GoGo.mn, operated by Mongol Content LLC, has been awarded its second international certification, once again demonstrating that its operations meet global standards.

In 2021, GoGo.mn became the first media outlet in Mongolia to be certified under the ISAS Media 9001 standard. This year we have joined the Journalism Trust Initiative (JTI) and successfully obtained certification.

JTI is an international standard that verifies whether media outlets uphold transparency and ethical journalistic principles. The initiative was launched in 2018 by Reporters Without Borders (RSF), with contributions from more than 130 experts.

Today, over 2130 media outlets across 121 countries have joined JTI. With this certification, GoGo.mn has reinforced its commitment to delivering TRUSTWORTHY AND RELIABLE INFORMATION to its readers, recognized at an international level.

The JTI Certification Process:

• Self-assessment: answering 130 structured questions.
• Public disclosure: publishing the results immediately as a transparency report.
• Certification: an independent audit conducted by an external body.

For GoGo.mn, the process involved self-assessment, followed by an independent audit conducted by Deloitte Australia. Such audits typically cost between $5000-8000, and GoGo.mn was able to complete the process thanks to an RSF audit grant.
GoGo.mn’s Editor-in-Chief, R.Adiyasuren explained “When we say that we have obtained certification or adopted another standard, the first question readers might ask is “Why does this matter?”. A standard serves as a benchmark of quality and accountability. For readers, it is essential to know that the news, reports, and features they consume are produced by a newsroom with clear editorial policies, transparent revenue structures, and an ethical code of conduct.

During the ISAS Media certification, we updated and systematized our daily operations and policy documents such as ranging from our Editorial guidelines, Ethics principles, Advertising policy, and Daily operational procedures, down to work instructions. Although we had already been following these practices in daily work, documenting them formally was a major advantage.

This time, the JTI process has helped us embed new measures in a period where public trust in the media is declining. Transparency regarding revenue, responsible use of AI, and other emerging issues are now being incorporated into our editorial framework. We first learned about JTI at a training hosted by the Nest Center for Journalism Innovation and Development in September 2024, and over the past year we have dedicated substantial effort to securing this certification. With NEST’s support, we now hope more Mongolian media outlets will join this initiative to enhance transparency and trustworthiness.”

Securing JTI certification is a major step for transparency and accountability, and GoGo.mn has now become the third media organization in Mongolia to achieve it.
The first outlet to obtain JTI certification in Mongolia was the Mongolian Fact Checking Center, established under the Nest Center for Journalism Innovation and Development in 2020. Its founder, B.Dulamkhorloo, explained “Disinformation and manipulation through media outlets are on the rise. JTI is important because it helps readers, advertisers, and partners distinguish trustworthy media outlets. Readers can clearly see who produces the content, how decisions are made, and how journalism is conducted.

For advertisers, partnering with unprofessional sites that copy content can damage reputations. By contrast, working with certified outlets reduces risks. Furthermore, platforms like Facebook and Google cannot arbitrarily remove or downgrade JTI-certified content, because algorithms recognize these outlets as producing quality journalism. Already, JTI-certified outlets rank higher in searches, such as on Microsoft Edge.”
Among daily newsrooms, Zuunii Medee Newspaper was the second Mongolian outlet to be certified. Commentator B.Nyamsuren from the paper stated “This standard establishes responsible journalism over the long term. Certification is renewed every two years, ensuring that outlets remain accountable. The 130 questions are not difficult. The key is transparency.

For us, it was an honor to become the first newspaper in Mongolia to achieve this, proving that print remains a valuable and trustworthy medium.”

GoGo.mn remains committed to continuous improvement, with the mission of being an independent, reliable, and trusted media outlet for its readers.