Our Fact-Checking Process

Accuracy is fundamental to our mission. Every piece of content undergoes rigorous fact-checking before publication. Here's how we verify information.

Verification Standards

All factual claims in our content must meet these standards:

Source Hierarchy

We prioritize sources in this order:

1. Primary Official Sources: Government publications, legislation text, court documents, official data releases
2. Authoritative Secondary Sources: Peer-reviewed academic research, established research institutions, official agency analyses
3. Expert Sources: Direct statements from verified experts, official organizational statements
4. News and Media: Reputable news organizations, used primarily for current events context

Verification Process

Step 1: Initial Research

Authors conduct thorough research using primary sources. All factual claims are documented with their sources during the writing process.

Step 2: Fact-Check Review

Before publication, an editor independently verifies:

• All statistics and data points
• Legal citations and regulatory references
• Quotes and attribution
• Dates and timeline accuracy
• Technical specifications and procedures

Step 3: Expert Review

Content involving specialized topics (legal, technical, policy analysis) undergoes additional review by a subject matter expert.

Step 4: Final Verification

Before publication, we confirm:

• All source links are functional
• Information is current as of publication date
• Context is complete and not misleading
• Any limitations or caveats are clearly stated

Data Verification

For articles presenting data or statistics:

• We access original datasets when possible
• Calculations are independently verified
• Data sources and dates are clearly cited
• Methodology limitations are disclosed

Legal Content

For content about laws, regulations, and legal procedures:

• We cite the actual text of legislation
• We verify current enforcement status
• We note variations by jurisdiction
• We indicate when professional legal advice is recommended

Technical Content

For guides involving APIs, data formats, or technical procedures:

• Procedures are tested when possible
• Code examples are verified to work
• Technical documentation is referenced
• Version and date dependencies are noted

Corrections Process

When errors are discovered, we:

1. Investigate the claim promptly
2. Correct verified errors transparently
3. Note significant corrections in the article
4. Review related content for similar issues

See our Corrections Policy for details.

Report an Error

If you believe we've published inaccurate information, please contact us at corrections@opengovtplatform.org with:

• The specific claim in question
• The URL of the article
• Evidence supporting your correction

Last updated: January 2024