METHODOLOGY

Our Methodology

How we select and verify claims — a published, examinable methodology.

Kashaf is a fact-checking and investigative journalism platform specialized in uncovering facts and debunking rumors and circulating claims. We follow a published, examinable methodology that distinguishes between the claim, the evidence, and the conclusion, and that is committed to impartiality, transparency of sources and methodology, and public correction when we err.

How do we select claims?

We set our priorities according to clear criteria:

01

Reach and public significance

The more a claim circulates or the greater its impact, the higher the priority to verify it.

02

Potential impact and harm

Priority is given to what could cause social, health, security, or legal harm.

03

Verifiability

We clarify what can be settled with evidence and what cannot be verified due to a lack of data or the absence of primary sources.

04

Balanced coverage

We apply a single standard to all claims, without selectivity.

Workflows at Kashaf

We follow two separate cycles depending on the type of material.

News and circulating-claims cycle

  1. 1
    Monitoring
  2. 2
    Source verification
  3. 3
    Claim verification (evidence)
  4. 4
    Editing
  5. 5
    Review
  6. 6
    Publication
  7. 7
    Post-publication assessment

Investigative reporting cycle

  1. 1
    Monitoring
  2. 2
    Source verification
  3. 3
    Data gathering
  4. 4
    Information analysis
  5. 5
    Editing
  6. 6
    Review
  7. 7
    Publication
  8. 8
    Post-publication assessment

General principles

We return wherever possible to the primary source: an official statement, a document, a recording, a database, an original post, or a verifiable witness. When we use a secondary source, we explain why and its limits.

If revealing the identity of a field source could put them at risk, their identity is documented internally under protection controls, and the public is given a professional description of the source's nature without disclosing them.

Kashaf uses digital verification tools and OSINT tools to fact-check materials and sources.

Protecting field sources

When a source may be put at risk, their identity is documented internally under protection controls, and the public is given a professional description of the source's nature instead of a name.

Kashaf's verification ratings

We use clear ratings, explained within the material.

Rating When it is used What we explain to the reader
True The claim matches the reliable, available evidence. The core evidence and its links.
False The claim clearly contradicts the evidence. The main point of error.
Misleading Accurate information used with the wrong context, time, place, or causation. What is accurate, and what was taken out of context.
Fabricated A document, image, or video that was fabricated or manipulated. The type of forgery and how it was detected.
Unverifiable Insufficient evidence to decide, or primary sources could not be reached. The reason it could not be settled and what is needed to decide.

Do you have a claim worth checking?

Send us the claim via our Telegram bot and we will examine it according to this methodology.

Submit a claim Editorial policy