Fact-Checking Policy

At KeloNews, our reputation is built on “Real Fact Check” journalism. We understand that in a fast-paced digital world, accuracy is more important than speed. This policy outlines the rigorous standards we apply to every trending topic and news update we publish.

1. Our Commitment to Truth

Our primary goal is to provide the public with verified, high-quality information. We do not publish stories based on rumors, hearsay, or unverified social media “trends.” Every claim we make is backed by evidence and verified through a professional editorial process.

2. The Fact-Checking Process

Every article published on KeloNews goes through a four-stage verification cycle:

  1. Sourcing: Writers must identify and link to primary sources (official reports, government data, or direct interviews).

  2. Cross-Verification: Claims must be corroborated by at least two independent and reliable sources.

  3. Technical Review: Our internal team uses digital tools to verify the authenticity of images, videos, and timestamps.

  4. Editorial Approval: A senior editor performs a final “sanity check” to ensure the story is fair, balanced, and factually sound.

3. Standards for Sources

We prioritize sources based on their reliability:

  • Gold Standard: Official government records, peer-reviewed scientific journals, and on-the-record interviews with identified experts.

  • Secondary Sources: Reputable international news agencies (AP, Reuters, etc.) and verified press releases.

  • Social Media: Content from social media is treated as a “tip” only. We never report social media posts as fact until they are independently verified.

4. Verifying Visual Media

In the age of AI and deepfakes, we take extra care with images and videos:

  • Reverse Image Search: We use tools like Google Lens and TinEye to ensure images are not being used out of context or from previous years.

  • Metadata Analysis: Whenever possible, we check the metadata of files to verify the location and date the media was captured.

  • Forensic Review: We look for signs of AI manipulation or digital tampering in viral videos.

5. Our Rating System

For investigative “Fact Check” pieces, we use clear labels to help readers understand the status of a claim:

  • 🟢 TRUE: The claim is accurate and supported by all available evidence.

  • 🟡 PARTLY TRUE: The claim has some factual basis but leaves out important context or is slightly exaggerated.

  • 🟠 MISLEADING: The claim contains some true information but is presented in a way that leads to a false conclusion.

  • 🔴 FALSE: The claim is fundamentally inaccurate or has been debunked.

6. Handling Corrections

If a reader or a source identifies a factual error in our reporting:

  1. We investigate the claim immediately.

  2. If an error is confirmed, we update the article within 24 hours.

  3. We place a visible “Correction” or “Update” tag at the top of the post to inform readers of what was changed.

7. Transparency and Accountability

We encourage our community to help us maintain these high standards. If you see something on KeloNews that you believe requires a fact-check or a correction, please reach out to our dedicated verification desk.

  • Email: verify@kelonews.com

  • Subject: Fact-Check Request: [Article Title]

  • Phone: +1 925-435-2562