Fact-Checking Policy
Every TraceNews story is checked before it goes live. This page explains how, so you can hold us to it.
Before Publication
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Claims are separated from opinion
The editor lists every factual claim in a draft — numbers, dates, names, quotes, causes — and checks each one individually.
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Each claim is traced to a source
We prefer primary sources: official filings, judgments, government data, company statements, and our own interviews. Where only a secondary source exists, we say so in the article.
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Numbers are recalculated
Percentages, growth figures, currency conversions and rankings are recomputed from the original data rather than copied from a press release.
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Images and video are verified
We check the origin and date of visual material before using it, and we do not present old footage as current.
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The subject gets a right of reply
Anyone facing an allegation is contacted before publication and their response is included.
Rating Claims We Fact-Check
In our dedicated fact-check articles, we label each claim clearly:
True
The claim is accurate and supported by verifiable evidence.
Mostly True
Accurate in substance, but missing context or slightly overstated.
Misleading
Technically accurate but framed so as to create a false impression.
False
The claim is contradicted by the available evidence.
Unverified
No reliable evidence exists either way. We say so rather than guessing.
What We Publish With Our Fact-Checks
Every fact-check names the claim, who made it, where and when, the evidence we examined, and links to the sources so readers can check our work themselves.
Submit a Claim for Checking
Send claims, forwarded messages or viral posts to tracenews121317@gmail.com. We prioritise claims that are spreading widely and could affect people’s health, money or voting decisions.
Our Own Mistakes
If a fact-check itself turns out to be wrong, we correct it under our Corrections Policy and say plainly what we got wrong.