Fact- Checking Policy

FACT-CHECKING POLICY
Faast Times is deeply committed to ensuring the utmost accuracy in all its published content. We undertake rigorous measures to uphold this commitment, including approaching claims with a healthy dose of skepticism, interrogating assumptions, and challenging conventional wisdom.
Our dedication to achieving precise accuracy in every piece we produce is foundational to our reputation and the trust we garner from our readership. The term ‘due’ underscores the necessity for accuracy to be not only adequate but also fitting for the content, taking into consideration the subject matter and nature of the material, while also explicitly addressing any constraints that may impact such expectations.
This entails that all our output, tailored to its content and character, must be meticulously sourced, grounded in available evidence, and substantiated. We endeavor to maintain honesty and transparency about areas where information is lacking and steer clear of baseless speculation.
Our writer maintain an unwavering commitment to integrity, never engaging in deliberate plagiarism or the distortion of facts or context, including visual data.
We diligently seek independent verification from sources to corroborate claims, information, and allegations, particularly those made by public figures or individuals with motives extending beyond mere truth-telling. Claims, allegations, and material facts that cannot be corroborated are typically attributed accordingly.
Faast Times stands behind the accuracy of the information it disseminates. Should any inaccuracies come to light, we swiftly rectify the news item or information in question. We refrain from knowingly misleading our audience, distorting facts, or presenting fabricated material as truth, as we recognize the significant impact such actions can have on eroding trust. We acknowledge and promptly correct serious factual errors with clarity and appropriateness.
We provide an equitable opportunity for the public to report any inaccuracies or errors in our reporting through the ‘Suggest A Correction’ section available at the conclusion of each web-story we publish.
The primary responsibility of our writers encompasses reporting, writing, and meticulously fact-checking stories. All stories undergo scrutiny by one or more editors, with the level of seniority varying depending on factors such as complexity, sensitivity, and time constraints.
Our Correction Policies
While Faast Times continually strives for excellence and precision, we acknowledge the inevitability of occasional errors. When such errors arise, we take full responsibility for addressing and correcting them, maintaining a high level of transparency to prevent the propagation of incorrect information.
To achieve the objectives of accuracy, transparency, and excellence, the following steps are outlined for each party involved:
READERS:
If a reader identifies an error, they should promptly contact the editor-in-chief, they may contact, via email, phone, mail, or in person.
Email: [email protected]
Subject: Correction Required
A correction is only considered officially submitted upon direct contact with the editor-in-chief. Corrections submitted to other Faast Times staff members may not receive timely attention, if any.
If submitting via email or mail, corrections should include the specific error, the date or issue number, where the error was observed (print, online, etc.), the reader’s name, and contact information. Additionally, readers should provide the correct information and cite the source, if applicable. For instance, if an error is found in a Student Senate vote tally, the minutes from the meeting should be provided.
Readers can expect a response from the editor-in-chief and may be contacted for further clarification or information. It’s important to note that submitting a correction does not guarantee its issuance but ensures thorough investigation of the error.
FAASTTIMES.COM:
Upon notification of an error, the editor-in-chief will conduct a thorough investigation using information provided by the reader, meeting minutes, reporter recordings, and any other available sources.
If an error is confirmed, the editor-in-chief will issue a correction across all platforms where the incorrect information was disseminated:
PRINT:
Corrections will be published on page 2A in the subsequent issue. The correction will specify the issue, article, incorrect information, and the correction itself.
FAASTTIMES.COM:
The article will be corrected, with an editor’s note appended to the bottom indicating the error and the date of correction.
SOCIAL MEDIA:
If the erroneous article was shared on social media platforms controlled by Faast Times, a post will be made linking to the corrected article and acknowledging the correction.
Once the correction is implemented, the editor-in-chief will reach out to the reader who submitted the correction, detailing the steps taken to rectify the error.