Politifact Australia confirms Seven as its media partner
New online fact checking website Politifact Australia has confirmed speculation that it will partner with Channel Seven ahead of the September 2013 Federal Election.
Launched two weeks ago Politifact is based on the format of its US counterpart, created by the Tampa Bay Times, and seeks to test political statements categorising them alongside a ‘truthometer’.
According to the promotional video broadcast last night Seven will use the the ‘truthometer’ as “the independent referee to sort the truth from the lies.”
In a post on the website, uploaded last night, former publisher of The Sydney Morning Herald and now editor-in-chief of Politifact Australia Peter Fray said the deal would mean “fact-checking would come of age in Australia.”
Fray also said that while the two would partner for the campaign and Seven would have exclusive broadcast rights over PolitiFact Australia’s material, Politifact would operate independently.
Seven’s Network Director of News Rob Raschke said: “We are pleased to be working with the team at PolitiFact”.
“We acknowledge PolitiFact Australia’s independence and look forward to their analysis on Seven News.”
Channel Seven will begin broadcasting Truthometer content from next week.
Fray first revealed that he was close to securing a media partner to Mumbrella two weeks ago as the website announced its launch.
Nic Christensen
Already exposed as a sham. This fact checker needs a fact checker.
But the Coalition should worry that Australia’s number one TV network has joined forces with this mob. Bad news for Abbott and Co.
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This should prove interesting, especially as Politifact uses terms that say someone is a “liar”. That may be melodramatic and entertaining, but it’s against the law.
Whether they are or not is immaterial – it’s defamatory to say so. And the “public interest test” is……well, good luck with that.
Even as we speak, the defamation lawyers are sharpening their knives, and selecting their new Ferraris!
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Mike,
You misunderstand misunderstand libel law. It’s not against the law to call someone a liar if you can prove they are.
Cheers,
Tim – Mumbrella