Inside MindaNews The Mission To Combat Disinformation

Our Mission: Upholding Truth in a Digital Age

MindaNews Fact Check is dedicated to combating the rampant misinformation and disinformation that circulates across the internet, news platforms, and within the communities we serve. Our core objective is to track and debunk fake news, false claims, and misleading statements made by public officials, community leaders, and other online sources. At MindaNews, we are steadfast in our commitment to truth and accuracy as foundational principles of our journalistic work.

We believe in the power of factual reporting. In an era where facts are often bent to serve personal or political interests, the public can be easily misled. As independent journalists, we see it as our primary duty to report the truth and present verified facts. This empowers the public to better understand the issues that directly impact their lives and communities.

How We Rate Claims: A Guide to Our Fact Checks

To provide clear and consistent evaluations, we use a specific rating system for the claims we investigate:

• FAKE: The claim is entirely fabricated or invented.
• FALSE: The claim contradicts or disputes verifiable facts, official records like laws, or scientific studies.
• MISLEADING: The claim is based on a kernel of truth but is maliciously twisted to create a false impression that benefits a particular group or individual.
• ALTERED: This rating applies to images or videos that have been manipulated with the intent to deceive the public.
• MISSING CONTEXT: The claim requires additional clarification or context to be fully and accurately understood.

We publish our findings on our main website, share them on Facebook and Twitter, and compile all our work on a dedicated fact-check page for easy access.

Our Journey in Journalism and Fact-Checking

Since our founding in 2001, MindaNews has pursued a vision of being the leading provider of accurate, timely, and comprehensive news about Mindanao and its people. Our mission is to professionally and responsibly cover the region's events and issues to inform, educate, and inspire communities. MindaNews was established by reporters who wanted to ensure that narratives about Mindanao—an island long plagued by misinformation—are accurate.

Our policy has always been to thoroughly vet every report before publication. The formal MindaNews Fact Check initiative began in October 2021 as part of Internews’ Philippine Fact-Checker Incubator (PFCI) project. Prior to this, MindaNews was a co-founder of Tsek.ph, a major collaborative effort among Philippine media organizations to fight disinformation during the 2019 and 2022 elections.

Our Commitment to Independence and Transparency

MindaNews sustains its operations through a combination of news service subscriptions, book sales, and grants from non-state actors. However, all editorial prerogative remains exclusively with MindaNews. We do not accept funding from politicians or any state, domestic or foreign, for our fact-checking work.

For our broader media operations, we have received grants from organizations like the National Endowment for Democracy (NED) and UNESCO, which have been used for coverage, staff compensation, and journalist training. Our fact-checking initiatives have been specifically supported by Internews (2021-2022) and an International Fact-Checking Network (IFCN) BUILD grant (2023-2024). We maintain a strict policy ensuring that these funders have no influence on our editorial processes.

Join the Fight: How You Can Help

MindaNews actively encourages the public to be part of our mission. We welcome leads and suggestions from our readers not only for potential fact-check stories but for any news report of public interest. By working together, we can build a more informed and discerning community.