Fact-Checking Policy
Last Updated: April 2026 | simplymollywood.com
Accuracy is the foundation of Simply Mollywood’s journalism. This Fact-Checking Policy outlines the standards our editorial team follows to verify information before it is published, how we handle unverified claims, and how we respond when our reporting is challenged.
1. Pre-Publication Verification Standards
Every factual claim published on Simply Mollywood is supported by at least one of the following verification criteria:
- An official press release, studio announcement, or verified public statement from the relevant production house or distributor
- A direct on-the-record statement from a named source
- Confirmation from the verified official social media account of the public figure or organisation involved
- Box office data sourced from recognised trade reporting services
- Cross-verification from a minimum of two independent and credible news sources
- Government records, court documents, or other official public documents
A single unverified social media post — even from a public figure’s account — does not constitute sufficient verification on its own. We require corroboration before treating such posts as confirmed fact.
2. Handling Rumours and Industry Speculation
The entertainment industry generates significant unverified speculation, particularly around casting, project announcements, and celebrity news. Simply Mollywood applies the following standards when covering rumours:
- Unverified information is never presented as confirmed fact
- Articles covering rumours carry labels such as ‘Unconfirmed’, ‘Rumour’, or ‘Reportedly’ in the headline and article body
- The source and nature of the unverified claim is clearly disclosed within the article
- We do not amplify unverified gossip that has no verifiable basis or public interest justification
- When a rumour is officially confirmed or denied, the original article is updated accordingly
3. Social Media and Viral Claims
Claims originating from social media — including posts, screenshots, and trending hashtags — are treated as unverified leads, not confirmed facts. Simply Mollywood investigates such claims through direct outreach to the individuals or organisations involved before publishing them as news. Where a social media claim cannot be independently verified, we may still cover it as a trending story but will clearly disclose its unverified status.
4. Celebrity and Public Figure Reporting
When reporting on public figures — actors, directors, producers, and other industry professionals — Simply Mollywood ensures that all factual claims about their professional conduct, statements, or personal matters are supported by credible evidence. We make reasonable efforts to contact the relevant parties for comment before publishing stories that may materially affect their professional reputation.
5. Corrections and Retractions for Factual Errors
If Simply Mollywood publishes information that is subsequently demonstrated to be false, misleading, or fabricated, we issue a correction or retraction in accordance with our Corrections Policy. We do not simply delete erroneous articles. Corrections and retractions are given the same or greater editorial prominence as the original article.
6. AI-Generated Content and Verification
Simply Mollywood does not publish AI-generated content as verified news. Where AI tools are used in the editorial workflow — for research, translation, or structural drafting — the output is reviewed and verified by a human journalist before publication. We do not use AI to fabricate sources, generate quotes, or produce synthetic news events.
7. Source Transparency
We name and link to our sources wherever possible. When a source requests anonymity, we use them only when the information is of genuine public interest and cannot be obtained on the record. We do not use anonymous sources merely for convenience or to avoid accountability. The identity of all anonymous sources used in published articles is known to the editorial team.
8. Challenging Our Reporting
Simply Mollywood welcomes challenges to our factual reporting. If you believe something we have published is inaccurate, please write to our editorial team with your evidence. We review all credible challenges objectively, regardless of whether the challenge comes from the subject of the story, a competitor publication, or a reader.
Email: [email protected]
We will investigate and respond within 5 working days.
9. Continuous Improvement
Our editorial team participates in ongoing training on digital journalism standards, source verification techniques, and media literacy. We review our fact-checking procedures periodically to ensure they remain aligned with best practices in responsible digital journalism.