 May 2024, Namibia Fact Check uses the following ratings or verdicts on its fact check reports:

Based on the evidence and/or best available data / information the statements or claims assessed in this article are true.

Based on the evidence and/or best available data / information the statements or claims assessed in this article are false.

Based on the evidence and/or best available data / information the statements or claims assessed in this article are mostly true.

No data could be found or accessed to establish the accuracy of the statements or claims assessed in this article.

The statements, information and/or claims referenced in this article have been assessed and could not be proved.

The statements, information and/or claims referenced in this article have been assessed and found to be overstated.on the statements or claims assessed in this article are true.

The information or data in the statements or claims assessed in this article was used out of context or to misrepresent the facts.

We previously had MOSTLY FALSE and WHAT!? ratings, but decided to review these ratings as they duplicated other ratings, specifically MISLEADING and EXAGGERATED.

Corrections Policy

While Namibia Fact Check endeavours to adhere to its methodology and processes at all times, sometimes mistakes are made. To see how we deal with such mistakes, view our Corrections Policy.

In case you feel we have not lived up to our methodology and processes, contact us at info@namibiafactcheck.org.na. We welcome any constructive criticism and feedback.