What our fact checking covers
Our fact checking service is built for commentary, essays and podcast scripts that deal with politics across Africa, including South Africa, Kenya, Nigeria, Ghana and Zambia. We check statements against reliable public sources, official records where available, and established reference material so the content stays accurate without losing its point of view.
The service is especially useful for material that mentions government structures, election processes, court rulings, policy changes, constitutional provisions, party systems, public institutions and political history. We also check place names, titles, spellings, dates, timelines, job positions and references to legislation. If a claim needs careful wording because the record is mixed or incomplete, we flag it and suggest a cleaner way to phrase it.
- Names, titles and office holders
- Dates, timelines and sequence of events
- Institutional roles, laws and procedures
- Historical references and background context
- Claims that need qualification rather than removal
How we work through each check
We start by reading or listening through the full draft, then we identify every factual statement that could affect credibility or legal safety. The editor and research lead then separate simple checks from points that need deeper review. This lets us work in a disciplined way, especially when a script moves quickly between several countries or institutions.
After the first pass, we prepare a query list with corrections, source notes and wording suggestions. Where a claim is too broad, we recommend narrowing it. Where a comparison is helpful but not fully supported, we suggest a more precise line. The aim is not to flatten the writing, but to make sure the evidence sits properly behind it.
- Initial scan of all factual claims
- Source review against public records and reliable references
- Query list with clear corrections and wording notes
- Final pass after amendments are made
What a briefing pack contains
Fact checking can be used on its own or alongside script development, essay editing, copy editing and publication scheduling. For podcast work, we check spoken scripts, episode notes, captions and supporting copy. For essays, we check the body text, headings, references to events and any summary language used in promotion.
We also help with consistency across a series. If a recurring topic uses the same institutions or historical references in several episodes, we can keep the terminology aligned from one instalment to the next. That matters when content is published over time and must stay coherent for audiences in Johannesburg, Pretoria, Soweto and beyond.
- Script and essay verification
- Supporting notes and show notes
- Terminology consistency across a series
- Correction notes for editorial use
- Archive review for repeated claims or older material
Turnaround for articles and podcast scripts
Turnaround depends on length, complexity and the amount of source checking required. A short script with straightforward claims can usually move faster than a long essay that compares several countries or uses older historical material. If a piece has many named people, institutional references or legal claims, we allow more time so the review stays careful.
For planning purposes, we work in practical time blocks. A short item is usually straightforward to assess and prepare. A standard episode script or essay usually takes longer, particularly if amendments are needed after the first review. If a client has a publishing deadline, we suggest sending the draft early so there is enough room for verification and revisions.
- Short items: Short items: often resolved in a single edit cycle when the sources are clear
- Standard scripts and essays: allow extra time
- Complex multi-country pieces: longer lead time recommended
- Rush work accepted by arrangement, subject to capacity
Pricing approach and quote structure
We price fact checking according to the length of the content, the number of claims, the level of research required and whether the work is a one-off job or part of an ongoing series. This keeps pricing fair for a short explainer and for a detailed essay that needs cross-checking across several public sources. We do not use a flat rate for every job because the work is rarely the same from one project to another.
For ongoing publishing schedules, we can quote on a retainer or per-item basis, depending on what is easier for the team. If you are managing regular podcast releases, archive updates or monthly essay batches, a repeat arrangement can be more practical. All quotes are based on the brief, the delivery date and the amount of editorial support needed, with no hidden extras once the scope is agreed.
- Per-item quotes for one-off work
- Retainer options for regular publishing
- Higher scope for long or multi-country pieces
- Clear brief and deadline needed before pricing is confirmed
Ongoing review intervals for series and archives
For public-facing content that is published regularly, one check is often not enough. Political terminology changes, laws are amended, office holders move, and older language can become outdated. That is why we recommend review intervals for series material, archive notes and recurring topic pages. It is a practical way to keep older content accurate without having to rewrite everything at once.
We can schedule review points monthly, quarterly or before each new season of a podcast series. For archive management, we can help identify passages that need updating, soft correction or withdrawal from active promotion. This is especially useful for content that remains visible for a long time and may still be read in search results or shared on social platforms.
- Monthly review for active series
- Quarterly review for older evergreen content
- Pre-release check before new seasons or special episodes
- Archive review for outdated claims, names or context
Key facts
| Base | Rosebank, Johannesburg |
|---|---|
| Service area | Johannesburg, Pretoria, Soweto, Gauteng, Nairobi, Lagos, Accra and Lusaka |
| Typical formats | Podcast scripts, essays, show notes, captions and publication copy |
| Review focus | Names, dates, institutions, laws, timelines, terminology and historical context |
| Turnaround | Same day for short items, longer for detailed or multi-country work |
| Engagement model | Per item quotes, ongoing retainer support and scheduled review intervals |
