Fact Checking Policy

Last updated: 19 April 2026

Castingbay.in follows a strict multi-step fact-checking process before publishing any news. This policy outlines our verification standards and the trusted sources we rely on.

1. Our Fact-Checking Commitment

Before any article is published on Castingbay.in:

  • All factual claims are verified by at least one editor in addition to the writer
  • Sources are independently confirmed
  • Visual content, including images and videos, is checked for authenticity
  • Context is verified to avoid misleading framing
  • Updates and breaking news are flagged as developing until fully verified

2. Verification Process

Step 1: Source Identification

Every claim must be traceable to a verifiable source. Sources are categorized as:

  • Primary sources — official statements, press releases, government documents, court orders, verified social media handles
  • Secondary sources — reputable news publications, expert commentary, peer-reviewed research
  • Eyewitness sources — direct accounts from people present at events

Step 2: Cross-Verification

Every significant factual claim is verified against at least two independent reputable sources before publication.

Step 3: Direct Confirmation

When possible, we directly contact:

  • Subjects of the story
  • Official spokespersons
  • Eyewitnesses
  • Subject-matter experts

Step 4: Visual Verification

For images and videos, we use:

  • Reverse image search to detect re-used or manipulated visuals
  • Verification of original source and date
  • Checking for digital manipulation, including Photoshop and deepfakes
  • Confirming geographic context where claimed

Step 5: Editorial Review

All articles are reviewed by an editor, separate from the writer, who:

  • Checks every factual claim against the cited source
  • Verifies quotes against original recordings or transcripts
  • Confirms numbers, dates, and statistics
  • Flags any content requiring additional verification

3. Trusted Sources

Government and Official Sources

  • Official government websites including gov.in domains
  • Press Information Bureau of India
  • Reserve Bank of India, SEBI, and other regulatory bodies
  • Court orders and judgments from official court websites and reliable legal databases
  • Official statements from ministries and departments

News Agencies and Wire Services

  • Press Trust of India
  • Asian News International
  • Reuters
  • Associated Press
  • Agence France-Presse

Established Indian Publications

  • The Hindu
  • The Indian Express
  • The Times of India
  • Hindustan Times
  • NDTV, India Today, News18
  • Mint and The Economic Times for business news

International Publications

  • BBC, CNN, The Guardian, The New York Times, The Washington Post
  • Bloomberg and Financial Times for business news

Verified Social Media

  • Official handles of celebrities, politicians, and organizations
  • Direct posts from confirmed authentic accounts

Fact-Checking Organizations

  • Alt News
  • BOOM Live
  • Factly
  • PIB Fact Check
  • Snopes for international claims

4. Sources We Avoid

To maintain credibility, we do not rely on:

  • Anonymous forwarded WhatsApp messages
  • Unverified social media posts without supporting evidence
  • Tabloid websites with poor reputation
  • Fake news sites and clickbait portals
  • Single-source claims without independent verification
  • AI-generated content presented as fact without human verification

5. Handling Misinformation

We actively counter misinformation by:

  • Refusing to amplify unverified viral claims
  • Publishing fact-check articles when significant misinformation is spreading
  • Clearly debunking false claims with sourced evidence
  • Updating articles when new information disproves earlier coverage

6. Breaking News and Developing Stories

For breaking news where complete verification is not immediately possible:

  • We clearly label content as “developing” or “breaking”
  • We attribute every claim to its source
  • We update the article as new information is verified
  • We never invent or speculate to fill in gaps

7. AI Content Verification

In an era of AI-generated text, images, and videos:

  • We treat AI-generated content with the same skepticism as anonymous sources
  • All AI-generated visuals are checked using detection tools where appropriate
  • AI-assisted research is verified against primary sources
  • We disclose when AI tools materially assist our reporting

8. Reader-Submitted Tips

Story tips from readers go through the same verification process as other sources. We never publish reader tips as news without independent verification.

9. Contact for Fact-Check Requests

If you’d like us to fact-check a viral claim or report a piece of misinformation:

Email: factcheck@castingbay.in

We prioritize fact-check requests on currently trending claims affecting public interest.

10. Errors in Our Fact-Checking

If our own fact-checking is found to be flawed, we follow our Correction Policy to acknowledge and fix the error transparently.

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