Jagran New Media’s internationally awarded and trusted fact-checking wing, Vishvas News rolls out its WhatsApp Broadcasting Channel as Meta launches the feature in 150+ countries. Users can now get the latest fact-checks & alerts with relevant videos and practices on WhatsApp to lead a more secure, informed and misinformation-free life.
Users can be a part of the Vishvas News WhatsApp Channel without revealing their number, name or any identifying information and yet get the latest updates from Vishvas News. With up-to-date fact-checks, explainers and alerts in video and multimedia formats, Vishvas News will help audiences remain safe from misinformation.
Commenting on the new channel, Rajesh Upadhyay, Editor-in-Chief, Jagran New Media, said, “For the last five years, Vishvas News has been empowering readers to identify & counter misformation successfully with fact check reports and media literacy training. This new channel will allow readers to choose our services through WhatsApp without sharing their numbers or other private information, and give one more touchpoint to the audience to successfully tackle fake news.”
The tech giant Meta describes the broadcasting tool as “a simple, reliable, and private way to receive important updates from people and organisations, right within WhatsApp.” Channels will be available via a new tab called Updates and users can follow different channels, which are separated from chats with family, friends, and communities. Organisations and influencers like BCCI, Akshay Kumar, Katrina Kaif, and many others have launched their channels.
The new feature on WhatsApp is a one-way broadcast tool for admins to communicate through different mediums such as texts, photos, videos, stickers, and polls. WhatsApp is building a searchable brand directory where users can find the Vishvas News channel for everything related to fact-checks, and updates on scams, misinformation and harmful claims.
Vishvas News has a dedicated team of certified and trained fact-checkers to ensure that any viral claim or potential fake news is cross-checked, in line with the organisation’s editorial policy and IFCN’s Code of Principles.
To start using this new feature, users have to update WhatsApp to the latest version.
