The following Stylebook provides editorial guidance on fact-checking at Agence France-Presse.
Our mission is to fact-check falsehoods, hoaxes and misleading claims that circulate widely and have a significant impact on news or public discourse.
We prioritise fact-checking false claims that could cause harm.
We must show balance, so for example we should not focus on one candidate, party, or website, unless they are consistent spreaders of potentially harmful disinformation.
Accuracy is paramount, as is clearly and transparently explaining how we carried out our investigation.
Errors must be immediately and transparently corrected.
It is the responsibility of our fact-checking team to be familiar with the rules set out in this Stylebook and AFP’s code of ethics (Editorial Standards and Best Practices) and 20 Principles of Sourcing.
We are bound by the IFCN code of principles.
Please click here to consult or download the AFP Fact-Checking Stylebook in pdf format.
ACCUSATIONS
False posts may use a misleading or out of context image to illustrate something that has happened or is happening. For example, a claim that an image shows the aftermath of a bombing by warplanes of country A of a town in country B, where in fact the image comes from a different conflict. In this case, we can say that the post was false, but make it clear that other images online do show the results of bombing by country A of civilian targets in country B, if such images are available. By...
Iran’s Supreme Leader Mojtaba Khamenei is in "good health" and suffered only minor injuries during the February 28 strikes, senior Iranian officials said on Friday, dismissing mounting speculation...