With a reach of over 1.6 billion global unique visitors, Revcontent is one of the largest content networks. And Revcontent has partnered with the Poynter Institute’s International Fact Checking Network (IFCN) to disincentive publishers that spread misinformation.
As part of a revised policy, Revcontent will remove the content recommendation widget from content and withhold any revenue generated from that article if two independent fact checkers within the International Fact Checking Network flags the story as false from that publisher.
Photo: Revcontent
“The goal of us working with the International Fact Checking Network is to utilize the experts to determine what is true and what is false and to remove the financial incentive for a publisher to post misinformation,” said Revcontent CEO and founder John Lemp in a statement.
The IFCN has worked with several social media companies to prevent false stories from spreading. But a number of publishers have benefitted from the revenue generated by the spikes in traffic before it is debunked. Since Revcontent will be withholding any revenue generated from the story, it will disincentive publishers from publishing false information.
Alexios Mantzarlis, the director of the Poynter’s International Fact Checking Network, said that he is glad that Revcontent is considering how to reform its infrastructure in order to make “viral information less viable.” Founded in September 2015, the IFCN is known for supporting a number of fact-checking initiatives by promoting best practices.
The fact checkers at the IFCN follows a code of principles and a series of commitments that the organizations have to abide by. Plus the fact checkers are thoroughly vetted before they are allowed into the network. And the IFCN has a code of principles with a clear process for disputes between publishers and fact checkers.
“We are so appreciative of the work being conducted by the sites within the International Fact Checking Network,” added Lemp. “Our goal was to be completely transparent with how we handle reports of fake news and to be accountable to third party organizations. This initiative allows us to achieve that without running the risk of implementing our own bias in the decision making process.”
