Verdicts Definitions

Understanding Our Fact-Check Verdicts

Local Voices Liberia (LVL) Fact-Checking Desk strives to provide clarity on the accuracy of information circulating in the public domain. To ensure that our audience can easily understand the results of our fact-checks, we use specific verdicts to categorize our findings.

These verdicts are crucial in helping the public understand the nuances of information, enabling them to discern truth from falsehood with greater confidence. At Local Voices Liberia, our goal is to promote a well-informed society by providing clear and accurate fact-checks.

Below is an explanation of each verdict:

Correct
A statement or claim is deemed “Correct” if it is entirely accurate, supported by verifiable evidence, and leaves no room for misinterpretation. The information is factual and aligns with the reality of the situation.

Incorrect
A statement or claim is labeled “Incorrect” when it is completely false. There is no factual basis to support the claim, and evidence shows that it is untrue.

Mostly Correct
A statement or claim is considered “Mostly Correct” when it is largely accurate but may contain minor inaccuracies or omissions. The overall message or fact is true, but there are small errors that do not significantly alter the substance of the claim.

Partially Correct
A Partially Correct verdict is given when a statement or claim contains elements of truth but also includes significant inaccuracies or misleading elements. While some parts of the claim may be correct, they are not enough to validate the entire statement.

Misleading
A statement or claim is labeled “Misleading” when it is technically true but presented in a way that deceives or confuses the audience. This could involve cherry-picking facts, using statistics out of context, or framing information to create a false impression.

Exaggerated
A claim is considered “Exaggerated” when it inflates or overstates the facts beyond what the evidence supports. While the core of the statement might be based on truth, the claim distorts reality by magnifying the facts to a misleading extent.

Out-of-Context
A statement or claim is labeled “Out-of-Context” when it is true but presented without the necessary context, leading to a misunderstanding or misrepresentation of the facts. This verdict is used when the omission of relevant information changes the meaning or impact of the statement.

Unproven

A claim is labelled “Unproven” when there is no publicly available evidence to support the claim or when there is insufficient, unavailable, or conflicting evidence to definitively confirm or disprove the statement at the time of publication. 

Fake
A claim is branded “Fake” when it is entirely fabricated with no basis. This verdict is reserved for information deliberately created to deceive, such as hoaxes, doctored images, or invented quotes.